Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Jealous in Spanish
Celoso · adjective · seh-LOH-soh
The Spanish word for jealous is 'celoso' (masculine) or 'celosa' (feminine). It primarily describes romantic jealousy or possessiveness. When the jealousy is more about envying what someone else has, 'envidioso' is often a better fit. The noun form, 'celos,' means jealousy and appears in common expressions like 'tener celos' (to be jealous).
Celoso is pronounced seh-LOH-soh. In Latin America, the 'c' before 'e' sounds like 's,' while in Spain it sounds like 'th.' The stress falls on the second syllable.
Está celoso porque ella habló con otro chico.
He is jealous because she talked to another guy.
Jealous in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for jealous, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| celoso | jealous | seh-LOH-soh | Default, widely understood |
| celosa | jealous | feminine form | |
| envidioso | jealous | when referring to envy rather than romantic jealousy |
How Native Speakers Use Celoso
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Romantic jealousy
No seas celoso, solo es un amigo.
Don't be jealous, he's just a friend.
Reassuring a partner about a platonic relationship.
Describing a trait
Mi hermana es muy celosa con sus juguetes.
My sister is very possessive with her toys.
Celoso can describe possessiveness beyond romantic contexts.
Expressing envy
Estoy envidioso de tu viaje a Europa.
I'm jealous of your trip to Europe.
Using envidioso to express envy of someone's experience.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Celoso
Confusing celoso with envidioso
Incorrect: Estoy celoso de tu carro nuevo.
Correct: Estoy envidioso de tu carro nuevo.
Celoso typically refers to romantic or possessive jealousy, while envidioso better captures envy of material possessions.
Wrong gender agreement
Incorrect: Ella está celoso.
Correct: Ella está celosa.
When describing a woman, the adjective must agree in gender: 'celosa' for feminine, 'celoso' for masculine.
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Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Celoso used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Jealous in Spanish
- What is the difference between celoso and envidioso?
- Celoso refers to the fear of losing something or someone you have — especially in romantic relationships — while envidioso describes wanting something that belongs to someone else.
- How do you say 'jealousy' as a noun in Spanish?
- The noun form is 'celos' (always plural in this sense), used in expressions like 'tiene celos' (he/she is jealous) or 'los celos lo consumen' (jealousy consumes him).
- Can celoso be used positively?
- In some contexts, being 'celoso' of one's work or reputation can imply diligence and protectiveness, as in 'es celoso de su oficio' (he is protective of his craft), carrying a positive undertone.