German word

Neid

Pronunciation

IPA/naɪ̯t/

Meaning

  • masculine nounjealousy

Example

Der Neid machte ihn unglücklich.

The jealousy made him unhappy.

Illustration for Neid (jealousy)

More examples

Seine Kommentare zeigten offenen Neid.

His comments showed clear envy.

Core concept

A green-eyed gaze fixes on another person's advantage and turns admiration into a bitter wish to possess it.

Common phrases

  • Neid auf jemanden

    envy of someone

  • aus Neid

    out of envy

  • von Neid getrieben

    driven by envy

Similar words

Missgunst: Envy that makes another person's happiness or success hard to accept.
Eifersucht: Jealousy in a romantic relationship, marked by insecurity and a wish for exclusivity.

Definition in German

Neid bezeichnet das Verlangen nach dem, was andere haben, häufig verbunden mit Groll oder Missgunst.

Word origin

Neid continues Old High German nīd through Middle High German nît, from an inherited Germanic word associated with hostile envy.

Usage tips

  • Neid usually takes auf with the accusative, as in Neid auf seinen Erfolg; romantic jealousy is normally called Eifersucht.

Other meanings

  • envynoun

Opposites

  • Freudejoynoun
  • Mitfreudeshared joynoun

Related words

  • Neidgefühlfeeling of envynoun
  • Neiderenvious personnoun

Word lists with this word