French Conversation · Level 36
75 words
French word
jaloux
Pronunciation
IPA/ʒalu/
Meaning
- adjectivejealous
Example
Il est jaloux.
He is jealous.
More examples
Après avoir vu les photos, il s'est senti jaloux.
After seeing the photos, he felt jealous.
Core concept
A possessive person fears losing a valued bond and suspects anyone who might replace them in it.
Common phrases
se sentir jaloux
feel jealous
un regard jaloux
a jealous look
Similar words
envieux: Resenting what others have and wanting the same possessions or status.
possessif: Wanting to keep someone exclusively close and prevent them from leaving.
méfiant: Slow to trust others and cautious when approaching them.
Definition in French
Qui craint de perdre l'affection d'une autre personne et ressent de l'envie ou de la méfiance envers ceux qui pourraient prendre cette place.
Word origin
The French adjective jaloux is inherited through Old French jalos from Medieval Latin zelosus, with a distant source in Greek zelos, meaning zeal or jealousy.
Usage tips
- The masculine singular and plural forms are both jaloux, but the feminine forms are jalouse and jalouses, with a pronounced z sound in jalouse.