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Envy or Jealousy?
What Is the Difference between "Envy" and "Jealousy"?
Envy and jealousy are easy to confuse because they are both negative emotions towards another person. However, they are different. Typically, "jealousy" is a three-person situation, but "envy" is a two-person situation. The difference between "envy" and "jealousy" is linked to the person or thing being desired.- "Jealousy" is a negative emotion towards someone that is related to your things (usually a person in a relationship). For example:
- I am filled with jealousy when you speak to my girlfriend.
- "Envy" is a negative emotion towards someone related to their things. For example:
- I am filled with envy over your new house.

More about "Envy" and "Jealousy"
Even though the words "envy" and "jealousy" are used interchangeably these days, there is a clear distinction between the two words that is still observed by language purists.Jealousy over My Things but Envy over Your Things
The noun "jealousy" describes a negative emotion caused by an attack on something we already have (usually a person in a relationship). It contrasts with "envy," which is a negative emotion caused by wanting something owned by someone else (usually a possession or a personal trait).Examples:
- I felt jealous when you danced with my wife.
- I felt envious of your good looks.
- I'm really jealous of your new car.
Even Homer Simpson Knows the Difference
This video shows Homer educating Lisa on the distinction between "jealous" and "envious."JEL on Social Media and Text Speak
The distinction between "envy" and "jealousy" is disappearing fast. The blurring of this distinction is being accelerated by terms such as JEL (jealous), JEAL (jealous), JELLO (jealous), and JELLY (jealous), which are commonly used on social-media platforms to mean "envious," "envy," "jealous," or "jealousy."Ready for the Test?
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See Also
adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are nouns? What are adjectives? List of easily confused wordsPage URL