Envy vs Jealousy
Envy = you want what someone else has (I envy her success). Jealousy = you fear losing what you have (he's jealous of her attention to others).
The one-line answer
Envy = you want what someone else has (I envy her success). Jealousy = you fear losing what you have (he's jealous of her attention to others).
envy
noun / verbwanting something that belongs to another person — without bitterness necessarily
- I envy her ability to speak five languages.
- His new car was the envy of the office.
- Everyone envied their lifestyle.
jealousy
nounfear of losing something you have to a rival — or resentful envy
- Jealousy destroyed their friendship.
- He felt jealousy when she praised his rival.
- A wave of jealousy came over him.
Memory trick
Envy has 2 letters of 'nv' like 'iNVent something you want'. Jealousy has that J + 'lousy' — you feel lousy when a rival threatens what's yours. Want theirs → envy; guard yours → jealousy.
Envy vs Jealousy: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2I ___ your ability to stay calm under pressure.