invidia

envy

noun een-VEE-dyah Rare

Origin: Latin 'invidia', from 'invidere' (to look upon with ill will)

Also means

jealousy

Usage Note

Invidia is a false friend for speakers of English: it means envy (wanting what another has), while English 'jealousy' (gelosia) implies fear of losing what one has. The phrase fare invidia means 'to make someone envious'. The deadly-sin connotation is well established in Italian culture.

Examples

"Guarda con invidia la sua bicicletta nuova."

Natural Translation

He looks at his new bicycle with envy.

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