How to say “jealous” or “envious” in German

In English, one difference between the words “jealousy” and “envy”, although both terms are often used as synonyms, is that “envy” simply describes wanting what someone else has, whereas “jealousy” is used to describe the negative emotion of anger felt towards a rival having something that the jealous person does not. In other words, “envy” may be focused more on the object of desire, whereas “jealousy” concerns itself more with the resentment felt towards the rival.

In German, these words are “Eifersucht” (f.) for “jealousy” (“eifersüchtig” – “jealous”) and “Neid” (m.) (“neidisch” – “envious”). “Eifersucht” describes an exaggerated fear of having to share one’s love or advantage with another, or losing it to another altogether. “Neid”, on the other hand, describes feeling that another does not deserve what he has and wanting it for oneself.

Examples:
– “Er versucht, dich eifersüchtig zu machen indem er sie küsst.” – “He’s trying to make you jealous by kissing her.”
– “Ich bin neidisch auf seine Kreativität.” – “I am envious of his creativity.”