Learn GreekB1 › ζηλεύω

ζηλεύω

to be jealous / to envy /zi.ˈle.vo/

verbB1#1584 most common

Also: to covet, to feel envious of

Example sentences

Ζηλεύω το αυτοκίνητό σου.
I envy your car.
Ο Γιάννης ζηλεύει τον αδελφό του.
Giannis is jealous of his brother.
Μην ζηλεύεις τους φίλους σου, όλοι έχουμε τα δικά μας προβλήματα.
Don't be jealous of your friends, we all have our own problems.
Όταν είδε το νέο της σπίτι, ζήλεψε λίγο.
When she saw her new house, she felt a bit envious.
Ζηλεύει τόσο πολύ την επιτυχία των συναδέλφων του, που έχει γίνει εμμονή.
He envies his colleagues' success so much that it has become an obsession.
Παρόλο που προσπαθούσε να το κρύψει, ζήλευε βαθιά κάθε φορά που κάποιος επαινούσε το ταλέντο της αδελφής της.
Even though she tried to hide it, she deeply envied it every time someone praised her sister's talent.

Conjugation

Present ActiveSimple Past ActiveSimple Future Active
1sgζηλεύωζήλεψαθα ζηλέψω
2sgζηλεύειςζήλεψεςθα ζηλέψεις
3sgζηλεύειζήλεψεθα ζηλέψει
1plζηλεύουμεζηλέψαμεθα ζηλέψουμε
2plζηλεύετεζηλέψατεθα ζηλέψετε
3plζηλεύουνζήλεψανθα ζηλέψουν

Word family

ζήλοςzeal, envy
ζήλιαjealousy
ζηλιάρηςjealous, envious
ζηλευτόςenviable
ζηλότυποςjealous (formal register)

Etymology

The verb comes from the noun ζήλος, meaning zeal or ardent desire, combined with the common verb-forming suffix -εύω. In ancient use ζήλος could mean either admiring emulation or envious rivalry, and the negative sense won out in the modern verb. The same root, borrowed through Latin, gave English the words zeal and jealous.

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