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Envious
حسود (hasūd) is an adjective meaning 'envious' or 'jealous,' describing someone who feels resentment toward others' possessions, success, or good fortune. It carries a strongly negative connotation in Arabic culture and is used to characterize a person prone to envy. The word emphasizes a personality trait rather than a temporary emotion.
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لا تكن حسوداً على نجاح أصدقائك.
Lā takun hasūdan 'alā najāḥ aṣdiqā'ik.
Don't be envious of your friends' success.
الشخص الحسود لا يستطيع أن يكون سعيداً.
Al-shakhṣ al-hasūd lā yastāṭī' an yakūn sa'īdan.
An envious person cannot be happy.
رفضت دعوته لأنه حسود جداً.
Rafaḍt da'watahu li-annahu hasūd jiddan.
I rejected his invitation because he is very envious.
القلب الحسود مرض لا يشفى.
Al-qalb al-hasūd maraḍ lā yashfā.
An envious heart is a disease that cannot be cured.
إياك أن تصبح حسوداً على ما عند الآخرين.
Iyyāka an taṣbaḥ hasūdan 'alā mā 'ind al-ākhirīn.
Beware of becoming envious of what others possess.
In Islamic and Arabic cultural tradition, envy (الحسد - al-ḥasad) is considered a serious spiritual and moral flaw. The concept of being حسود is heavily discouraged in Islamic teachings, Quranic verses, and hadith literature, which emphasize contentment (الرضا - ar-riḍā) as a virtue. The trait is viewed as destructive to both personal well-being and social harmony, making this word particularly weighted in moral and religious contexts.
Remember that حسود describes a character trait or habitual behavior rather than a fleeting emotion. Use it to characterize someone's personality ('He is envious') rather than momentary feelings. Note that this is a formal/literary adjective; in casual speech, people might use غيور or the phrase 'شديد الغيرة' (extremely jealous/envious) more frequently. Context matters—ensure you're referring to envy of possessions/success rather than healthy protective jealousy.
The Arabic word حسود (hasud) is an adjective that means "envious" or "jealous." It describes a person who harbors feelings of resentment toward others' possessions, accomplishments, or good fortune. This is not a temporary emotion but rather a persistent character trait or personality flaw. The word carries strong negative connotations in Arabic language and culture, marking it as an undesirable quality.
حسود is a common adjective in Arabic that follows standard adjective patterns. It can be used with both masculine and feminine nouns, and like other Arabic adjectives, it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number. When used predicatively (following a verb like 'is'), it remains in the singular masculine form even when referring to females, though the feminine form حسودة (hasuda) also exists and is used in certain contexts.
The word derives from the root ح-س-د (ḥ-s-d), which relates to envy, jealousy, and covetousness. The related noun الحسد (al-ḥasad) means "envy" as a concept, while the verb يحسد (yaḥsud) means "to envy." This root family is well-established throughout Arabic literature and religious texts, where envy is discussed as a moral and spiritual concern.
حسود is typically used in formal, literary, or religious contexts. You might encounter it in classical Arabic texts, Quranic discussions of character flaws, or in more elevated speech. Examples include:
In everyday casual Arabic, people more commonly use simpler expressions like "غيور" (ghayur - jealous) or "شديد الغيرة" (shadid al-ghaira - extremely jealous).
In Islamic tradition, envy is considered one of the most destructive of human vices. The Quran mentions envy multiple times, often in contexts warning against it. Islamic teaching emphasizes contentment (الرضا - ar-riḍā) and gratitude as virtues that oppose envy. The famous hadith states, "The fire of envy devours good deeds as fire devours wood." Someone described as حسود is seen not only as having an undesirable personality but as spiritually and morally deficient.
This cultural weight makes the word particularly significant in Arabic-speaking communities, where being envious is viewed as a serious character flaw affecting both personal well-being and social relationships.
Several Arabic words relate to or are synonymous with حسود:
Consider these realistic uses of the word:
في السياق الديني: "الحسد من أسوأ الصفات في الإسلام" (Envy is one of the worst traits in Islam) - Here, الحسد is the noun form, but you could say "الشخص الحسود" (the envious person) using the adjective.
في الأدب: "كان الملك الحسود لا يحتمل نجاح أحد غيره" (The envious king could not tolerate anyone else's success) - A common character type in traditional Arabic literature.
في النصيحة: "لا تكن حسوداً على ما عند غيرك" (Don't be envious of what others have) - A piece of moral advice.
When learning to use حسود, remember these key points:
It's a trait, not an emotion: Use it to describe someone's character or habitual behavior, not just a momentary feeling of jealousy.
Formal context: This is a more literary or formal word. In everyday conversation, Arabic speakers often use simpler alternatives.
Strong moral weight: Be aware that calling someone حسود is a serious character criticism, not a light observation. It carries moral and sometimes religious judgment.
Context matters: Ensure you're talking about unhealthy envy of others' possessions or success, not protective jealousy or concern.
The opposite of حسود includes:
These positive traits are what Islamic and Arabic cultural tradition advocate as replacements for envious behavior.
Understanding حسود provides insight into how Arabic language reflects cultural and religious values. The word itself, weighted with moral significance, demonstrates how Arabic speakers view envy not as a minor character flaw but as a serious spiritual and social problem. Learning to use this word correctly, with full awareness of its cultural implications, will help you communicate more effectively and authentically in Arabic.