# jealous

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈd͡ʒɛ.ləs/ · frequency rank #4,768

## Definitions
1. Suspecting rivalry in love; troubled by worries that one might have been replaced in someone's affections; suspicious of a lover's or spouse's fidelity.
2. Protective; zealously guarding; careful in the protection of something (or someone) one has or appreciates, especially one's spouse or lover.
3. Envious; feeling resentful or angered toward someone for a perceived advantage or success, material or otherwise.
4. Suspicious; apprehensive.

## Etymology
First attested in 1382. From Middle English jelous, gelous, gelus, from Old French jalous, from Late Latin zelosus, from Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos, “zeal, jealousy”). Doublet of zealous.

## Easily confused with
- **jealousy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jealous-vs-jealousy)
- **jealously** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jealous-vs-jealously)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ejalous`, `jaelous`, `jeallous`, `jealosu`, `jealouss`, `jealuos`, `jeaolus`, `jelaous`, `jjealous`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/jealous