Beyond Anger: When to Use "Invidioso del Successo" in Italian

Have you ever felt a bit of irritation—or perhaps more—when someone you know achieves an important milestone? Or noticed this reaction in others? In Italian, to describe someone who experiences this feeling toward others, we often use the adjectival phrase "invidioso del successo". This expression is essential for learning Italian and speaking like a native, but using the correct prepositions can be a bit tricky. In this article, you’ll learn the meaning of this phrase, its grammar, and how to use it correctly in real situations, avoiding common mistakes in Italian.

Table of Contents

• What does “invidioso del successo” mean?
• The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
• Real Examples with “invidioso del successo”
• Related Words and Expressions
• Conclusion

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What does “invidioso del successo” mean?

• invidioso: Someone who feels envy, a sense of resentment or annoyance at the happiness, wellbeing, or successes of others, often accompanied by the desire to have what the other person has.
• del: A contracted preposition, formed by the simple preposition "di" and the definite article "il". It introduces the specific object of envy.
• successo: The positive outcome of an action, enterprise, or project; a good result or the achievement of goals.
• Overall meaning: Someone who feels envy or resentment for the achievements or good results obtained by another person, wishing for themselves what the other has achieved.
• Connotation: The expression has a negative connotation, indicating an attitude that is not positive toward others' success.

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The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes

• Adjective agreement: The adjective "invidioso" must always agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the subject it refers to.

  • Masculine singular: Marco è invidioso del successo di Luca.
  • Feminine singular: Chiara è invidiosa del successo di Laura.
  • Masculine plural: Loro sono invidiosi del loro successo.
  • Feminine plural: Le ragazze erano invidiose del nostro successo.

• Using the preposition "di": The adjective "invidioso" specifically uses the preposition "di" to introduce what is being envied. When the object is accompanied by a definite article (like "il successo"), "di" combines with the article to form the contracted preposition "del" (di + il).

  • Correct: È invidioso del (di + il) suo successo.
  • Incorrect: È invidioso il suo successo. (The preposition "di" is missing)
  • Incorrect: È invidioso per il suo successo. (The preposition "per" indicates cause or purpose, not the direct object of envy; this is a common mistake but should be avoided for grammatical precision).

• Common mistakes: Mixing up "invidioso di" with "geloso di". While both express complex emotions, "geloso di" implies a fear of losing something or someone you have (for example, a relationship, a precious object), while "invidioso di" refers to the desire to have something that another person has.

  • Sono geloso della mia privacy. (Correct: fear of losing it or having it violated)
  • Sono invidioso del suo talento. (Correct: desire to have the same talent)

  As specified by authoritative sources like WordReference, the adjective "invidioso" invariably requires the preposition "di" to specify the object of envy, making "invidioso del successo" the correct and most natural construction.

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Real Examples with “invidioso del successo”

Here are some examples of how "invidioso del successo" can be used in everyday contexts and will help you understand how to speak Italian authentically:

• Dialogue 1: A friend promoted

  Persona A: "Sai, hanno promosso Luca a capo reparto. Se lo meritava, ha lavorato tanto." Persona B: "Lo so, ma purtroppo alcuni colleghi sembrano invidiosi del suo successo. C'è un'aria pesante in ufficio."

• Dialogue 2: Sports results

  Persona A: "La squadra di calcio locale ha vinto il campionato regionale quest'anno!" Persona B: "Sì, sono stati bravissimi! Ma i tifosi della squadra avversaria sono palesemente invidiosi del loro successo."

• Dialogue 3: The new entrepreneur

  Persona A: "Il nuovo ristorante di Giulia sta avendo un successo incredibile, è sempre pieno." Persona B: "È vero, lei è molto brava. Non mi sorprenderebbe se qualche concorrente fosse invidioso del suo successo."

• Narrative example:Nonostante i complimenti pubblici, in fondo al suo cuore, si sentiva profondamente invidioso del successo del suo rivale, incapace di celebrare sinceramente la vittoria altrui.

Related Words and Expressions

To enrich your Italian vocabulary and your ability to describe people in Italian, here are some related expressions or ones that express similar feelings, but with different nuances:

Conclusion

"Invidioso del successo" is a powerful and common expression in Italian to describe a very human feeling. Mastering its use and the correct preposition "del" will help you express yourself with greater accuracy and naturalness, avoiding one of the most common mistakes in Italian.

Now it’s your turn! Try to create a sentence using "invidioso del successo" or one of the related expressions. Share it in the comments below! Practicing is the best way to solidify what you’ve learned.