feliz
Lemma Details
Translation: happy; glad; joyful; fortunate; lucky; merry; pleased
Part of Speech: adjective
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'felix' (meaning 'fruitful', 'blessed', 'happy', or 'lucky'). The Latin root also gave us English words like 'felicity' (happiness) and 'felicitate' (to congratulate). The evolution from 'fruitful' to 'happy' reflects the ancient connection between prosperity and happiness. The same Latin root appears in names like Felix and Felicia, literally meaning 'fortunate' or 'happy one'.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'feliz' as related to 'felicity' in English, which means intense happiness.
- The 'fel' in 'feliz' sounds like 'feel' – when you 'feel good', you're 'feliz'.
- Associate it with Felix the Cat, who was always happy and lucky.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'feliz' is used in many common greetings and celebrations. It's an essential word for expressing well-wishes during holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. The concept of 'felicidad' (happiness) is highly valued in Hispanic cultures, where family gatherings and celebrations are central to social life.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'feliz' means 'happy', 'fácil' means 'easy'. They look somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Confused word:
El examen fue muy fácil.
The exam was very easy.
Notes: Both words are common in everyday Spanish, so it's important to distinguish between them.
Mnemonic: 'Feliz' has an 'l' like 'glad', while 'fácil' has a 'c' like 'cinch' (something easy).
Explanation: 'Feliz' is an adjective meaning 'happy', while 'felicitar' is a verb meaning 'to congratulate'. They share the same root but different grammatical functions.
Confused word:
Quiero felicitar a mi hermana por su graduación.
I want to congratulate my sister on her graduation.
Notes: Both words come from the same Latin root 'felix' but serve different grammatical purposes.
Mnemonic: Think of 'felicitar' as 'making someone feliz (happy)' by congratulating them.