What is the difference between the term 'to envy' and the term 'to be jealous of'?

Question

I was just wondering if they were the same thing. That is, to be envious of someone and to be jealouse of someone.

If there is a difference what is it?

Answer 1

_Envious_ implies wanting something that belongs to another and to which one has no particular right or claim.

_Jealous_ may refer to a strong feeling of envy, but it is often associated with feelings of distrust, suspicious, anger, and other negative emotions. It may imply a strong effort to hold on to what one possesses.

In other words, a young man might be _jealous_ of the other men who flirt with his girlfriend, while they might be _envious_ of her obvious preference for him.    

Answer 2

according to the dictionary, the only distinction is that envy has to do with possessions and jealously has to do with accomplishments.

Answer 3

Not much difference in the English language, only in that "envy" generally refers to possesions, and "jealousy" refers to people

Answer 4

What the other person told you sounds right to me.  I know I used to say that I was envious of my friend because she had so many nice things, but that I wasn't jealous of her as I knew that she had worked her tail off to get those things and that she deserved to have them because she had worked so hard for them.  Terrible of me, wasn't it?  :-)

Answer 5

I've always been under the impression that envy, the so-called deadly sin, is GENERALLY more spiteful as if you're wanting the person to lose the object you are envious of them for having, if you seriously meant it that is. Whereas jealousy, I notice, is GENERALLY said of things you want for yourself without necessarily caring how the person who has them feels.

eg.

I am envious of all her speed! I hope she breaks her leg.

or

I am jealous of all that speed! Wish I was as fast.

I could be mistaken, though. The above answers are likely to be a more correct interpretation.