13世纪晚期，来自古法语 envie "嫉妒，妒忌，竞争"（10世纪），源自拉丁语 invidia "嫉妒，妒忌"（也源自西班牙语 envidia，葡萄牙语 inveja），来自 invidus "嫉妒的，怀有仇恨或恶意的"，来自 invidere "嫉妒，仇恨"，更早意为 "怀恶意地看，施以邪眼"，来自 in- "在上"（来自原始印欧语根 *en "在"）+ videre "看见"（来自原始印欧语根 *weid- "看见"）。

Jealousy is the malign feeling which is often had toward a rival, or possible rival, for the possession of that which we greatly desire, as in love or ambition. Envy is a similar feeling toward one, whether rival or not, who already possesses that which we greatly desire. Jealousy is enmity prompted by fear; envy is enmity prompted by covetousness. [Century Dictionary]

类似的构词在阿维斯坦语 nipashnaka "嫉妒的"，也有 "看" 的意思；古教会斯拉夫语 zavideti "嫉妒"，来自 videti "看见"；立陶宛语 pavydėti "嫉妒"，与 veizdėti "看，注视" 相关。

14世紀晚期，源自古法語的 envier “嫉妒，羨慕”，來自 envie（見 envy（n.））。相關詞彙： Envied； envying。