adjective

jovial

JOH-vih-uhl

Jovial (adjective) means Cheerful, friendly, and full of good humor. Example: “The jovial host greeted every guest with a big laugh.”

adjective

Cheerful, friendly, and full of good humor.

"The jovial host greeted every guest with a big laugh."

"He stayed jovial even after losing the match."

How to use jovial

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWarmly cheerful and good-humored, often in a hearty, sociable way.

Easily confused with

jocular → jovian →

Common pairings

a jovial mood jovial host jovial laugh

Word forms

more jovial comparative, Jovials plural, most jovial superlative

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The _____ host greeted every guest with a big laugh.

Etymology

From Italian gioviale, from Late Latin Ioviālis ("of Jove/Jupiter") — people born under Jupiter's astrological influence were once believed to have a naturally cheerful temperament.

Origin: Late Latin

Rhymes for jovial

dial trial aerial serial filial denial medial racial social burial facial menial

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Frequently asked questions

What does “jovial” mean?

The word “jovial” means cheerful, friendly, and full of good humor. In plain terms, warmly cheerful and good-humored, often in a hearty, sociable way.

How do you pronounce “jovial”?

“Jovial” is pronounced JOH-vih-uhl (/ˈd͡ʒoʊ.vɪ.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “jovial” in a sentence?

Here is “jovial” used in a sentence: “The jovial host greeted every guest with a big laugh.”

What part of speech is “jovial”?

“Jovial” is an adjective.

Where does the word “jovial” come from?

The word “jovial” comes from Late Latin. From Italian gioviale, from Late Latin Ioviālis ("of Jove/Jupiter") — people born under Jupiter's astrological influence were once believed to have a naturally cheerful temperament.