Word Finder
What's the word for the feeling of joy when someone else succeeds?
The word you're looking for
Mudita means joy in another person's success or happiness. It is the closest single word for this feeling, though it is less common in everyday English.
Other words that fit
Use this in clear, plain English when you want the meaning, not a special term.
Use this when the joy comes from seeing someone else's success as if it were your own.
Use this mainly in relationships or polyamory, where it means happiness for a partner's happiness.
Use this for a general feeling of happiness, but it is not specific to another person's success.
Why this word
The best word for this idea is usually mudita, a borrowed term from Buddhist and Sanskrit traditions. In everyday English, many people also say sympathetic joy or happiness for someone else. Be careful not to confuse it with envy, jealousy, or pride. Those words describe very different feelings. This concept is positive and warm, and it is often used in thoughtful or spiritual writing.
In context
- She felt mudita when her friend got the job.
- Mudita is joy in another person's success.
- He showed real mudita at her big achievement.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a common English word for this feeling?
- Not really. English usually uses a phrase like "sympathetic joy" or the borrowed word "mudita".
- Is mudita used in daily conversation?
- Not often. It is more common in spiritual, literary, or thoughtful writing.
- Is this the same as compersion?
- Not exactly. Compersion is mainly used for being happy about a partner's happiness.