Words / C1

JOHV-ee-uh-l/ˈdʒəʊviəl/

Jovial means cheerfully friendly and good-humoured: a jovial host, a jovial mood. Cheerful and friendly are everyday; jocular is jokey; jubilant (this batch) is joy after a win. Do not call a chair jovial if they smile while skipping the date.

Meaning

Cheerful, friendly, and good-humoured.

Examples

• “A jovial chair still closed the item when the date was missing.”
• “Cheerful is everyday. Jocular is about jokes. Jubilant is victory-joy. Genial (C2 in some lists) is warmly kind. Warm manner does not replace a minute.”

Good to know

Warmly cheerful. Everyday: cheerful / friendly. Cousin: jocular (jokey). Contrast: jubilant (after a win). Charm is not a missing date.

Near in meaning

cheerful

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