🔊 Listen to the word Convivial

kun-VIV-ee-ul

Definition

(adjective) Friendly and lively; relating to or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company.

Example

The convivial atmosphere of the old pub — everyone leaning in, laughing too loud, losing track of time — was exactly what the evening had needed.

Word Origin

Convivial derives from the Latin convivialis, meaning “of a feast,” from convivium — “a living together” or “a banquet” — built from con- (“together”) and vivere (“to live”). The word’s roots are literal: to be convivial is to live together, to share life across a table. It entered English in the 17th century, used initially to describe the atmosphere of feasts and banquets before expanding into its broader modern sense of warmth, liveliness, and the particular pleasure of good company.