What does convivial mean?
Word: Convivial
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Convivial means cheerful and warm, so that people feel at ease in one another's company.
How do you spell convivial?
Syllables: con - viv - i - al
Tricky part: The i between the two v's is the problem. Pupils often write an e there.
Watch out for: convevial, conveevial
Memory tip: Vivid and this word share viv, so picture a vivid, happy room full of friends.
Convivial in a sentence
Example 1: The house was full of convivial chatter on the night of the reunion.
Example 2: Everyone liked the convivial atmosphere of the staff picnic.
Example 3: Our convivial neighbour knows every family on the street by name.
Fun Fact
It comes from a Latin word for a feast, itself built on the idea of living together. So the word first pictured people sharing a long, happy meal.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt one:
1. acquaintance 2. mischievious 3. conscience 4. convivial
a) a person you know slightly
b) pleasantly cheerful in company
c) the inner sense of right and wrong
d) playfully naughty
Show answer
d) playfully naughty. Mischievous has no i after the v, however often people say one.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word convivial as used in the sentence:
The evening ended with a convivial dinner for all the teachers and their families.
a) jolly
b) genial
c) merry
d) unsociable
Show answer
d) unsociable. An unsociable person keeps away from company, the reverse of a cheerful gathering.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
Everyone remembers the inclavoiv evenings at my uncle's house, full of songs and laughter.
a) continual
b) convertible
c) convivial
d) convincing
Show answer
c) convivial. The two v's in the jumble match one option alone.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The convivual mood at the end of the summer camp made it very hard for the older children to say goodbye to their new friends.
a) convivual
b) goodbye
c) summer
d) children
Show answer
a) convivual. The letter before the final al should be an i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which event is the most likely to be described as convivial?
a) a formal notice about a change in rules
b) a lonely wait for a late night train
c) a long lunch with old school friends
d) a silent two-hour written examination
Show answer
c) a long lunch with old school friends
2. A convivial host tends to
a) make guests feel welcome at once
b) ask guests to leave quite early
c) keep the guests well apart
d) stay in another room alone
Show answer
a) make guests feel welcome at once
