felices

Felices is the plural form of the Spanish adjective feliz, meaning happy or fortunate. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies and is used to describe people, animals, or situations regarded as joyful or fortunate. For example: Los niños parecen felices; Las familias felices celebran juntas.

Grammar and usage notes: feliz typically appears with ser or estar to denote a state or characteristic. With estar, felic is used for temporary happiness (están felices); with ser, it can express a more enduring quality (son felices) though both forms are common depending on context. Felices, as the plural form, accompanies plural nouns (los chicos felices, las personas felices). The feminine and masculine forms are identical in the plural.

Etymology and related terms: feliz derives from Latin felix, meaning fortunate or blessed. This root also appears in related Spanish words such as felicidad (happiness) and felicidades (congratulations or happiness as a plural noun). The English cognate felicity shares the same origin.

Common phrases and usage in communication: Felices fiestas is a frequent holiday greeting, literally “happy holidays.” Otra expresión is deseo que sean felices, or simply les deseo que sean felices. When used as a standalone attribute, felices followed by a noun indicates multiple subjects sharing happiness (niños felices, adultos felices).

See also: Felicidad, felicidades, felicidad en la cultura hispana.