What does convivially mean?
Convivially is an adverb describing the manner of something done in a warm, festive, and sociable way — typically eating, drinking, or talking in pleasant company. Derived from the Latin convivium, meaning 'a feast' or 'living together', it belongs to the same family as the adjective convivial and the noun conviviality. The word carries unambiguously positive connotations: to behave convivially is to be genial, merry, and good-humoured among others. Because of its Latinate formality, it tends to appear in literary prose, journalism, and descriptive writing rather than everyday speech, where simpler phrasing usually takes its place. It is most naturally used of social occasions — dinners, celebrations, reunions — where shared food and drink foster easy fellowship. For writers seeking an elegant, precise term for the atmosphere of genuine hospitality and cheerful companionship, convivially offers a rich and evocative option.
adverbIn a friendly, lively, and festive manner; characterized by good company, eating, and drinking together.
- In a warm, festive, sociable manner, especially involving shared food and drink.
"The dinner guests chatted convivially long after the meal had ended."
"The two old friends drank convivially into the evening, trading stories from their university days."
"The office team celebrated convivially at the year-end dinner, toasting one success after another."
Convivially comes from the Latin for 'living together with' — literally a word about feasting in company, from the same root that gives us 'vital' and 'revive'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of convivially
Convivially derives from the Latin convivium, meaning 'a feast' or 'banquet', formed from com- ('together') and vivere ('to live') — literally 'to live together'. The English adjective convivial entered the language in the early modern period (around the mid-17th century), borrowed via the Latin adjective convivialis, and the adverb convivially followed as its natural derivative. Cognates sharing the vivere root include words such as vital, revive, survive, and vivid.
Related word forms
How convivially is actually used
A relatively literary or formal adverb; in casual conversation speakers more often say 'in a friendly way' or 'over drinks'. It carries strongly positive connotations of warmth and festivity, almost always in the context of social gatherings involving food or drink.
Easily confused with convivially
"Conivially" is simply a common misspelling of "convivially", which correctly contains the letter 'v' after 'con'.