שִׂמְחָה, שָׂשׂוֹן, חֶדְוָה, וְכוּ’
The basic Hebrew word for joy is שמחה, as in the pre-Passover children’s song:
שמחה רבה, שמחה רבה! אביב הגיע, פסח בא!
A great joy, a great joy! Spring has arrived, Passover is coming!
But Hebrew has many other words that also mean joy in its various flavors:
ששון – gladness
גילה – delight
רינה – rejoicing, song
דיצה – amusement
חדוה – gaiety
and others.
