In everyday contexts, ‘happy’ is the more frequently used word. Everyone feels happy sometime or the other, and they show their happiness in different ways. Federer, for example, used to cry whenever he won a Grand Slam tournament. This was his way of showing happiness. But not everyone is like Federer — they do not wear their heart on their sleeve. There are people who do not show their happiness through their behaviour. They may remain content within, and choose not to display their feelings to the outside world. So, you may or may not know when a person is truly happy.

The happy fans were jumping up and down even before the final whistle was blown.

‘Jaunty’, on the other hand, has a slightly different meaning than ‘happy’. The word can be used with people and things. For example, one can refer to one’s cap as being ‘jaunty’. When you refer to someone as being ‘jaunty’, what you are suggesting is that he is very cheerful or upbeat most of the time. This cheerfulness is there for everyone to see — it may be reflected in the way the person walks or in the stylish manner he dresses. The word comes from the French ‘janty’ meaning ‘elegant, stylish’. In addition to his cheerfulness, a jaunty individual is also someone who is very confident about himself. He is a happy individual and he wants the world to know it. Unlike ‘happiness’, ‘jauntiness’ cannot be hidden; it is there for everyone to see.

Harish walked into the room wearing a jaunty grin on his face.