Literal translation
he is jealous of his own shadow
Meaning
he's jealous even of his own shadow
Explanation
The expression describes jealousy taken to such an extreme that it turns absurd. Literally, es jalous de soun oumbro translates as he's jealous of his own shadow: a shadow, an inseparable projection of the body casting it, poses no threat and no possible rival, so being jealous of it amounts to being jealous of everything and nothing at once, with no rational cause whatsoever. The image thus highlights the irrational, almost pathological nature of a jealousy no longer grounded in any tangible reality, feeding instead on the slightest, most trivial pretext. The register is familiar, used with a touch of mockery or exasperation toward someone excessively possessive or distrustful in their relationships, particularly romantic or family ones. It matches the French être jaloux de son ombre, an identical phrase, evidence of a universal image easily carried over from one Romance language to another.