Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'proud' carries a significant weight in our vocabulary, denoting a sense of self-esteem, satisfaction, and appreciation. It's a universal emotion, yet its expression varies across cultures and languages. Understanding the translations of 'proud' in different languages not only broadens our linguistic abilities but also deepens our cultural awareness.
Through history, 'proud' has been associated with both positive and negative connotations. On one hand, it signifies a healthy self-respect and accomplishment. On the other, it can imply arrogance or vanity. This duality adds depth to the word, making its translations even more intriguing.
For instance, in Spanish, 'proud' translates to 'orgulloso/a'. In French, it's 'fier/fière'. In German, 'stolz' is the equivalent. Each language offers a unique perspective on this universal emotion, enriching our understanding of 'proud' and its cultural significance.
Explore the translations of 'proud' in various languages below, and gain a new appreciation for this powerful word.
Afrikaans | trots | ||
The Afrikaans word "trots" is derived from the Old English word "prut", meaning "proud" or "magnificent". | |||
Amharic | ኩራተኛ | ||
Alternate meaning: ‘a strong person or person of high status' | |||
Hausa | girman kai | ||
"Girman kai" can also mean "arrogance" or "self-importance". | |||
Igbo | dị mpako | ||
"Dị mpako" in Igbo, derived from the phrase "dị na mpako," also means "to be on top" or "to be in control." | |||
Malagasy | mpiavonavona | ||
"Mpiavonavona" is a Malagasy word of French origin, having the same etymology as the French word "fier", meaning "proud" or "fierce." | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | wonyada | ||
The word "wonyada" can also mean "arrogant" or "conceited" in Nyanja (Chichewa). | |||
Shona | kudada | ||
The Shona word "kudada" can also mean "to look down on others" or "to be arrogant" | |||
Somali | faan | ||
"Faan" has an alternate meaning of "a state of anger or rage". | |||
Sesotho | motlotlo | ||
The word "motlotlo" can also mean "a group of people standing together" or "a crowd of people." | |||
Swahili | kiburi | ||
The Swahili word "kiburi" comes from the Arabic word "kibr", which also means "pride" or "arrogance". | |||
Xhosa | abanekratshi | ||
Xhosa is similar to Zulu, the differences between them sometimes lie only in pronunciation, e.g. "abanekratshi" means "proud". | |||
Yoruba | igberaga | ||
"Igberaga" also means "elevation," "rising above," or "height". | |||
Zulu | uyaziqhenya | ||
The Zulu word 'uyaziqhenya' can also mean 'shame' or 'humiliation', depending on the context in which it is used. | |||
Bambara | kuncɛbaa | ||
Ewe | dana | ||
Kinyarwanda | ishema | ||
Lingala | lolendo | ||
Luganda | amalala | ||
Sepedi | itumela | ||
Twi (Akan) | ahohoahoa | ||
Arabic | فخور | ||
The word "فخور" in Arabic, besides its primary sense "proud," also means "boastful" and can be used to convey a negative sense. | |||
Hebrew | גאה | ||
Originally in Hebrew, the word "גאה" was only used to describe the pride of a warrior or of a ruler. | |||
Pashto | ویاړلی | ||
The word "ویاړلی" can also refer to a person who is honorable, respectable, or dignified. | |||
Arabic | فخور | ||
The word "فخور" in Arabic, besides its primary sense "proud," also means "boastful" and can be used to convey a negative sense. |
Albanian | krenar | ||
The word “krenar” also has a botanical connotation, referring to the flower wreath used as an amulet for luck that is also known by the same word. | |||
Basque | harro | ||
The Basque term "harro" also means "rock" or "stone". | |||
Catalan | orgullós | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "proud," "orgullós" in Catalan can also mean "obstinate" or "stubborn." | |||
Croatian | ponos | ||
The word "ponos" can also mean "labor" or "fatigue" in Croatian. | |||
Danish | stolt | ||
In Old Norse, "stolt" also meant "mighty" or "brave". | |||
Dutch | trots | ||
The Dutch word "trots" can also refer to a horse's gait. | |||
English | proud | ||
Proud comes from the Old French word prod, meaning brave or valorous, and is related to the words prowess and prudent. | |||
French | fier | ||
The word "fier" is derived from the Latin word "ferus," meaning "wild" or "savage." | |||
Frisian | grutsk | ||
The word 'grutsk' in Frisian also means 'tall' and 'big' and may be derived from 'Groot' (great) or from 'Groei' (growth). | |||
Galician | orgulloso | ||
In Galician, "orgulloso" can also mean "haughty" or "arrogant". | |||
German | stolz | ||
The word "stolz" originally meant "bold", and can still retain this meaning in certain contexts. | |||
Icelandic | stoltur | ||
"Stoltur" (proud) is related to "stolta" (boasting) and originally meant to "strut with pride." | |||
Irish | bródúil as | ||
The Irish word "bróduil as" has the same Germanic origin as "brood". | |||
Italian | orgoglioso | ||
The Italian word 'orgoglioso' derives from the Vulgar Latin 'orgogliosus', meaning 'full of spirit' or 'haughty'. | |||
Luxembourgish | houfreg | ||
The word “houfreg” is closely related to the German word “hochfertig”, which means “arrogant”. | |||
Maltese | kburi | ||
The word "kburi" is derived from the Arabic word "kibr", meaning "arrogance" or "haughtiness." | |||
Norwegian | stolt | ||
The word "stolt" in Norwegian can also mean "brave" or "dignified". | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | orgulhoso | ||
The Portuguese word "orgulhoso" can be derived from the Vulgar Latin word "orgoglioso," meaning "haughty." | |||
Scots Gaelic | moiteil | ||
The word "moiteil" can also mean "dignity" or "self-respect". | |||
Spanish | orgulloso | ||
In Spanish, "orgulloso" means more than just "proud" - it can also mean "arrogant" or "vain". | |||
Swedish | stolt | ||
The word "stolt" in Swedish has no relation to the word "stolpe" ("post"), but rather relates to the Old Norse word "stoð" ("stud"), and the German "stolz" ("proud"). | |||
Welsh | balch | ||
The word "balch" can also refer to a "bulky" or "broad" person, or be used as an expression of contempt. |
Belarusian | ганарлівы | ||
The Belorussian word "ганарлівы" can also refer to a person who is arrogant or haughty. | |||
Bosnian | ponosan | ||
Bosnian "ponosan" is cognate to Bulgarian "горд" meaning "proud" or "stubborn". Compare this to "ponos" which means "fatigue" in most Slavic languages. | |||
Bulgarian | горд | ||
Bulgarian word "горд" can also mean "fat" or "greasy" and is cognate with English "lard" and Latin "lardum". | |||
Czech | hrdý | ||
Hrdý (proud) derives from the word "hrd" (throat), with the implication of holding one's throat high. | |||
Estonian | uhke | ||
The Estonian word "uhke" also has archaic and literary connotations of extravagance and ostentation. | |||
Finnish | ylpeä | ||
"Ylpeä" is a homograph, meaning both "proud" and "plentiful," and comes from the Proto-Finnic "ülpē" ("abundant") but is cognate with Estonian "ülp" ("arrogant"). | |||
Hungarian | büszke | ||
Büszke is a Hungarian word that originally meant "strong", and has also been used to mean "honourable" or "worthy of respect". | |||
Latvian | lepns | ||
The term Lepns is commonly associated with the root "lep," meaning "to boast" or "to brag." | |||
Lithuanian | išdidus | ||
"Išdidus" can have some negative connotation, meaning "haughty" or "conceited." | |||
Macedonian | горд | ||
The word "горд" (gord) in Macedonian has Slavic and Persian origins, and it can also mean "city" or "fortress". | |||
Polish | dumny | ||
The Polish word "dumny" also means dignified and arrogant. | |||
Romanian | mândru | ||
In Romanian, "mândru" also means "handsome" or "beautiful", and is used to describe both people and things. | |||
Russian | гордый | ||
In Russian, the word "гордый" can also mean "haughty" or "arrogant." | |||
Serbian | поносан | ||
The word 'поносан' also means 'dignified', 'honorable', or 'respectable' in Serbian. | |||
Slovak | hrdý | ||
In addition to the usual meaning of "proud," "hrdý" can also be used to describe a person who is stubborn or arrogant. | |||
Slovenian | ponosen | ||
The word "ponosen" in Slovenian is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "pьnъ", meaning "tense, stretched", and is related to the words "ponos" (pride) and "ponosenost" (pride). | |||
Ukrainian | гордий | ||
The Ukrainian word "гордий" (proud) comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to rise" or "to be raised". |
Bengali | গর্বিত | ||
গর্বিত may originally derive from 'গর্ব', from Sanskrit गर्व (garva), meaning arrogance or pride, and later took on the sense of self-esteem or satisfaction. | |||
Gujarati | ગર્વ | ||
The word "ગર્વ" also means "heavy" in Gujarati, as in "I am carrying a heavy bag". | |||
Hindi | गर्व | ||
गर्व (garv) also means arrogance, while the Sanskrit root ‘gru’ denotes praise or honour. | |||
Kannada | ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ | ||
The term 'ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ' derives from the Dravidian root '*cem-', meaning 'to swell' or 'to grow', reflecting the notion of pride as a swelling of the heart or a growth in one's self-esteem. | |||
Malayalam | അഹങ്കാരം | ||
അഹങ്കാരം also means 'excessive self-esteem, vanity, or conceit' in Malayalam | |||
Marathi | अ भी मा न | ||
"अ भी मा न" (pronounced as abhimaan) is a Marathi word that shares its etymology with "अभिमान" in Sanskrit, meaning "self-respect" and "pride", and is also related to the term "esteem" in English. | |||
Nepali | गर्व | ||
The word "गर्व" can also mean to be haughty or disdainful | |||
Punjabi | ਹੰਕਾਰੀ | ||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ආඩම්බරයි | ||
The word derives from the Sanskrit word "āḍambara", originally meaning "splendor, pomp"} | |||
Tamil | பெருமை | ||
பெருமை (proud) can also mean 'big', 'wealthy', 'noble', or 'grand', and can be traced to the Proto-Dravidian word 'peṛ-'. | |||
Telugu | గర్వంగా | ||
Urdu | فخر ہے | ||
The term "فخر ہے" also refers to a "trophy of victory" or a "source of pride". |
Chinese (Simplified) | 骄傲 | ||
骄傲 "Jiāoào" can also mean arrogance, hubris, or disdain. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 驕傲 | ||
The word 驕傲 (jiāoào) in Chinese includes meanings of "arrogance" and "overweening pride," as well as the Western concept of "pride." | |||
Japanese | 誇りに思う | ||
The word 誇りに思う can also mean 'honorable,' 'glorious,' or 'magnificent'. | |||
Korean | 교만한 | ||
The word "교만한" also means "arrogant," and it is derived from the Chinese word "驕慢" with the same meaning. | |||
Mongolian | бахархалтай | ||
The word "бахархалтай" also means "having a crest" or "having a comb" in Mongolian. | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ဂုဏ်ယူပါတယ် | ||
Indonesian | bangga | ||
"Bangga" can mean either 'proud' or 'arrogant' depending on context. | |||
Javanese | bangga | ||
In Javanese, "bangga" has historical connections to the concept of "prestige" and "respect" in the royal court and is used to describe the bearing and conduct of those in positions of authority. | |||
Khmer | មានមោទនភាព | ||
The Khmer word មានមោទនភាព ('proud') is derived from the Sanskrit word मद ('intoxicated') and can also mean 'exultant' or 'joyful'. | |||
Lao | ພູມໃຈ | ||
The word "ພູມໃຈ" is often used to express pride, but it can also mean "self-satisfaction" or "vanity". | |||
Malay | bangga | ||
The Malay word "bangga" is borrowed from the Portuguese word "banga". It also means "arrogant" or "boastful". | |||
Thai | ภูมิใจ | ||
ภูมิใจ originates from Pali and literally means “to rejoice in the heart”. | |||
Vietnamese | tự hào | ||
The word "tự hào" is thought to originate from the Chinese phrase "自豪" which means "self-esteem", referring to an individual's self-worth and pride in oneself. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ipinagmamalaki | ||
Azerbaijani | qürurlu | ||
The word "qürurlu" likely derives from the Persian word "ghorroor", meaning "arrogance" or "conceit". | |||
Kazakh | мақтан тұтады | ||
The word "мақтан тұтады" can also refer to someone who is self-righteous and arrogant. | |||
Kyrgyz | сыймыктанам | ||
Tajik | мағрур | ||
The word "мағрур" can also mean "conceited" or "arrogant". | |||
Turkmen | buýsanýar | ||
Uzbek | mag'rur | ||
The word "mag'rur" in Uzbek is derived from the Persian word "maghrur" which means "conceited" or "vain". | |||
Uyghur | پەخىرلىنىمەن | ||
Hawaiian | haʻaheo | ||
Despite its usual modern usage meaning "proud," haʻaheo carries an older meaning of "to brag," or "to boast." | |||
Maori | whakakake | ||
An alternative meaning of Maori word "whakakake" is "to cause to raise" or "to cause to lift up" | |||
Samoan | mimita | ||
"Mimita" in Samoan can also mean "the act of being proud". | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | mayabang | ||
The word "mayabang" also means "boastful" or "arrogant", stemming from the root word "yabang" (to boast). |
Aymara | jach'a jach'a tukuri | ||
Guarani | juruvu | ||
Esperanto | fiera | ||
The Esperanto word "fiera" originally meant "wild" or "ferocious" in Latin. | |||
Latin | superbus | ||
The word "superbus" in Latin can also mean "arrogant" or "haughty". |
Greek | υπερήφανος | ||
The word "υπερήφανος" is derived from two Greek roots, "υπέρ" (over, above) and "φαίνω" (to shine), implying a sense of elevated or superior demeanor. | |||
Hmong | khav | ||
The Thai loanword “khav” (proud) is used in several Tai languages with the meaning 'to become proud'. | |||
Kurdish | serbilind | ||
The word "serbilind" also means "headstrong" or "stubborn" in Kurdish. | |||
Turkish | gururlu | ||
The Turkish word "gururlu" not only means "proud" but also denotes "dignified," "honorable," and even "arrogant" depending on the context. | |||
Xhosa | abanekratshi | ||
Xhosa is similar to Zulu, the differences between them sometimes lie only in pronunciation, e.g. "abanekratshi" means "proud". | |||
Yiddish | שטאלץ | ||
Derived from the German word "stolz," it also carries the connotation of being dignified and self-assured. | |||
Zulu | uyaziqhenya | ||
The Zulu word 'uyaziqhenya' can also mean 'shame' or 'humiliation', depending on the context in which it is used. | |||
Assamese | অহংকাৰী | ||
Aymara | jach'a jach'a tukuri | ||
Bhojpuri | गुमान | ||
Dhivehi | ފަޚުރުވެރި | ||
Dogri | फक्र | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | ipinagmamalaki | ||
Guarani | juruvu | ||
Ilocano | palangguad | ||
Krio | prawd | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | شانازی | ||
Maithili | गर्व | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯆꯥꯎꯊꯣꯛꯆꯕ | ||
Mizo | chapo | ||
Oromo | boonaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଗର୍ବିତ | ||
Quechua | apuskachaq | ||
Sanskrit | गर्वितः | ||
Tatar | горур | ||
Tigrinya | ኩሩዕ | ||
Tsonga | nyungubyisa | ||