Spanish word

autoestima

Pronunciation

IPA/awtoesˈtima/

Meaning

  • feminine nounself-esteem

Example

Tu autoestima mejora cuando logras pequeños objetivos.

Your self-esteem improves when you accomplish small goals.

Illustration for autoestima (self-esteem)

More examples

Hablarte con respeto ayuda a tu autoestima.

Talking to yourself with respect helps your self-esteem.

Core concept

Person with an internal scale indicating low-to-high personal value.

Common phrases

  • mejorar la autoestima

    boost self-esteem

  • cuidar la autoestima

    nurture self-esteem

  • alta autoestima

    high self-esteem

Similar words

autoconfianza: Feeling able to rely on oneself to handle challenges.
autovaloración: Conscious appraisal of one's own value and qualities.
amor propio: Caring respect for oneself that motivates protecting and tending to personal needs.

Definition in Spanish

Evaluación global que una persona hace de su propia valía.

Word origin

Formed from auto- 'self' plus estima, from Latin aestimare 'to value', the word expresses a global judgment of one's own worth.

Usage tips

  • Autoestima functions as an abstract quality rather than an identity, so Spanish commonly expresses it with tener or sentirse (tener buena autoestima; sentirse inseguro por baja autoestima).

Other meanings

  • self-worthnoun
  • self-respectnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • autoestimarvalue oneselfverb
  • autoestimaciónself-worthnoun

Word lists with this word