Spanish word

humillar

Pronunciation

IPA/umiˈʝaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbhumiliate

Example

Ella me humilló delante de todos.

She humiliated me in front of everyone.

Illustration for humillar (humiliate)

More examples

Una broma malintencionada puede humillar a alguien.

A mean-spirited joke can humiliate someone.

Core concept

An act that makes someone feel inferior or embarrassed before others.

Common phrases

  • humillar a un compañero

    humiliate a coworker

  • humillar públicamente

    publicly humiliate

Similar words

insultar: Uses abusive or insulting language to attack a person verbally.
avergonzar: Produces a sense of shame or embarrassment in someone.
ofender: Says or does something that wounds a person's sensibilities or beliefs.
menospreciar: Shows disdain by undervaluing a person's worth or skills.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer que alguien se sienta inferior o avergonzado, sobre todo delante de otras personas.

Word origin

From Latin humiliare via humilis 'low' (related to humus 'earth'), the meaning shifts from literal lowering to social or moral degradation.

Usage tips

  • The verb typically appears as humillar a alguien or quedar humillado and normally signals serious degradation rather than casual embarrassment.

Other meanings

  • shameverb

Opposites

Related words

  • humillaciónhumiliationnoun
  • humillantehumiliatingadjective
  • humilladohumiliatedadjective

Word lists with this word