A storybook illustration of an adult standing upright and centered, radiating calm confidence and self-respect, illuminated by a soft glow.

dignidad

dig-ni-dad

nounfB1

dignity?inherent worth or respect

Also:worth?intrinsic value,self-respect?personal honor

📝 In Action

Todos los seres humanos nacen libres y con igual dignidad.

All human beings are born free and with equal dignity.

Ella mantuvo su dignidad a pesar de la situación difícil.

She maintained her dignity despite the difficult situation.

Perder el empleo fue un golpe a su dignidad.

Losing the job was a blow to his self-respect.

Word Connections

Synonyms

honor (honor)
decoro (decorum, propriety)
valía (worth, value)

Antonyms

humillación (humiliation)
deshonor (dishonor)

Common Collocations

dignidad humana – human dignity
mantener la dignidad – to maintain dignity
pérdida de dignidad – loss of dignity

Idioms & Expressions

morir con dignidad – to die peacefully or with honor, without unnecessary suffering or shame

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Check

Remember that 'dignidad' is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' before it (la dignidad) and feminine adjectives after it (dignidad absoluta).

Abstract Nouns

Like many abstract concepts in Spanish, 'dignidad' often appears with the definite article 'la' even when English might omit 'the' (e.g., 'La dignidad es importante' - Dignity is important).

❌ Common Pitfalls

False Cognate Alert

Mistake: "Using 'dignidad' when you mean 'dignitary' (a high-ranking person)."

Correction: The word for a dignitary is 'dignatario' (masculine) or 'dignataria' (feminine). 'Dignidad' only refers to the quality of worthiness.

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

This word is often used in formal writing, legal documents, philosophical discussions, and when talking about human rights.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: dignidad

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'dignidad'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

digno(worthy, dignified (adjective)) - adjective

dignificar(to dignify, to honor (verb)) - verb

indignidad(unworthiness, baseness (noun)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Es 'dignidad' lo mismo que 'orgullo'?

No, they are different. 'Dignidad' is the inherent worth you have as a person, while 'orgullo' means 'pride,' which can be positive (feeling good about an achievement) or negative (arrogance).

How do I use the related adjective 'digno'?

You use 'digno' (worthy/dignified) to describe someone or something that deserves respect. Example: 'Es un trabajo digno' (It is a decent/worthy job).