ego
“ego” means “ego” in Spanish (sense of self).
ego, self-importance
Also: self
📝 In Action
Tiene un ego muy grande y no acepta críticas.
B2He has a very large ego and doesn't accept criticism.
El psicólogo habló sobre la necesidad de equilibrar el ego y el altruismo.
C1The psychologist spoke about the need to balance the ego and altruism.
Su ego se sintió herido cuando perdió el partido.
B2His self-importance felt hurt when he lost the game.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ego
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ego' to describe self-importance?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Borrowed directly from Latin, where it literally means 'I' (the first-person singular pronoun). It entered Spanish and other European languages through psychology (specifically Freudian theory) to describe the part of the mind that mediates between the person and reality.
First recorded: Early 20th century (in its psychological sense)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ego' used exactly the same way in Spanish as in English?
Yes, 'ego' is a direct borrowing and is used almost identically in Spanish. It can refer both to the technical psychological concept (the 'self') and, more commonly, to someone's pride, self-esteem, or excessive sense of self-importance.
¿Cómo se dice 'big ego'?
You can say 'un ego grande' or, more commonly, 'un ego inflado' (an inflated ego) or 'un ego enorme'.