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How to Say "arrogant" in Spanish

English → Spanish

arrogante

ah-rroh-GAHN-teh/a.roˈɣan.te/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'arrogante' when directly describing someone's personality as haughty, overbearing, or showing a sense of superiority.
A cartoon illustration of a man with a superior expression, chin lifted high, standing with his chest puffed out, and arms crossed, demonstrating arrogance.

Examples

Su tono de voz era muy arrogante y desagradable.

His tone of voice was very arrogant and unpleasant.

Ella es una persona inteligente, pero a veces parece arrogante.

She is an intelligent person, but sometimes she seems arrogant.

No seas tan arrogante; nadie quiere trabajar contigo.

Don't be so arrogant; nobody wants to work with you.

Adjective Form Stays the Same

Since 'arrogante' ends in '-e', it is the same form whether you are describing a masculine person (el hombre arrogante) or a feminine person (la mujer arrogante). The only change is when you make it plural (arrogantes).

Using it as a Noun

You can turn the adjective into a noun (meaning 'an arrogant person') simply by putting the article 'el' or 'la' in front of it: 'Vi a un arrogante en la calle' (I saw an arrogant guy on the street).

Gender Change Error

Mistake: “Using 'arroganto' for a man or 'arroganta' for a woman.”

Correction: The correct form is always 'arrogante' for both genders. It does not follow the typical '-o' for masculine, '-a' for feminine pattern.

creído

AdjectiveB1Informal
Use 'creído' to describe someone who thinks they are better than others, often implying they are conceited or stuck-up.

Examples

No me gusta trabajar con él, es un poco creído.

I don't like working with him, he's a bit conceited.

orgulloso

/or-goo-YOH-soh//oɾ.ɣuˈʎo.so/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'orgulloso' when someone's arrogance stems from excessive pride, making them unwilling to admit fault or show humility.
A character standing on a small platform with an arrogant, conceited expression, looking down dismissively at others.

Examples

Es demasiado orgulloso para admitir que se equivocó.

He is too arrogant/haughty to admit he was wrong.

Nadie quería trabajar con él porque tenía una actitud muy orgullosa.

No one wanted to work with him because he had a very conceited attitude.

No seas tan orgulloso; a veces necesitas ayuda.

Don't be so arrogant; sometimes you need help.

Estar vs. Ser for Pride

When 'orgulloso' means arrogant or conceited (a personality trait), you usually use the verb 'ser'. Example: 'Él es orgulloso' (He is an arrogant person).

Negative Meaning Markers

Look for words like 'demasiado' (too much) or when the word is used to describe a bad 'actitud' (attitude) to signal the negative sense.

vano

/VAH-noh//ˈba.no/

AdjectiveB2General
Use 'vano' when the arrogance is linked to excessive concern with one's appearance or achievements, implying vanity.
A proud, flamboyant peacock sitting high on a pedestal, looking down condescendingly at several tiny, admiring field mice below, depicting vanity.

Examples

Ella es muy vana; solo se mira en el espejo.

She is very vain; she only looks at herself in the mirror.

Sus palabras eran vanas y superficiales.

His words were empty (vain) and superficial.

Choosing Between 'Arrogante' and 'Creído'

Learners often confuse 'arrogante' and 'creído.' While both mean arrogant, 'arrogante' is a more direct description of behavior and personality, whereas 'creído' specifically implies someone who *thinks* they are superior, often in a conceited way.

Related Translations

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