Inklingo

How to Say "haughty" in Spanish

English → Spanish

orgulloso

or-goo-YOH-sohoɾ.ɣuˈʎo.so

adjectiveB1general
Use this when someone is haughty because they feel superior and are unwilling to admit fault or lower themselves.
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 proud/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.

arrogante

ah-rroh-GAHN-teha.roˈɣan.te

adjectiveB1general
This is a direct and common translation for haughty, often implying an unpleasant and overt display of superiority or conceit.
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.

soberbio

so-BEHR-byohsoˈβeɾβjo

adjectiveB1general
Use this for someone who is haughty due to excessive pride and a strong belief in their own superiority over others.
A man standing with his nose in the air and arms crossed, looking down at others with a haughty expression.

Examples

No seas tan soberbio y pide ayuda si la necesitas.

Don't be so arrogant/haughty and ask for help if you need it.

Su actitud soberbia le impide reconocer sus propios errores.

His haughty attitude prevents him from recognizing his own mistakes.

Era un hombre rico y soberbio que despreciaba a los demás.

He was a rich and arrogant man who looked down on others.

Using with Ser vs Estar

Use 'ser' when describing someone's permanent personality, but use 'estar' if someone is just acting arrogant in a specific moment.

The False Friend Trap

Mistake: “Using 'soberbio' only as a compliment.”

Correction: In English, 'superb' is always good. In Spanish, 'soberbio' usually means 'arrogant' when describing a person.

Choosing Between Orgulloso, Arrogante, and Soberbio

Learners often confuse these words, but 'orgulloso' leans towards pride that makes someone unwilling to admit fault. 'Arrogante' is a more general, often negative, term for showing superiority, while 'soberbio' emphasizes extreme pride and a belief in being better than others.

Related Translations

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