Inklingo

How to Say "humble" in Spanish

English → Spanish

humilde

oo-MEEL-deh/uˈmil.de/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'humilde' to describe someone who doesn't think they are better than others, often related to their personality, character, or social status, even if they are successful.
A child carefully sharing a small piece of cake with an elderly woman, looking down slightly with modesty.

Examples

A pesar de su fama, el actor es muy humilde con sus fans.

Despite his fame, the actor is very humble with his fans.

Ella siempre tiene una actitud humilde y escucha a los demás.

She always has a modest attitude and listens to others.

Necesitas ser más humilde y reconocer tus errores.

You need to be more humble and recognize your mistakes.

Adjective Agreement (The -e ending)

Since 'humilde' ends in an -e, it is used for both masculine and feminine people or things. You only need to change the ending when making it plural: 'humildes'.

Confusing 'humilde' and 'orgulloso'

Mistake: “Using 'orgulloso' (proud) when you mean 'humilde' (humble). Remember, 'orgulloso' can sometimes mean overly arrogant.”

Correction: Use 'humilde' for someone who is modest and doesn't boast.

sencilla

sen-SEE-yah/senˈsiʝa/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'sencilla' to describe someone who is modest, unpretentious, and down-to-earth, often implying a simple lifestyle or manner, even if they are famous.
A person wearing simple, unadorned clothes sitting quietly on a wooden bench in a small, tidy garden, reading a book, representing a modest character.

Examples

A pesar de ser famosa, la actriz es muy sencilla con sus fans.

Despite being famous, the actress is very humble/down-to-earth with her fans.

Prefiere la ropa sencilla a las marcas caras.

She prefers modest clothing to expensive brands.

Humilde vs. Sencilla

Learners often confuse 'humilde' and 'sencilla' when describing someone famous but not arrogant. 'Humilde' focuses more on a lack of pride and a recognition of one's own limitations or social standing. 'Sencilla' emphasizes being unpretentious and relatable, like an 'everyperson'.

Related Translations

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