Hybris
/ˈhyːbʁɪs/feminine
The English word 'hubris' can be translated into German using several terms, most commonly Hybris. Wiktionary also lists Überheblichkeit and Hochmut.
Meaning: excessive arrogance, presumption, or pride (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hybris | /ˈhyːbʁɪs/ | feminine |
| Überheblichkeit | /yːbɐˈheːplɪçkaɪ̯t/ | feminine |
| Hochmut | /ˈhoːχˌmuːt/ | masculine |
| Dünkel | /ˈdʏŋkəl/ | masculine |
| Selbstüberschätzung | feminine |
All the terms provided describe different facets of excessive arrogance, presumption or pride.
Which one should you use?
Überheblichkeit is the most common way to describe a person's arrogant attitude in everyday German. Hochmut is a more literary term that often carries a moral or religious connotation of pride that leads to a downfall. Selbstüberschätzung is a neutral, more clinical or descriptive term that focuses on the error of miscalculating one's own abilities rather than a personality trait. Hybris is a loanword from Greek used primarily in academic, literary or philosophical contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Hybris and Überheblichkeit are feminine nouns. Hochmut and Dünkel are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhyːbʁɪs/
Did you know?
- The word Dünkel is believed to have been popularized or even coined by the famous reformer Martin Luther during his work on the Bible.
- The word Überheblichkeit literally suggests the act of 'lifting oneself' above others, coming from the verb heben meaning 'to lift'.
- The word Hochmut is composed of two parts: hoch meaning 'high' and Mut meaning 'mood' or 'spirit'. It literally describes a 'high-spiritedness' that has curdled into pride.
Examples in context
- Seine Hybris wurde letztendlich sein Untergang.His hubris eventually led to his downfall.
- Sein Hochmut wird ihm noch Probleme bereiten.His arrogance will cause him problems.
- Seine grenzenlose Hybris führte zu seinem Fall.His boundless hubris led to his downfall.
- Sie zeigte einen deutlichen Hochmut gegenüber den anderen Spielern.She displayed a clear arrogance towards the other players.
- Seine Hybris führte letztendlich zu seinem Fall.His hubris ultimately led to his downfall.
- Die Hybris des Königs war sein Untergang.The king's hubris was his undoing.
- Man darf nicht von Hybris sprechen.One must not speak of hubris.
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are discussing a character in a classic play.
- LukasGlaubst du, der Held zeigt zu viel Hybris?Do you think the hero shows too much hubris?
- LauraJa, seine Hybris ist wirklich extrem.Yes, his hubris is truly extreme.
- LukasDas macht die Tragödie so interessant.That makes the tragedy so interesting.
- LauraAbsolut, er erkennt seine Fehler nie.Absolutely, he never recognizes his mistakes.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hubris” translations and entries Hybris, Überheblichkeit, Hochmut, Dünkel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dünkel, Hochmut, Überheblichkeit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
