Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| горды́ня | gordýnja | feminine | |
| спесь | spesʹ | [spʲesʲ] (narrow) | feminine |
| зано́счивость | zanósčivostʹ | feminine | |
| высокоме́рие | vysokomérije | neuter | |
| чва́нство | čvánstvo | neuter | |
| го́нор | gónor | masculine |
The terms provided in this pack specifically refer to negative forms of pride, such as inordinate self-esteem, conceit or an unreasonable sense of superiority. For a positive sense of pride, such as feeling proud of an accomplishment, the standard Russian word is Гордость. If you want to express the act of being proud of someone or something, use the verb горди́ться.
What does it mean word for word?
The word высокоме́рие literally suggests a 'high' view of oneself, composed of высоко (high) and a root meaning to measure or think.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ significantly in their nuance. горды́ня implies a spiritual or moral vice of excessive pride, often used in religious or philosophical contexts. высокоме́рие describes the outward behavior of looking down on others. зано́счивость describes a specific type of pride characterized by being 'stuck up' or boastful in social interactions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the feeling of being proud of something using the verb горди́ться, you must follow it with the instrumental case. To describe someone or something as proud, you can use the adjective Гордый. To express 'a sense of pride', use the phrase Чувство гордости.
How do you pronounce it?
gordýnja
Did you know?
- The term го́нор is a colloquial shortening of the word гонор, which was originally borrowed from the Spanish word 'honor'.
- The word спесь is etymologically related to спеши́ть, which means 'to hurry'.
- While 'pride' is often an abstract quality in English, the Russian word зано́счивость evokes the image of someone being 'carried away' or 'thrown' in their behavior.
Examples in context
- Я горжусь своими достижениями.I take pride in my achievements.
- У нас в стране сильное чувство гордости за нашу историю.In our country, there is a strong sense of pride in our history.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pride” translations and entries спесь, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries спесь, CC BY-SA 4.0.
