Stolhed

Stolhed is a term used in Danish, Norwegian and related Nordic languages to denote the state or quality of being proud. It covers a range from healthy self-respect and dignity to excessive self-importance, depending on context. In everyday speech stolhed may describe both personal resolve and a sense of pride in one's work, family, or heritage, as well as a tendency toward arrogance when not kept in check.

Stolhed derives from an adjective meaning proud (stolt) with a suffix that forms abstract nouns describing a state or quality. Cognates appear in Swedish stolthet and Norwegian bokmål stolthet, with related forms across the Scandinavian languages. In Danish usage, stolthed is more common for the direct noun “pride,” but stolhed is encountered in older or dialectal texts and in linguistic discussions of the concept.

Stolhed is often framed within ethics and psychology as a virtue when balanced with humility, generosity, and responsibility; conversely, excessive stolhed can be linked to vanity or hubris. It features in literature, religion, and cultural discourse as a force that can inspire perseverance or alienate others, depending on its expression.

See also: Pride (virtue), Humility, Hubris, Self-esteem.