humilde

Humilde is an adjective used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote humility or modesty, as well as a simple, unpretentious condition. It derives from Latin humilis, meaning “low” or “ground,” and developed in the Romance languages to describe people, actions, or things that are not pretentious. In both languages, the term is closely tied to virtue or restraint, and has noun counterparts: humildad in Spanish and humildade in Portuguese.

Usage and nuances vary slightly by language but are broadly similar. In Spanish, humildde can describe a person of modest means or a person who acts without vanity: for example, una vivienda humilde (a modest home) or una persona humilde (a humble person). In religious or ethical contexts, humility is a virtue, with expressions such as ser humilde or mostrar humildad. In contemporary speech, humildness can also be noted in self-effacing or conciliatory tones. In Portuguese, the sense is parallel: uma pessoa humilde, uma vida humilde, emphasizing simplicity or modest social status, with humildade as the corresponding noun.

Related terms and contrasts are useful for nuance. Modesto is a near synonym in both languages, often focusing on modesty or restraint, while orgulhoso or arrogante express the opposite attitude. A related verb in both languages means to humiliate (humillar in Spanish, humilhar in Portuguese) but is semantically distinct from humble as an adjective. In cultural contexts, humility is frequently associated with pastoral, religious, or egalitarian ideals.