humánus

Humánus is an adjective expressing qualities related to humanity, kindness, or civility. In Latin, humānus described things pertaining to humans, including cultivated or refined manners. In modern usage, it is often encountered in discussions of ethics, education, and humane treatment, reflecting a standard of compassion and consideration toward others, including animals.

Etymology and linguistic reach. The term originates from Classical Latin humānus and is the source of English words such as humane and human, through historical pathways including Old French and Norman influence. In some languages, notably Hungarian, the form humánus is used as a loanword meaning humane or humane-like, retaining the sense of kindness and civil behavior. The noun form humanitas in Latin carried a broader Aristotelian–Stoic sense of humaneness, culture, and education, influencing later philosophical and humanistic traditions.

Usage and context. In philosophy and ethics, humānus and the related noun humanitas denote a cultivated humanity—the capacity for empathy, social responsibility, and the pursuit of humane policies. In contemporary English, humane specifically describes compassionate treatment of living beings (for example, humane laws or humane slaughter). The term is also linked to humanitarianism and the broader idea of civilizational progress, emphasizing alleviation of suffering and respectful conduct.

See also. Humane, humanity, humanism, humaneness, humanitarianism.