Definition
An attitude or behavior that shows you believe you are superior to someone else; patronizing treatment or remarks that suggest disrespect.
Etymology
From Latin condescensio (con- + descendere 'to descend') + -ion suffix. This formal noun emerged in English in the 17th century to describe the social behavior of acting superior.
Kelly Says
Condescension is described by psychologists as 'benevolent' superiority—the condescender often doesn't see themselves as mean, but rather as being 'helpful' or 'understanding' toward someone they see as less capable, which makes it insidious because it can hide behind kindness.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ሰላም (selam)
se-lam
ARالعربية
تعالي (ta'ali)
ta-a-lee
CACatalà
soberbia
soh-breh-bee-ah
DADansk
overlegenhed
o-ver-le-gen-hed
DEDeutsch
Herablassung
he-rah-blas-sung
ELΕλληνικά
υπεροψία (hype-ro-psia)
hip-er-op-see-ah
ESEspañol
desprecio
des-pree-thee-oh
FAفارسی
arrogancia
ar-ro-gan-sia
FISuomi
yläpuolisuus
y-la-poo-li-soo-sus
FRFrançais
condescension
kon-desan-syon
HEעברית
גאווה (gavah)
gah-vah
HIहिन्दी
अहंकार (ahamkaar)
ah-ham-kaar
HUMagyar
kifogástalanság
kee-fo-gah-tah-lan-sahg
IDBahasa Indonesia
kesombongan
ke-som-bong-an
ITItaliano
arroganza
ar-ro-GAN-za
JA日本語
上から目線 (ukami-me-sen)
oo-ka-mee-meh-sen
KMKM
ការពិពណ៌នា (kaar pi-pivon-na)
kaar pi-pivon-na
KO한국어
거만함 (geo-man-ham)
geo-man-ham
MSBahasa Melayu
keangkuhan
ke-ang-ku-han
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော်များ (kyun taw ma)
kyun taw ma
NLNederlands
afgunst
af-goont
NONorsk
overlegenhet
o-ver-le-gen-het
PLPolski
pogardzanie
po-gard-za-nee
PTPortuguês
condescendência
kon-des-en-den-sa
RORomână
superbie
soo-per-bee-eh
RUРусский
высокомерие (vysokomerie)
vys-soh-me-ree-eh
SVSvenska
överlägsenhet
o-ver-la-gs-en-het
SWKiswahili
ukali
oo-koo-thee
TAதமிழ்
அகந்தை (akandhaai)
a-kan-thai
TEతెలుగు
అహంకారం (ahankaram)
ah-han-ka-raam
THไทย
ความดูถูก (khwam doo-thuk)
khwam doo-thuk
TLTL
pagmamalaki
pa-gma-ma-la-ki
TRTürkçe
hafiflik
ha-if-lik
UKУкраїнська
завива (zaviva)
za-vee-vah
URاردو
arrogancia
ar-ro-gan-sia
VITiếng Việt
sự khinh thường
su kha-nhinh-thuong
ZH中文
居高临下 (jū gāo lín xià)
joo gow lin hsia
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Condescension as a concept entered prominence in gendered contexts: 18th-19th century writings on 'women's education' used condescension to frame male instruction as benevolent while framing women's pedagogical authority as inappropriate. The term weaponized politeness.
Inclusive Usage
Specify behavior: what exactly communicated assumption of lesser knowledge or understanding? Condescension is interpretation—make the evidence clear.
Inclusive Alternatives
["dismissive framing","hierarchical communication","assumption of limited expertise","refusal to engage with stated knowledge"]
Empowerment Note
Women's intellectual contributions were systematically framed as requiring male 'condescension' (lowering oneself to explain); this language validated exclusion while calling it courtesy.