Definition
As a verb, to underestimate means to think that someone or something is less strong, important, or capable than it really is. As a noun, an underestimate is a guess that is too low.
Etymology
Formed from "under-" meaning below, plus "estimate" from Latin "aestimare" meaning to value. It literally means valuing something too low.
Kelly Says
When people say "never underestimate" something, they’re warning you that your mental picture is probably too small. We tend to underestimate slow, steady change and overestimate sudden, dramatic events.
Translations
BNবাংলা
কম আশা করা
kɔm ɑ.ʃa kɔ.ɾa
CACatalà
subestimar
su.bes.ti.mɑr
CSČeština
podceňovat
pɔt.tɕɛ.ɲɔ.vat
DADansk
underskønne
ʊn.dər.ˈskœnə
DEDeutsch
unterschätzen
ʊn.tɐ.ʃɛt.sən
ELΕλληνικά
υποτιμάω
i.po.ti.mɑ.ɔ
ESEspañol
subestimar
su.bes.ti.mɑr
FAفارسی
زیر برآورد کردن
ziɾ bɾɑ.ɔɾd kɾ.dɛn
FISuomi
aliarvioida
ɑ.li.ɑr.vi.ɔi.dɑ
FRFrançais
sous-estimer
su.ɛs.ti.me
GUGU
ઓછી આંકવવું
ɔ.tʃʰi ɑːn.kɔ.vʊ
HAHA
ƙarancin ƙima
kɑ.rɑn.tɕɪn kɪ.mɑ
HEעברית
להעריך בנמוך
lɛ.ha.ʁi.ʔaχ bɛ.nɛ.mɔaχ
HIहिन्दी
कम आंकना
kɐm ɑːn.kɐ.nɑ
HUMagyar
alulbecsülni
ɑ.lu.l.bɛ.tʃylni
IDBahasa Indonesia
menganggap remeh
mə.ŋaŋ.gap rɛ.mɛh
ITItaliano
sottovalutare
sot.to.vɑ.lu.tɑ.re
KKKK
төмендеу
tɔ.mɛn.de.u
KMKM
កាត់បន្ថយ
kaːt bɑn.tʰɑj
KO한국어
저평가하다
dʑɛ.pʰjɔŋ.ɡɑ.ha.da
MSBahasa Melayu
menganggap remeh
mə.ŋaŋ.gap rɛ.mɛh
MYမြန်မာ
နည်းပညာရှိ
nɛ́.pɪ.njɑ́ ʃɪ
NLNederlands
onderschatten
ɔn.dər.ˈsxɑ.tən
NONorsk
underskatt
ʉn.dər.ˈskat
PAPA
ਘਟ ਅੰਦਾਜ਼ਾ
ɡʰaṭ ɑn.dɑ.ʒɑ
PLPolski
zaniżać
za.ɲi.ʐɑtɕ
PTPortuguês
subestimar
su.bes.ti.mɑr
RORomână
subestima
su.bes.ti.mɑ
RUРусский
недооценивать
nʲɪ.dɐ.ɐ.tɕɛ.nʲɪ.vɑtʲ
SVSvenska
underskatta
ʉn.dər.ˈskɑt.a
SWKiswahili
kutokuwa na thamani
ku.to.ku.wa nɑ tʰɑ.mɑ.ni
TAதமிழ்
குறைவாக மதிப்பிடு
ku.ɾɛi.vɑːk mɑ.ði.ppi.ɖu
TEతెలుగు
తక్కువ అంచనా
tɑk.ku.vɑ ɑn.tɕɑ.nɑ
TLTL
sulat sa ibaba
su.lɑt sɑ ɪ.bɑ.bɑ
TRTürkçe
küçümsemek
ky.tʃym.se.mek
UKУкраїнська
недооцінювати
nɛ.do.ɔ.tɕɛ.nʲu.vɑ.tɪ
URاردو
کم اندازہ لگانا
kəm ɑn.dɑ.zɑ lɑ.ɡɑ.nɑ
VITiếng Việt
thấp hơn
tʰɑp ʔɣɛn
ZUZU
ukwenza ngokwengokwane
u.kʷɛn.zɑ ŋɡo.kʷɛ.nɡɔ.nɛ
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
The verb itself is neutral, but it frequently appears in discourse about systemic underestimation of women’s abilities, leadership potential, and technical competence. This reflects long-standing social biases where women’s contributions were discounted or overlooked.
Inclusive Usage
When describing patterns of underestimation, be explicit about structural and historical factors rather than implying that women or any group are inherently less confident or less capable. Avoid framing underestimation as an individual flaw of the underestimated group.
Empowerment Note
When discussing how women have been underestimated, name concrete examples of women whose work was minimized or credited to men, such as Rosalind Franklin in molecular biology or Ada Lovelace in computing.