proud
/praʊd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Feeling pleased about your own success, or about someone connected to you. It can also mean having too much self-respect, so you may seem arrogant.
- She felt proud of her exam results.
- He is proud of his daughter's achievements.
- Don't be too proud to ask for help.
Adinary Nuance
Proud is often positive, but it can sound negative if it means someone thinks too highly of themselves. It is different from happy, which only means you feel joy, and from pleased, which is milder and more polite. Compared with arrogant, proud can still sound respectful when you are talking about real achievement. In Indian English and formal writing, proud is common in phrases like "proud of" and "feel proud."
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tự hào
- Spanish
- orgulloso
- Chinese
- 自豪的
- Japanese
- 誇り高い
- Korean
- 자랑스러운
Etymology
Proud comes from Old English prūd and was influenced by Old French prude and related forms. It has been used in English for many centuries, with both positive and negative senses.
Common phrases
proud offeel proudproud momentproud parent
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is proud always a positive word?
- No. It can mean good self-respect, but it can also mean arrogance.
- What is the difference between proud and pleased?
- Pleased is softer and more polite. Proud is stronger and often shows personal connection or achievement.
- Can I say proud of someone?
- Yes. Use it when someone close to you has done something good.
- Is proud common in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in speeches, reports, and everyday English.