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condescend and Spanish condescender
In English
condescend
to treat someone as inferior
In Spanish
condescender
acceder por amabilidad
Spanish "condescender" means: to comply / to yield
Why they get mixed up Spanish "condescender" can mean to kindly agree to something, almost like a favor. English "condescend" has a negative connotation: to treat someone with superiority or in a patronizing way.
If you want to say...
- condescendtratar con superioridad
- give incondescender
- patronizingpaternalista
Examples
Don't condescend to me.
No me trates con superioridad.
She never condescends to her team.
Nunca trata a su equipo por encima del hombro.
He condescends to everyone who doesn't have a degree.
Trata con superioridad a todo el que no tiene un título.
Nobody likes a manager who condescends.
A nadie le gusta un jefe que se cree superior.
Common mistakes in Spanish
Incorrect: El jefe condescendió conmigo y me trató como a un niño.
Correct: El jefe me trató con superioridad como a un niño.
Condescender means to give in or yield. To talk down to someone, use "tratar con superioridad".
Incorrect: No me condescendas, sé lo que hago.
Correct: No me trates como a un tonto, sé lo que hago.
Use "tratar con superioridad" or "hablarme como a un niño" for condescend.
Phrases you will hear
- a condescending toneun tono condescendiente
- talk down to someonetratar con superioridad
- Don't condescend to me.No me trates con superioridad.
- condescensionactitud de superioridad
- a patronizing smileuna sonrisa paternalista
- to give inceder
In a conversation
- A:
Don't condescend to me!
¡No me trates con superioridad!
- B:
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to talk down to you.
Lo siento. No quise hablarte con superioridad.
- A:
You used a very condescending tone.
Usaste un tono muy condescendiente.
- B:
You're right. Let me explain again with respect.
Tienes razón. Déjame explicarlo otra vez con respeto.
Test yourself
"Don't condescend to me" means...
To remember it
Condescend = to treat someone as inferior (negative). To comply/yield (Spanish "condescender") = comply/yield.
Frequently asked questions
What does Spanish "condescender" mean?
Spanish "condescender" means "to comply / to yield". It looks like the English "condescend", which is exactly why it gets confused, but "condescend" means "to treat someone as inferior".
Does English "condescend" mean the same as Spanish "condescender"?
Spanish "condescender" can mean to kindly agree to something, almost like a favor. English "condescend" has a negative connotation: to treat someone with superiority or in a patronizing way.