What it's NOT
condescend does NOT translate to condescender.
To say "condescender" in English, use to comply / to yield.
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False cognate · False friend
condescend
Does NOT mean condescender
It means to treat someone as inferior
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
condescend means to treat someone as inferior.
Why it's confused
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.
How it's pronounced
condescendcon-de-SÉND
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Examples of correct use
English
Don't condescend to me.
Spanish
No me trates con superioridad.
English
She never condescends to her team.
Spanish
Nunca trata a su equipo por encima del hombro.
A trick to remember it
Condescend = to treat someone as inferior (negative). To comply/yield (Spanish "condescender") = comply/yield.
Mini quiz
"Don't condescend to me" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "condescend" mean in English?
"Condescend" means "to treat someone as inferior". It looks a lot like "condescender", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "condescender" in English?
To say "condescender" in English, use "to comply / to yield". If you use "condescend" instead, you would actually be saying "to treat someone as inferior".
Do "condescend" and "condescender" mean the same thing?
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.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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