Condescendencia is a noun in Spanish.
/kondesɛnˈdenθja/ (using European Spanish phonetics)
Condescendencia refers to an attitude of patronizing superiority, where someone behaves as if they are more intelligent, more important, or better than others. In the Spanish language, it is often used to describe interactions where one person speaks to another in a way that implies a lack of respect or lowers the other person's status.
The frequency of use is moderate, often appearing in both oral speech and written contexts, especially in discussions related to interpersonal relationships, social behaviors, and criticisms.
His condescendence when explaining the topic made many feel uncomfortable.
La condescendencia en su tono era evidente y no ayudaba a la discusión.
The condescension in his tone was evident and did not help the discussion.
La condescendencia de algunos jefes puede desmotivar a los empleados.
While condescendencia itself might not be prevalent in fixed idiomatic expressions, the concept of condescension is often used in various contexts to describe behavior. Here are some expressions and sentences that incorporate the essence of the word:
Ella siempre actúa con condescendencia hacia sus colegas.
Condescender a alguien:
No debería condescender a tratar a sus amigos de esa manera.
Palabras de condescendencia:
Sus palabras de condescendencia hicieron que muchos se sintieran menospreciados.
Ver a otros con condescendencia:
The word condescendencia comes from the Latin root "condescendere", which means "to descend together." The prefix "con-" implies a joint or shared action, while "descendere" means "to descend". Over time, this term evolved to carry a more nuanced meaning in interaction styles between people, especially involving an imbalance in perceived status or intelligence.