vanidad

vanity

noun bah-nee-DAHD Rare

Origin: From Latin vanitas (emptiness, futility).

Usage Note

Vanidad covers both the sense of excessive pride in one's appearance and the broader philosophical sense of futility (la vanidad de la gloria = 'the emptiness of glory'). The adjective is vanidoso/a. The biblical phrase vanidad de vanidades ('vanity of vanities') is widely recognised in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Examples

"Su vanidad le impedía reconocer sus errores."

Natural Translation

Her vanity prevented her from recognising her mistakes.

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