3

Consider the phrase:

This experience humbled me.

I think that it has a different meaning than

This experience humilliated me

Is there a similar verb for this in Spanish?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

I can't get a specific verb right now but let me offer two locuciones verbales. I think that the equivalent in English are named phrasal verbs.

According to the DLE

bajarle a alguien los humos

  1. loc. verb. coloq. Domar su altivez.

According to the Oxford Dictionary (and the DLE as well)

poner en su sitio
LOCUCIÓN

  1. Hacer saber claramente a una persona cuál es su situación o función en un lugar y no consentirle un comportamiento inadecuado cuando se excede en sus atribuciones o actúa con excesiva familiaridad.

EN (translation by me)

  1. Show someone clearly what is his place or function in a situation and do not let him behave inadequately when he exceeds his attributions or acts with excesive familiarity.

If you check the meaning of humble as a verb in the Oxford Dictionary

Cause (someone) to feel less important or proud.

or in the Cambridge Dictionary

to make someone understand that they are not as important or special as they thought

When the DLE states that you show someone what is his place, you're letting him know what is his real importance in relation with others in a specific situation. The first expression bajarle a alguien los humos is a synonym of poner a alguien en su sitio.

Applying those in your sentences, it would be

La experiencia me bajó los humos.
La experiencia me puso en mi sitio.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    poner en su sitio is to put someone in his/her/their place
    – Lambie
    Commented Sep 30, 2021 at 13:35
2

The short answer is no, humble (humilde) is used as an adjective in Spanish but for the phrase

This experience humbled me.

You could write something like

This experience made me humble = Esta experiencia me hizo humilde

Or

This experience taught me something = Esta experiencia me enseño algo

Improve this answer
3
  • 4
    OP no pregunta si puede usar "humilde" como verbo en español, sino un verbo equivalente a "to humble". La segunda opción que presentas no tiene que ver con la frase que se pretende traducir, no es lo mismo "humble" que "taught me something".
    – RubioRic
    Commented Sep 30, 2021 at 14:41
  • @RubioRic My dictionary says that "to humble" is: dar una lección de humildad, so that's not far off.
    – nopaltepec
    Commented Sep 30, 2021 at 22:44
  • @nopaltepec De "enseñarme algo" a "dar una lección de humildad" va un salto bastante grande. No hay ni una palabra en común! Tu paralelismo es más o menos correcto pero en ambas frases no hay ni una sola palabra en común!
    – RubioRic
    Commented Oct 1, 2021 at 9:21

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.