amour-propre
C2Formal, literary, academic.
Definition
Meaning
self-esteem; proper self-respect; sense of one's own dignity or worth.
An often inflated or sensitive regard for one's own personal standing, reputation, or accomplishments, which can lead to vanity or easily wounded pride. In philosophical contexts (e.g., Rousseau), it can denote a social, comparative self-love distinct from a natural instinct for self-preservation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a French loanword retained in English. Its meaning often lies between positive 'self-respect' and negative 'vanity' or 'excessive pride,' with context determining the precise connotation. It typically implies a sensitivity to how one is perceived by others.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally familiar in educated registers in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English due to historical French influence, but the distinction is minimal.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but encountered in literary criticism, psychology, philosophy, and sophisticated general writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + amour-propre (e.g., wound, flatter, soothe)amour-propre + [verb] (e.g., amour-propre suffered, amour-propre dictates)[possessive pronoun] + amour-propre (e.g., his amour-propre, their national amour-propre)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A blow to one's amour-propre”
- “To pander to someone's amour-propre”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of corporate culture or executive psychology: 'The merger failed partly due to the CEO's wounded amour-propre.'
Academic
Common in literary studies, philosophy (especially discussing Rousseau), and psychology texts analysing self-concept and social comparison.
Everyday
Very rare. Used for deliberate, sophisticated effect: 'His refusal to apologise was pure amour-propre.'
Technical
Not used in STEM fields. Confined to humanities and social sciences.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His amour-propre was hurt when they didn't choose him for the team.
- The diplomat's delicate amour-propre made negotiations particularly challenging, as any perceived slight could derail the talks.
- Rousseau distinguished between amour de soi, a natural instinct for self-preservation, and amour-propre, a socially generated and comparative form of self-love that breeds envy and conflict.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'AMOUR' (love in French) for 'PROPRE' (own/clean). It's 'love for one's own (self)', i.e., self-love or self-regard.
Conceptual Metaphor
AMOUR-PROPRE IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (that can be wounded, bruised, inflated, polished). AMOUR-PROPRE IS A SENSITIVE ORGAN (that can be hurt, soothed, stroked).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with simple 'self-love' (себятолюбие) or 'selfishness' (эгоизм). It is closer to 'самолюбие' or 'чувство собственного достоинства', with a nuance of social sensitivity.
- Avoid direct calques like 'proper love'. The term is a fixed unit.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'amour propre' (without hyphen).
- Incorrect plural: 'amours-propres' (correct) vs. 'amour-propres'.
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the first syllable of 'amour' in English (it's /əˈmʊə/).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'amour-propre' most accurately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It can neutrally mean 'self-respect' or negatively imply 'excessive vanity' or 'oversensitive pride.' The surrounding text clarifies the tone.
In British English: /ˌamʊə ˈprɒpr(ə)/. In American English: /əˌmʊr ˈproʊpr(ə)/. The 'r' in 'propre' is pronounced in American English but often silent in British English.
The correct plural is 'amours-propres', following French rules where both elements are made plural.
It is very formal and literary. In everyday speech, native speakers would typically use 'pride', 'self-esteem', or 'ego' instead, reserving 'amour-propre' for deliberate, sophisticated effect.