anima: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialized / Literary
Quick answer
What does “anima” mean?
In Jungian psychology, the feminine aspect of a man's unconscious personality. More generally, the inner personality or soul, especially as opposed to the outer persona.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In Jungian psychology, the feminine aspect of a man's unconscious personality. More generally, the inner personality or soul, especially as opposed to the outer persona.
Can be used more broadly to refer to the innermost self, the life principle, or the motivating force of a living being, though this is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or application. The term is used identically in both academic and literary contexts.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of Jungian psychology, depth psychology, and literary analysis. Can seem pretentious or overly technical if used outside appropriate contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Usage is almost exclusively confined to psychological, literary, and occasionally philosophical texts. No regional variation in frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “anima” in a Sentence
[possessive] + anima (e.g., 'his anima')the anima of + [noun phrase] (e.g., 'the anima of the artist')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anima” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form]
American English
- [No verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form]
American English
- [No adverb form]
adjective
British English
- [No direct adjective form. Related: 'animatic']
American English
- [No direct adjective form. Related: 'animatic']
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in psychology, literary criticism, and cultural studies. Example: 'The essay explores the protagonist's anima as a symbol of his repressed creativity.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be confusing to most listeners.
Technical
Core term in analytical (Jungian) psychology. Example: 'The therapist helped him integrate his anima.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anima”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'soul' in everyday speech.
- Confusing it with 'animus' (the masculine counterpart in a woman's psyche).
- Pronouncing it as /əˈnaɪ.mə/ (like 'enemy').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised term from psychology and is rarely used in everyday English.
In Jungian psychology, 'anima' is the feminine archetype in a man's unconscious, while 'animus' is the masculine archetype in a woman's unconscious.
In a very broad, literary sense it can be used similarly to 'soul' or 'inner spirit', but this is not its primary, technical meaning and is uncommon.
In British English: /ˈæn.ɪ.mə/. In American English: /ˈæn.ə.mə/. The stress is on the first syllable.
In Jungian psychology, the feminine aspect of a man's unconscious personality. More generally, the inner personality or soul, especially as opposed to the outer persona.
Anima is usually specialized / literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANIMA sounds like 'anima-tion' or 'animal'—it's the inner, living force (anima) of a person, like the soul.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INNER SELF IS A FEMININE ENTITY (for men in Jungian theory); THE SOUL IS A HIDDEN COMPANION.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'anima' most precisely and technically defined?