What Does snob Mean
Snob is a word of the English language that, in our language, is used frequently. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), however, does not accept the term, but instead includes the term snob .
A snobbish or snobbish individual is one who seeks to copy and imitate the style, appearance, customs and opinions of people whom he considers refined or distinguished. In this way, the snob is someone who reproduces what the intellectual elite or the upper class do and say , since they aspire to belong to these groups.
In general, the snob develops a behavior of imitation of the group to which he would like to belong, copying the way of speaking, clothing and consumption. Simultaneously, the snob tries to differentiate himself from the individuals whom he takes as part of lower groups, despising them. The snob, in short, seeks an identification with the group that he considers "superior" and a differentiation from the group he considers "inferior" .
Take the case of a person of middle class aspiring to raise their social status. Said individual purchases counterfeit clothing that mimics fashion brands , since he has no money to buy the original clothing used by the rich. On the other hand, he starts eating sushi frequently because the dish is popular with wealthy people. The subject also tends to criticize those who practice domestic tourism, stating that the best destinations are abroad . All these questions would allow us to affirm that the person in question is a snob.
Given the importance of technology in modern life, it is not uncommon for a snobbish individual to want to access it, and to do so with a view to the most expensive and exclusive products. Mobile phones are a vital element today, and for their massification it was necessary to create several ranges, with various benefits; but a snob would not settle for any product below the high end .
Another popular habit among snobbish people is the taste for certain foods. Most tend to appreciate exotic cuisine . For this reason, it is extremely common for them to go to luxury restaurants and only consume delicate products. Among the gastronomy preferred by the snobby public are the Japanese and Chinese, which are generally enjoyed with chopsticks and utensils typical of these countries.
It is also common for a snob to appreciate conversations of a certain prestige; For that reason, he only interacts with people who belong to his circle, who usually have similar purchasing power and tastes. In these exchanges abound lacerating criticism of every individual who is not part of the group of exquisite and adulation to those who have a style of glamorous life and a job that allows prestige afford an authentic life of snobbish. It should be noted that the great contradiction of the snob is that he never achieves the status he desires, which is why his position is somewhat fictitious.
In the etymology of the word snob we find a very interesting case, which explains the origin of its derogatory nuance, since it is used to negatively qualify a person. According to the experts of the language, it is a contraction of sine nobilitate , a Latin phrase that can be translated as "without nobility ".
According to the philosopher and essayist José Ortega y Gasset, the origin of this particular contraction of two Latin terms arose from the fact that the old lists of neighbors in England showed their respective trades and ranks alongside the names ; in this way, people belonging to the bourgeoisie corresponded with an «s. nob ', which indicated' no nobility '.