Proud Of or Proud For? Which Is Correct?
Quick Answer
"Proud of" is correct. Say "I'm proud of you," not "I'm proud for you."
The Rule
Proud of = the standard preposition to use with "proud"
In English, we are "proud of" someone or something. This is a fixed collocation - "proud" almost always takes the preposition "of."
Note: Some people informally say "proud for you" to mean "happy on your behalf," but this is not standard. Use "happy for you" instead.
What Follows "Proud Of"?
- • People: I'm proud of my daughter.
- • Oneself: You should be proud of yourself.
- • Achievements: She's proud of her accomplishments.
- • Things: We're proud of our work.
- • Gerunds: I'm proud of finishing the marathon.
Examples
✔I am so proud of you!
✘I am so proud for you!
✔We are proud of our team's success.
✘We are proud for our team's success.
✔She is proud of being a doctor.
✔He's proud of what he achieved.
Proud Of vs Happy For
PROUD OF
Feeling pride in someone's achievement
"I'm proud of you for graduating."
HAPPY FOR
Feeling joy on someone's behalf
"I'm happy for you about the new job."
Both expressions are correct but have slightly different meanings. Don't confuse them!
Practice
Choose the correct preposition:
"My parents are very proud _____ my achievements." (of/for)