French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Shy" in French: timide
timide
Shy in French is timide. Say Je suis timide or Il/Elle est timide. Soften with un peu timide when someone is only a bit reserved.
Meeting new classmates
Au début j'étais timide devant tout le monde.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce timide
Say it
tee-MEED
/ti.mid/
tee-MEED. Stress on second syllable; final d soft, almost like t.
"Shy" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| timide | shy Adjective for any gender in writing; spoken same. | Adjective for any gender in writing; spoken same. |
| être timide | to be shy With être. | With être. |
| un peu timide | a bit shy Softer. | Softer. |
| trop timide | too shy Stronger. | Stronger. |
How to use timide in real life
- 1Meeting new classmates
Au début j'étais timide devant tout le monde.
At first I was shy in front of everyone.
Timide after être.
- 2Describing a friend
Elle est timide, mais très drôle une fois détendue.
She's shy, but very funny once she relaxes.
Common character sketch.
- 3Encouraging someone
Ne sois pas timide, pose ta question.
Don't be shy—ask your question.
Ne sois pas timide is everyday coaching.
Mistakes English speakers make with timide
Incorrect: J'ai timide.
Correct: Je suis timide.
Use être, not avoir, with timide.
Incorrect: Il est timidee.
Correct: Il est timide. / Elle est timide.
Timide already works for masculine and feminine in the base form.
Good to know
Calling someone timide is usually gentle, not an insult. In groups, people may say Allez, sois pas timide to nudge a quieter friend to speak.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before joining a busy dinner table
ChatPal
Tu te sens timide avec ces gens-là ?
Do you feel shy with those people?
You
Un peu timide, oui, je ne les connais pas.
A bit shy, yes—I don't know them.
ChatPal
Reste près de moi. Personne ne juge.
Stay near me. Nobody's judging.
You
Merci. Ça m'aide vraiment.
Thanks. That really helps.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Shy" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Shy" in French
How do you say shy in French?
Timide.
How do I say I am shy?
Je suis timide.
Can I say un peu timide?
Yes—that softens it.
How do you pronounce timide?
tee-MEED.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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