German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Shy" in German: schüchtern
schüchtern
Shy in German is schüchtern. Say Ich bin schüchtern or Er wirkt schüchtern. A softer near-synonym is zurückhaltend, which sounds less like fear and more like reserve.
First day at a course
Am Anfang war ich ziemlich schüchtern.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce schüchtern
Say it
SHUEKH-tern
/ˈʃyːçtɐn/
SHUEKH-tern. Ü like ee with rounded lips. Soft ch before t.
"Shy" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| schüchtern | shy Core adjective. | Core adjective. |
| ich bin schüchtern | I am shy Self-description. | Self-description. |
| etwas schüchtern | a bit shy Softer degree. | Softer degree. |
| zurückhaltend | reserved Near alternative, less strong. | Near alternative, less strong. |
How to use schüchtern in real life
- 1First day at a course
Am Anfang war ich ziemlich schüchtern.
At the beginning I was pretty shy.
Self-description.
- 2Describing a child
Dein Sohn wirkt heute schüchtern.
Your son seems shy today.
Wirkt + adjective.
- 3Before a party
Sei nicht so schüchtern, komm mit rein.
Don't be so shy, come on in.
Friendly nudge.
Mistakes English speakers make with schüchtern
Incorrect: Ich habe schüchtern.
Correct: Ich bin schüchtern.
Use sein with adjectives of personality, not haben.
Incorrect: eine schüchtern Mädchen
Correct: ein schüchternes Mädchen
Neuter noun needs schüchternes.
Good to know
Calling yourself schüchtern is common and not dramatic. In group intros, Germans often give quiet people space; a small Hallo is enough without forcing small talk.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before joining a big table
ChatPal
Bist du schüchtern bei vielen Leuten?
Are you shy around lots of people?
You
Ein bisschen schüchtern, ja.
A bit shy, yes.
ChatPal
Okay. Wir setzen uns ruhig, nichts Schüchternes nötig.
Okay. We'll sit quietly; nothing shy required.
You
Danke. Dann fühle ich mich weniger schüchtern.
Thanks. Then I feel less shy.
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 German
How do you say I am shy?
Ich bin schüchtern.
Is zurückhaltend the same?
Close. Zurückhaltend is more reserved; schüchtern can sound shyer.
Comparative?
Schüchterner / am schüchternsten.
Shyness as a noun?
Die Schüchternheit.
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
