Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Shy" in Italian: timido/a
timido/a
Shy in Italian is timido for a man and timida for a woman (TEE-mee-doh / TEE-mee-dah). Plural forms are timidi and timide.
First day at class
All'inizio ero molto timido.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce timido/a
Say it
TEE-mee-doh
/ˈti.mi.do/
Timido stresses TEE: TEE-mee-doh. Keep all vowels clear; do not swallow the middle i.
"Shy" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| timido | shy (masculine) Describing a man or boy. | Describing a man or boy. |
| timida | shy (feminine) Describing a woman or girl. | Describing a woman or girl. |
| un po' timido | a bit shy Softer, kinder wording. | Softer, kinder wording. |
| non essere timido | don't be shy Encouragement to speak up. | Encouragement to speak up. |
How to use timido/a in real life
- 1First day at class
All'inizio ero molto timido.
At the beginning I was very shy.
Timido with essere.
- 2Talking about a friend
Lei è timida con le persone nuove.
She is shy with new people.
Timida matches lei.
- 3Gentle nudge
Non essere timido: fai una domanda.
Don't be shy: ask a question.
Imperative with timido.
Mistakes English speakers make with timido/a
Incorrect: Sono timida (said by a man).
Correct: Sono timido.
Match your own gender ending.
Incorrect: Ho timido.
Correct: Sono timido.
Use essere, not avere, with timido.
Good to know
Calling someone timido is usually gentle, not an insult. Italians may also say riservato for reserved, while timido points more to social nervousness with new people.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a group dinner
ChatPal
Sei un po' timido stasera?
Are you a bit shy tonight?
You
Sì. Con gente nuova resto timido.
Yes. With new people I stay shy.
ChatPal
Va bene. Non serve forzare se sei timido.
That's fine. No need to force it if you're shy.
You
Grazie. Dopo due minuti sono meno timido.
Thanks. After two minutes I'm 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 Italian
Timido or timida?
Timido for masculine, timida for feminine; match the person you describe.
How do I say don't be shy?
Non essere timido / non essere timida.
Is shy the same as embarrassed?
Embarrassed is imbarazzato; timido is a lasting trait or social caution.
What is the plural?
Timidi (m) and timide (f).
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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