Spanish · Emotions & Descriptions
"Shy" in Spanish: tímido/a
tímido/a
Shy in Spanish is tímido or tímida. Say Soy tímido. Soy tímida. Tímido often names a lasting trait, so ser is common.
How to pronounce tímido: audio and sound guideMeeting new people
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How to pronounce tímido/a
Say it
TEE-mee-doh / TEE-mee-dah
/ˈti.mi.ðo/, /ˈti.mi.ða/
TEE-mee-doh / TEE-mee-dah. Stress TEE. Soft d between vowels.
"Shy" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| tímido | shy (masc.) Personality with ser. | Personality with ser. |
| tímida | shy (fem.) Feminine form. | Feminine form. |
| un poco tímido | a little shy Softer self-description. | Softer self-description. |
| por timidez | out of shyness Related noun phrase. | Related noun phrase. |
How to use tímido/a in real life
- 1Meeting new people
Soy tímido al principio.
I’m shy at first.
Soy tímido for a trait.
- 2At a party
Mi prima es tímida con desconocidos.
My cousin is shy with strangers.
Tímida agrees with prima.
- 3School talk
Los nuevos alumnos se ven tímidos.
The new students look shy.
Tímidos is masculine plural.
Mistakes English speakers make with tímido/a
Incorrect: Ella es tímido.
Correct: Ella es tímida.
Agree gender: tímida with ella.
Incorrect: Estoy tímido siempre.
Correct: Soy tímido.
Use ser with tímido for a lasting shy nature.
Good to know
Good to knowSoy tímido/a is a normal, non-rude self-label in Latin America. People soften it with un poco tímido/a. Timidez is the noun. For “reserved,” some also say reservado/a.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Arriving at a friend’s party
ChatPal
¿Estás tímido? Te presento a dos amigos.
Are you feeling shy? I’ll introduce two friends.
You
Sí, un poco tímido al entrar.
Yes, a little shy when I walk in.
ChatPal
Normal. Yo también fui tímido al principio.
Normal. I was shy at first too.
You
Gracias. Quédate cerca un momento.
Thanks. Stay close a moment.
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FAQ
Common questions about "Shy" in Spanish
How does gender work?
Tímido (m.), tímida (f.), plurals tímidos / tímidas.
Ser or estar?
Ser is common for shy personality: Soy tímido. Estar tímido can fit a shy moment.
How do I say a little shy?
Un poco tímido. / Un poco tímida.
What is the noun?
La timidez.
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