embarazoso

em-bah-rah-SOH-soh

embarrassing?a situation that makes you feel self-conscious

Also:awkward?an uncomfortable or tricky moment

📝 In Action

Fue un momento muy embarazoso cuando olvidé su nombre.

It was a very embarrassing moment when I forgot her name.

Hubo un silencio embarazoso en la cena.

There was an awkward silence at the dinner.

Es embarazoso admitir que me equivoqué.

It is embarrassing to admit that I was wrong.

This word is almost always used with the verb 'ser' (to be) because it describes a characteristic of an event or a situation.

The ending changes to -a (embarazosa) if you are describing a feminine word, like 'una situación'.

Mistake: "Using 'embarazoso' to say you are pregnant."

Correction: Use 'embarazada' for a person who is pregnant. 'Embarazoso' only means a situation is awkward.

Mistake: "Saying 'Estoy embarazoso' to mean 'I am embarrassed'."

Correction: Say 'Me siento avergonzado' or 'Tengo vergüenza'. 'Embarazoso' describes the thing that causes the feeling, not the person feeling it.

If you want to say a situation is cringey or makes everyone feel weird, 'embarazoso' is your best friend.

Question 1 of 2

Which of these would you call 'embarazoso'?

Does 'embarazoso' mean pregnant?

No. While the words look similar, 'embarazoso' means embarrassing or awkward. 'Embarazada' (with an 'a' at the end) means pregnant.

If I feel embarrassed, can I say 'estoy embarazoso'?

No, that sounds like you are saying you are an 'awkward situation'. To say you feel embarrassed, use 'estoy avergonzado' or 'me da vergüenza'.