tímido
/TEE-mee-doh/
shy
A squirrel displaying the personality trait of being shy.
tímido(adjective)
shy
?personality descriptor
timid
?lacking courage or confidence
,bashful
?easily embarrassed
📝 In Action
Mi hermano es muy tímido y no habla mucho con gente nueva.
A2My brother is very shy and doesn't talk much with new people.
Ella era tímida al principio, pero ahora es la más sociable del grupo.
B1She was timid at first, but now she is the most sociable one in the group.
Su respuesta fue un tímido 'sí' después de pensarlo mucho.
B2His response was a timid 'yes' after thinking about it a lot.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'tímido' must match the person or thing it describes. Use 'tímido' for a masculine singular person, 'tímida' for feminine singular, 'tímidos' for masculine plural, and 'tímidas' for feminine plural.
Ser vs. Estar
We almost always use the verb 'ser' (to be) with 'tímido' because shyness is usually seen as a permanent part of someone's personality, not a temporary feeling. (e.g., 'Él es tímido').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "timido"
Correction: tímido. The accent mark on the 'i' tells you where to put the stress when you say the word: TEE-mee-doh.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Behavior
If you want to describe how someone acts, use the related adverb 'tímidamente' (timidly): 'Sonrió tímidamente' (He smiled timidly).
An illustration of a shy person avoiding interaction.
📝 In Action
El tímido se quedó en una esquina durante toda la fiesta.
B1The shy one stayed in a corner throughout the entire party.
Los tímidos suelen ser muy buenos observadores.
B2Shy people are usually very good observers.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective as Noun
In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective describing a person into a noun by adding the definite article (el, la, los, las). 'El tímido' means 'the shy person (male)'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tímido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine plural form of 'tímido'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'tímido' mean exactly the same thing as 'timid' in English?
Yes, they are very close. While 'timid' in English sometimes implies a lack of courage, 'tímido' in Spanish is most commonly used simply to mean 'shy' or 'reserved' in social situations.
How do I say that someone is acting shy *right now*?
Even if the shyness is temporary, Spanish usually treats it as a characteristic, so you still use 'ser'. For example, 'Hoy está callada porque es tímida' (She is quiet today because she is shy).