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tímida

TEE-mee-dah/ˈtimiða/

“tímida” means “shy” in Spanish (describing a person's personality).

shy

Also: timid, bashful
A young girl with a gentle expression partially hiding behind a bright blue curtain.

📝 In Action

Ella es una niña muy tímida y no habla mucho con extraños.

A1

She is a very shy girl and doesn't talk much with strangers.

Sofía le dio una sonrisa tímida al conocerlo.

A2

Sofía gave him a shy smile when she met him.

La empresa tuvo una respuesta tímida ante la crisis.

B1

The company had a timid response to the crisis.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vergonzosa (shy/embarrassed)
  • retraída (withdrawn/introverted)
  • apocada (meek/timid)

Antonyms

  • extrovertida (extroverted)
  • atrevida (daring/bold)
  • sociable (sociable)

Common Collocations

  • ser tímida – to be shy
  • una sonrisa tímida – a shy smile
  • una mirada tímida – a shy look

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tímida

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly describes a shy girl named Maria?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
tímido(shy (for a boy)) — Adjective
timidez(shyness) — Noun
tímidamente(shyly) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'timidus,' which comes from 'timere,' meaning 'to fear.' It literally described someone who was easily frightened.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: timidFrench: timideItalian: timida

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'tímida' and 'vergonzosa'?

'Tímida' refers to a general quiet personality, while 'vergonzosa' can mean shy but often implies feeling ashamed or embarrassed easily.

Is 'tímida' an insult in Spanish?

No, it's a neutral description of a personality type, just like 'shy' in English.