tímido
“tímido” means “shy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
shy
Also: timid, bashful
📝 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.
shy person
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "tímido" in Spanish:
shy person→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tímido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine plural form of 'tímido'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *timidus*, which meant 'fearful' or 'afraid'. This root is also found in the English word 'timid,' showing the close connection between the languages.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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).