Inklingo

How to Say "ashamed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

avergonzado

ah-ver-gon-SAH-doha.βeɾ.ɣonˈsa.ðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'avergonzado' when you feel deep shame or guilt about something you did, especially if others witnessed it, leading to a strong sense of embarrassment.
A child is sitting alone on the floor, hunched over and hiding their face completely in their hands, conveying deep shame or embarrassment.

Examples

Estaba muy avergonzado después de caerse frente a todos.

He was very embarrassed after falling in front of everyone.

Ella se sintió avergonzada por el comentario que hizo.

She felt ashamed of the comment she made.

Los niños se quedaron en silencio, avergonzados de su travesura.

The children stayed silent, embarrassed by their mischief.

Adjective Agreement

Since this is an adjective, you must change the ending to match the person or thing you are describing: 'avergonzada' (f), 'avergonzados' (m plural), 'avergonzadas' (f plural).

Mixing up the verbs

Mistake: “Soy avergonzado (Using 'ser')”

Correction: Estoy avergonzado (Using 'estar'). Feeling shame is a temporary emotional state, so you must use the verb 'estar' to describe it.

vergonzoso

vair-gohn-SOH-sohbeɾ.ɣonˈso.so

adjectiveA2general
Use 'vergonzoso' to describe a person who is naturally shy or timid, often feeling uncomfortable in social situations, rather than feeling shame for a specific action.
A small, timid character partially hiding behind a large, bright green tree trunk, peeking out nervously with one eye.

Examples

Mi hijo es muy vergonzoso y no le gusta hablar en clase.

My son is very shy and doesn't like to speak in class.

Estaba tan vergonzosa que se puso roja.

She was so bashful/ashamed that she turned red.

Cuando le pregunté su nombre, se puso vergonzoso.

When I asked his name, he got shy/embarrassed.

Ser vs. Estar: Personality vs. Feeling

Use 'ser' (Ella es vergonzosa) to describe someone's shy personality. Use 'estar' (Él está vergonzoso) to describe that they are currently feeling ashamed or embarrassed about something.

Confusing 'Shy' and 'Shameful'

Mistake: “Using 'tímido' to describe a shameful event.”

Correction: Tímido only describes people who are shy. Use 'vergonzoso' for both the shy person AND the embarrassing event.

apenado

ah-peh-NAH-dohapeˈnaðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'apenado' to describe someone feeling shy, a bit embarrassed, or awkward, often in a mild or temporary way, like feeling shy when meeting new people.
A young child hiding their face behind their hands while blushing.

Examples

No te quedes ahí apenado, ¡pasa y conoce a la familia!

Don't stand there shyly, come in and meet the family!

Me sentí muy apenado cuando se me olvidó tu nombre.

I felt very embarrassed when I forgot your name.

Él estaba apenado por haber llegado tan tarde a la cena.

He was ashamed of having arrived so late to the dinner.

Social Context

This word describes that 'awkward' feeling you get when you've made a mistake or are the center of attention.

The 'Pregnant' Trap

Mistake: “Estoy muy embarazado por mi error.”

Correction: Estoy muy apenado por mi error. 'Embarazado' means pregnant; 'apenado' is the word you want for embarrassed!

Confusing 'Avergonzado' and 'Vergonzoso'

Learners often confuse 'avergonzado' (feeling shame/embarrassment for an action) with 'vergonzoso' (describing a shy personality). Remember, 'avergonzado' is about a feeling in a specific situation, while 'vergonzoso' describes a person's general disposition.

Related Translations

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