evitar el contacto visual
/ebitaɾ el kontaɡto biswal/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "avoid eye contact" is evitar el contacto visual.
Evitar el contacto visual can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone avoided eye contact in the past, you change the infinitive 'evitar' to the preterite form 'evitó', as seen in evitó el contacto visual.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, avoiding eye contact can be a sign of respect toward a superior or an elder rather than a sign of dishonesty.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, instead of saying someone 'evitó el contacto visual', people might say they 'bajó la mirada', which literally means 'lowered their gaze'.
- The word evitar shares its DNA with the English word 'inevitable', as both descend from the Latin 'evītāre'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, evite iniciar el contacto visual durante la reunión.Please avoid initiating eye contact during the meeting.
- Vamos a esquivar la mirada para no generar incomodidad.Let's avoid eye contact to prevent discomfort.
- Él intentó evitar el contacto visual con ella.He tried to avoid eye contact with her.
- Es mejor evitar el contacto visual en la entrevista.It is better to avoid eye contact in the interview.
- Él intenta evitar el contacto visual cuando miente.He tries to avoid eye contact when he lies.
- No deberías evitar el contacto visual al hablar.You shouldn't avoid eye contact when speaking.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are discussing social anxiety during a coffee break.
- Sofía¿Por qué parece tan nervioso Daniel?Why does Daniel seem so nervous?
- DanielParece que quiere evitar el contacto visual con todos.It seems like he wants to avoid eye contact with everyone.
- SofíaTal vez solo es una persona muy tímida.Maybe he is just a very shy person.
- DanielEs posible, pero se nota mucho.It is possible, but it is very noticeable.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contacto, el, evitar, visual, CC BY-SA 4.0.
