vergonha alheia
/veʁˈɡõ.ɲɐ aˈʎej.ɐ/feminine
In Portuguese, the English phrase 'cringe' (referring to secondhand embarrassment) is translated as vergonha alheia.
Vergonha alheia is used to describe the feeling of secondhand embarrassment experienced when watching or hearing someone else do something awkward or embarrassing.
Meaning: secondhand embarrassment (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of vergonha, which means shame or embarrassment and alheia, which means someone else's or belonging to another.
Which one should you use?
While vergonha refers to feeling embarrassed yourself, vergonha alheia specifically refers to the secondhand embarrassment felt when watching someone else.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, vergonha alheia is used to describe cringe situations. In European Portuguese, the word cafona is used to describe something that is tacky, old-fashioned or cringe-worthy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you are 'cringing' or 'feeling cringe', you typically use the preposition com (with) followed by the phrase, as in com vergonha alheia.
How do you pronounce it?
/veʁˈɡõ.ɲɐ aˈʎej.ɐ/
Did you know?
- The word alheia comes from a root that is also found in the word 'alien', meaning both 'belonging to another' and 'foreign' or 'strange'.
- The term vergonha can also be used to describe a sense of disgrace or social shame, not just the momentary feeling of being awkward.
- In some contexts, the word vergonha can be used as a noun to mean 'a shame' or 'a pity', which is entirely different from the feeling of being embarrassed.
Examples in context
- Os comentários dele me deixam com vergonha alheia.Her comments make me cringe.This sentence shows how to express that someone's comments cause you to feel vergonha alheia.Tatoeba #7902762 by piterkeo, translation #12549374 by laetitiamg
- Aquele discurso foi muito embaraçoso.That speech was very embarrassing.
- Fiquei desconfortável durante a apresentação. Foi muito desagradável.I felt uncomfortable during the presentation. It was very cringe-worthy.
- A maneira como ele dançou foi tão constrangedora.The way he danced was so cringe.
- Aquela cena do filme me deu uma vergonha alheia imensa.That scene in the movie made me cringe so much.
- Aquele vestido é tão cafona!That dress is so cringe!
- Senti muita vergonha alheia assistindo àquele vídeo.I felt a lot of secondhand embarrassment watching that video.
- A performance dele causou vergonha alheia no público.His performance caused secondhand embarrassment for the audience.
Example conversation
Felipe and Camila are watching a talent show on TV.
- FelipeVocê viu a dança daquela menina?Did you see that girl's dance?
- CamilaSim, me deu muita vergonha alheia.Yes, it gave me so much secondhand embarrassment.
- FelipeEu também não consegui nem olhar.I couldn't even look either.
- CamilaFoi realmente constrangedor para ela.It was really embarrassing for her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cringe” translations and entries vergonha alheia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
