בושה
busha
The English word shame is בושה (busha) in Hebrew.
The noun בושה is used both for the emotion of shame and for the concept of embarrassment.
Meaning: uncomfortable or painful feeling (noun)
Which one should you use?
While בושה refers to the feeling of shame, the adjective ביישן is used to describe a person who is 'shy'. Additionally, the related verb בייש means to cause to feel shame.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb for 'to feel ashamed' is the reflexive form להתבייש.
How do you pronounce it?
busha
Did you know?
- In modern slang, the word בושה is often used as a standalone exclamation to express that a situation is 'pathetic' or 'unacceptable' rather than describing a personal feeling of guilt.
- In certain religious contexts, the concept of בושה is actually a positive virtue, as it relates to 'holy shame' or the healthy restraint that prevents one from acting inappropriately.
- In religious Hebrew, בושה is sometimes used as a synonym for 'failure' or 'defeat', particularly when referring to the downfall of an enemy.
Examples in context
- אין לך שום בושה?Don't you have any shame at all?This sentence uses בושה to question someone's lack of shame.Tatoeba #5535736 by fekundulo, translation #5295441 by Hybrid
- אין בכך שום בושה.There's no shame in that.This sentence uses בושה to state that something is not shameful.Tatoeba #4670011 by fekundulo, translation #2900652 by Hybrid
- לא בושה להגיד 'לא יודע'.There is no shame in saying 'I don't know'.This sentence uses בושה to express that admitting ignorance is not a source of shame.Tatoeba #5974236 by fekundulo, translation #4567205 by maydoo
- אני מרגיש/ה בושה על הטעות שלי.I feel ashamed of my mistake.
- אני מבקש/ת מחילה ומודה/ת בבושתי.I apologize and admit my shame.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rotem and Noam are discussing a recent mistake at work.
- רוטם Rotemהוא הרגיש בושה גדולה מהטעות שלו.Hu hirgish bosha gdola me'ha'ta'ut shelo.He felt great shame because of his mistake.
- נועם Noamזה בסדר, אין בכך שום בושה.Ze beseder, ein be'kach shum bosha.It's okay, there is no shame in it.
- רוטם Rotemאבל הוא עדיין מרגיש בושה.Aval hu adayin margish bosha.But he still feels shame.
- נועם Noamאל תדאגי, רוטם, זה יעבור.Al tid'agi, Rotem, ze ya'avor.Don't worry, Rotem, it will pass.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
