Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| timide | /ti.mid/ | |
| réservé | /ʁe.zɛʁ.ve/ | |
| gêné | /ʒɛ.ne/ /ʒe.ne/ |
Canada |
The primary way to express being shy is through the adjective timide, which implies a sense of social anxiety or fear. You may also use réservé to describe someone who is quiet or keeps to themselves in a more neutral or positive sense.
Which one should you use?
Timide is used when someone feels a degree of social fear or anxiety. In contrast, réservé is a more neutral term for a person who is simply quiet. In Quebec, the word gêné is frequently used to mean shy or self-conscious, though in standard French it primarily means embarrassed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, specifically in Quebec, gêné is a common term for someone who is shy.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective timide is the same in both masculine and feminine forms. To make the adjective plural, add an 's' to get timides.
How do you pronounce it?
/ti.mid/
Did you know?
- In France, if someone is very shy, they might be described as farouche. This word literally means 'wild' or 'untamed', likening a shy person to a woodland animal that flees from humans.
- In some formal contexts, a 'shy' or 'reserved' person might be called effacé. This literally means 'erased', suggesting the person tries to make themselves invisible in a room.
- The word gêné comes from the verb gêner, which means 'to hinder' or 'to obstruct'. In a social sense, being shy is viewed as something that 'blocks' or hinders a person's natural flow of interaction.
Examples in context
- Tu es très timide.You're very shy.This sentence is useful for saying someone is very shy using timide.Tatoeba #2226727 by sacredceltic, translation #4368269 by AlanF_US
- Il est très timide.He's very shy.This sentence is useful for saying he is very shy using timide.Tatoeba #1447279 by martin9, translation #2311413 by Hybrid
- Ne sois pas timide.Don't be shy.This sentence is useful for telling someone not to be shy using timide.Tatoeba #1482936 by sacredceltic, translation #390924 by Scott
- Elle est très timide lorsqu'elle rencontre de nouvelles personnes.She is very shy when she meets new people.
- Il est très réservé lorsqu'il participe à des réunions publiques.He is very shy when attending public meetings.
- Elle est souvent peu sûre d'elle lorsqu'elle doit prendre la parole en public.She is often shy when she has to speak in public.
- Les enfants sont souvent timides lors de leur premier jour d'école.Children are often shy on their first day of school.
- Il est préférable d'encourager les personnes timides à participer activement aux discussions.It is advisable to encourage shy individuals to actively participate in discussions.
- 141 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are at a party with many strangers.
- ChloéJe suis trop timide pour parler aux gens.I am too shy to talk to people.
- NathanMoi aussi, mais on peut rester ensemble.Me too, but we can stay together.
- ChloéC'est vrai que tu es timide, Nathan ?Is it true that you are shy, Nathan?
- NathanOui, je le suis depuis que je suis petit.Yes, I have been since I was little.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shy” translations and entries timide, réservé, gêné, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
