German Conversation · Level 56
74 words
German word
schämen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʃɛːmən/
Meaning
- verbbe ashamed
Example
Sie schämte sich für ihren Fehler.
She was ashamed of her mistake.
More examples
Er schämte sich, um Hilfe zu bitten.
He felt ashamed to ask for help.
Core concept
A person stands exposed after a mistake, feeling an inward urge to hide from other people's judgment.
Common phrases
sich für etwas schämen
feel ashamed of something
sich vor anderen schämen
feel ashamed in front of others
Similar words
sich genieren: Feel awkward in public and hold back because of embarrassment.
peinlich finden: Regard an event or action as embarrassing and unpleasant.
sich blamieren: Make a fool of oneself in public and attract disapproving looks.
erröten: Become flushed from feeling embarrassed.
Definition in German
sich schämen heißt, innerlich Verlegenheit oder Scham über die eigene Person oder ein eigenes Verhalten empfinden.
Word origin
German schämen comes from Middle High German schamen and Old High German scama, and it is related to English shame.
Usage tips
- German normally uses schämen reflexively as sich schämen, unlike English be ashamed, and the cause commonly follows für with the accusative.
Other meanings
- be embarrassedverb
Opposites
- rühmenpraiseverb
- brüstenboastverb
Related words
- Schamshamenoun
- beschämenhumiliateverb
- beschämendembarrassingadjective