German word

schüchtern

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃʏçtɐn/

Meaning

  • adjectiveshy

Example

Er ist schüchterner als sein Bruder.

He is shyer than his brother.

Illustration for schüchtern (shy)

More examples

Vor Vorstellungsgesprächen ist er oft schüchtern.

He is often shy before job interviews.

Core concept

A quiet person avoids drawing attention, answers briefly, and needs time to join an unfamiliar social situation.

Common phrases

  • schüchtern wirken

    appear shy

  • bei Fremden schüchtern sein

    be shy with strangers

  • schüchtern lächeln

    smile bashfully

Similar words

zurückhaltend: Careful and restrained in social settings, rarely asserting personal opinions.
scheu: Hesitant to approach people or situations because of fear or unease.
introvertiert: Preferring solitude and tending to remain quiet in social settings.
unsicher: Lacking confidence in personal decisions or actions, and therefore prone to hesitation.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die aus Scheu oder Unsicherheit soziale Situationen meidet oder nur wenig spricht.

Word origin

Schüchtern developed from Middle High German schüchtern and is related to German scheu, a word for wary or timid behavior.

Usage tips

  • Schüchtern usually describes people, while scheu is also common for animals or a general reluctance to approach something.

Opposites

Related words

  • Schüchternheitshynessnoun
  • erschüchternintimidateverb

Word lists with this word