Spanish Conversation · Level 141
43 words
Spanish word
cobardía
Pronunciation
IPA/koβaɾˈðia/
Meaning
- feminine nouncowardice
Example
Su cobardía le impidió hablar en público.
His cowardice prevented him from speaking in public.
More examples
Mostró cobardía al evitar la discusión.
He showed cowardice by avoiding the argument.
Core concept
A lone figure hiding behind a wall while others face a threat.
Common phrases
mostrar cobardía
show cowardice
actuar con cobardía
act with cowardice
acto de cobardía
act of cowardice
Similar words
miedo: Has an acute fear of danger or pain that leads to immediate withdrawal or flight.
timidez: Tends to be shy and reserved around others, making expression or conversation difficult.
temor: Feels apprehensive about things that have not yet happened, a forward-looking unease.
Definition in Spanish
Cobardía es la cualidad de sentir un miedo que impide afrontar situaciones difíciles o asumir riesgos.
Word origin
Formed from cobarde + -ía, with cobarde traced to Old French couard (from Latin cauda 'tail'), so the word evokes turning away from danger.
Usage tips
- Common collocations are por cobardía and actuar por cobardía, and the adjective for a person is cobarde rather than using cobardía as an adjective.