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vergüenza

shame

noun behr-GWEN-sah Rare

Origin: From Latin verecundia (modesty, bashfulness).

Also means

embarrassment

Usage Note

Vergüenza can mean either deep moral shame (no tiene vergüenza = 'he has no shame') or everyday embarrassment (me da vergüenza = 'it embarrasses me'). The diaeresis (ü) is obligatory to signal that the u is pronounced in the cluster güe. The related adjective is vergonzoso (shameful / shy).

Examples

"Me da mucha vergüenza hablar en público."

Natural Translation

Speaking in public embarrasses me a lot.

Literal Translation

To-me gives much shame to-speak in public.

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