timide

Timide is a French adjective meaning shy or timid. It describes a person, an animal, or a behavior characterized by reserve, hesitation, or reluctance to draw attention or take risks. In everyday usage, timide conveys a mild or neutral assessment, though it can carry affectionate or sympathetic nuance depending on context.

Etymology and cognates: Timide comes from Latin timidus, meaning fearful, and entered French via Old French. It shares cognates with several Romance languages, such as English timid, Italian timido, Spanish tímido, and Portuguese tímido.

Grammar and usage: Timide is invariable in gender in spelling, with masculine singular timide and feminine singular timide. The plural form is timides for both genders. Examples: un garçon timide, une femme timide, des enfants timides, il est timide en public, elle est timide mais bienveillante. The related noun timidité denotes the quality or state of being shy, as in La timidité peut influencer les interactions sociales.

Related notes: Timide can describe both people and animals, such as un chat timide or un chien timide. It is the standard French term for shy or reticent temperament and is often used in educational, psychological, or literary contexts. In everyday speech, it is common and neutral, though stronger terms exist to express more intense timidity or social anxiety.