tímida

Tímida is the feminine form of the adjective tímido in Spanish and Portuguese, meaning shy, timid, or reserved. It describes a person whose behavior tends to be cautious in social situations, reluctant to draw attention, or hesitant to speak or act. The masculine form is tímido, and the plural forms are tímidos (masculine) and tímidas (feminine). Examples include “Ella es tímida” in Spanish or “Ela é tímida” in Portuguese.

The term derives from the Latin timidus, from timere, “to fear,” and shares a common root with related words across Romance languages. The corresponding noun is timidez, meaning timidity or shyness. While tímida can indicate a mild temperament, it can also be used to describe elements of social anxiety, though it remains separate from clinical diagnoses such as social anxiety disorder.

In usage, tímida commonly characterizes personality traits or current states in people, literature, and media. It can carry neutral, sympathetic, or nuanced connotations depending on context, ranging from gentle introversion to vulnerability or reluctance to engage.

Related concepts include introvertido/introvertida (introverted) to describe broader personality orientation, and fobia social (social phobia) for clinically significant shyness. Timidez is the broader term for the trait of shyness in both Spanish and Portuguese, and serves as a general reference beyond gendered forms like tímida.