vergonha
/veʁˈɡõ.ɲa/
Definition
The uncomfortable feeling you get when you have done something embarrassing or wrong; shame or embarrassment.
Example
Ela ficou com vergonha de errar na frente da turma.
Show translation
She felt embarrassed about making a mistake in front of the class.
Etymology
From Latin *verecundia* ("modesty, shyness, shame"), via Old Portuguese *vergonha*. The Latin root *vereri* ("to feel awe or respect") reflects how shame was originally tied to reverence — a fear of losing face in front of others. The word is shared across all Romance languages: Spanish *vergüenza*, Italian *vergogna*, French *vergogne* (now archaic).
Cultural note
In Brazilian Portuguese, *vergonha* covers both **shame** (a deeper moral feeling) and **embarrassment** (a social, situational discomfort) — English draws a stronger distinction between the two. The phrase **"que vergonha!"** ("how embarrassing!" or "shame on you!") is extremely common in everyday speech. You'll also hear the derived adjective *envergonhado/a* ("ashamed/embarrassed") and the playful compound *sem-vergonha* — literally "without shame" — used to describe a cheeky, shameless, or mischievous person, often with affectionate humor rather than harsh judgment.