avergonzarse
verbCEFR B1
What does “avergonzarse” mean in English?
to feel ashamed / to be embarrassed
to feel ashamed / to be embarrassed (avergonzarse de + noun/infinitive/que+subjunctive; reflexive; stem-change e→üe; triggers subjunctive in de-que clause)
Example sentences
Se avergonzó de cómo se había comportado en la cena y al día siguiente llamó a todos para disculparse personalmente.
She was ashamed of how she had behaved at dinner and the next day she called everyone to apologise personally.
Me avergüenzo mucho de que mis hijos hayan presenciado esa discusión, porque no quiero que crean que así es como se resuelven los problemas.
I feel very ashamed that my children witnessed that argument, because I don't want them to think that is how problems are resolved.
No tienes por qué avergonzarte de pedir ayuda — todo el mundo necesita apoyo en algún momento de su vida.
You have no reason to feel ashamed of asking for help — everyone needs support at some point in their life.
How to use it
Avergonzarse means 'to feel ashamed / to be embarrassed'. The reflexive marker se is obligatory. The cause is introduced by de: avergonzarse de algo / de alguien / de que + subjunctive. The stem changes in the present tense: yo me avergüenzo (e → üe), with the diaeresis retained to preserve the [w] sound. When followed by a que-clause with a different subject, the subjunctive is required: me avergüenzo de que hayas tenido que verme así. This makes avergonzarse a double-complexity item — stem change plus subjunctive trigger.
Common mistake
The stem change in avergonzarse is irregular: yo me avergüenzo — the diaeresis on ü is required to maintain the [w] sound. Avergonzarse takes de (not por or con) for the cause: 'me avergüenzo de lo que dije', never '*me avergüenzo por lo que dije'. When followed by que + different subject, the subjunctive is obligatory.