dar vergüenza
verbCEFR B1
What does “dar vergüenza” mean in English?
to be ashamed that, to be embarrassing that
to be ashamed that, to be embarrassing that (me da vergüenza que + subjunctive — gustar-type)
Example sentences
Le da mucha vergüenza que su familia sepa que no terminó los estudios universitarios.
He is very ashamed that his family knows he didn't complete his university studies.
Me dio tanta vergüenza que se dieran cuenta de que me había equivocado delante de todos.
I was so ashamed that they realised I had made a mistake in front of everyone.
¿No te da vergüenza ajena que haga esas cosas y encima presuma de ello?
Doesn't it make you cringe that he does those things and then boasts about it on top of that?
How to use it
Dar vergüenza (que) means 'to be ashamed that' or 'to be embarrassing that'. It is a gustar-type emotion trigger: 'Me da vergüenza que me vean así'. The indirect object marks the person who feels shame; the que-clause is the grammatical subject and takes subjunctive. Vergüenza ajena is the extended expression for 'second-hand embarrassment' — embarrassment on behalf of someone else. Compare with avergonzarse de (to be ashamed of), a reflexive verb that works differently.
Common mistake
Note the written accent: vergüenza (with diaeresis on the ü). Without the diaeresis, the ü would be silent (as in guerra). The gustar-type frame applies: 'me da vergüenza que...' — do not use *'tengo vergüenza que'. Compare: me da vergüenza que (trigger + subjunctive) vs me avergüenzo de + infinitive/noun (reflexive verb, different construction).