reticente
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “reticente” mean in English?
reluctant — unwilling or hesitant to do something; feeling resistance
reluctant — unwilling or hesitant to do something; feeling resistance (mostrarse reticente a, inversores reticentes)
Example sentences
El gobierno se mostró reticente a negociar.
The government seemed reluctant to negotiate.
Es reticente a compartir sus opiniones.
She is reluctant to share her opinions.
Los inversores estaban reticentes a asumir riesgos.
Investors were reluctant to take risks.
How to use it
'Reticente' means reluctant or hesitant to do something. It is a false friend with English 'reticent' (meaning reserved/quiet). In Spanish, 'reticente' = unwilling, while 'reservado' covers the 'quiet/reticent' meaning. Pattern: 'ser/estar reticente a + infinitive'.
Common mistake
Critical false friend: English 'reticent' means quiet/reserved; Spanish 'reticente' means reluctant/unwilling.