# shy

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ʃaɪ/ · frequency rank #5,551

## Definitions
1. Easily frightened; timid.
2. Reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.
3. Cautious; wary; suspicious.
4. Short, insufficient or less than.
5. Less likely to reveal whom they will vote for than average, chiefly in the context of the collective effect this has on polling accuracy.

## Etymology
From Middle English shy (“shy”), from Old English sċēoh (“shy”), from Proto-West Germanic *skeuh (“shy, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic *skeuhaz (“shy, fearful”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skjou (“shy”), Dutch schuw (“shy”), German scheu (“shy”), Danish sky (“shy”).
Etymology tree
Middle English shy
English shy

## Easily confused with
- **so** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-so)
- **SI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-si)
- **SS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-ss)
- **SP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sp)
- **su** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-su)
- **SM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sm)
- **SW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sw)
- **SL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sl)
- **SK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sk)
- **SV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sv)
- **SJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sj)
- **Sy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sy)
- **six** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-six)
- **son** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-son)
- **sir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sir)
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sun)
- **sit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sit)
- **sky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sky)
- **sub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sub)
- **sin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shy-vs-sin)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shy