vergüenza ajena

[beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena]

/[beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena]/ phrase

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“vergüenza ajena” is uncommon Spanish (outside the top frequency list), classed as a phrase. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency Spanish
15
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Vergüenza que se siente a causa de algo que otro ha dicho o hecho.

Key facts for vergüenza ajena
PropertyValue
Headwordvergüenza ajena
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechPhrase
IPA[beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena]
Letters15
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vergüenza ajena” sits in Spanish frequency

vergüenza ajena falls outside the top-100,000 ranked Spanish words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

vergüenza ajena is uncommon Spanish outside the top frequency list, classed as aphrase, transcribed [beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Vergüenza que se siente a causa de algo que otro ha dicho o hecho.".

No misspelling variants are generated for vergüenza ajena in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling pattern is best understood through pronunciation rather than a traceable origin. The correct Spanish form is vergüenza ajena, spelled V-E-R-G-Ü-E-N-Z-A- -A-J-E-N-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Vergüenza que se siente a causa de algo que otro ha dicho o hecho.

Synonyms

aliporiliporipena ajena

This word in other languages

vicarious embarrassment(English)Fremdscham(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "vergüenza ajena"?
"vergüenza ajena" is spelled V-E-R-G-Ü-E-N-Z-A- -A-J-E-N-A. The IPA pronunciation is [beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena].
What does "vergüenza ajena" mean?
As a phrase, "vergüenza ajena" means: Vergüenza que se siente a causa de algo que otro ha dicho o hecho.
How do you pronounce "vergüenza ajena"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vergüenza ajena" is [beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "vergüenza ajena" come from?
"vergüenza ajena" is a Spanish word. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data for this and other words across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German on PlainSpell.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “vergüenza ajena”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is V-E-R-G-Ü-E-N-Z-A- -A-J-E-N-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [beɾˈɣ̞wẽnsa aˈxena] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list