coy
Bashful, shy, retiringBashful, shy, retiring.
» Don't be coy.
Не будь застенчивым.
Meaning
5 senses(dated)Bashful, shy, retiring.
keusch, verlegen
засте́нчивыйzasténčivyj, ро́бкийróbkij
Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.
diskret, prüde
сде́ржанныйsdéržannyj
Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.
kokett
Soft, gentle, hesitating.
zurückhaltend
нежныйnežnyj, мягкийmjaxkij
(archaic)Quiet, reserved, modest.
verschämt, schüchtern, zurückhaltend
скро́мныйskrómnyj
- modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures
- showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement
- affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
Examples
6 sentencesDon't be coy.
ruНе будь застенчивым.
The president remained coy about his plans.
Come on, don't act so coy, I know you're into it.
He's coy about his income.
She is coy with everyone.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 4
By meaning 4
Origin
From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin quFrom Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin qu(i)ētus (“resting, at rest”). Doublet of quit, quiet, quite, and quietus.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
coyer, coyestSynonyms
2 synonyms- affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way:demureovermodest
Word family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A2Comparatives — Because it has a comparative form
- A2Superlatives — Because it has a superlative form