cohibir

to inhibit

cohibir(koy-beer)

transitive verb

1. (to constrain)

a. to inhibit

Andrea es tan extrovertida y segura que nada la cohíbe.

Andrea is so outgoing and confident that nothing inhibits her.

La presencia de los padres de Javier en el público lo cohibió.

The presence of Javier's parents in the audience inhibited him.

b. to embarrass

¿Por qué te cohibe hablar frente a la clase?

Why does speaking in front of the class embarrass you?

c. to make ill at ease

Cantar en público lo cohibe.

Singing in public makes him ill at ease.

d. to make feel awkward

Los halagos cohiben a Sara.

Compliments make Sara feel awkward.

e. to make shy

Gabriel no entiende por qué su maestro aún lo cohibe.

Gabriel doesn't get why his teacher still makes him shy.

cohibirse

pronominal verb

2. (to feel embarrassed)

a. to become inhibited

Samuel se cohibió cuando se acercó al atril para dar su declaración.

Samuel became inhibited when he approached the podium to give his speech.

b. to feel ill-at-ease

Valeria se cohibió cuando le hicieron esa pregunta tan incómoda.

Valeria felt ill-at-ease when she was asked such an awkward question.

c. to become shy

Laura se cohibió cuando llegaron tantos desconocidos a su casa.

Laura became shy when so many strangers arrived at her house.