Definition
Easily shocked or offended by things related to sex or the body; overly strict about morality.
Etymology
From 'prude' (a person who is easily shocked), which may come from French 'prude' (variant of 'pruderie'). The adjective form adds '-ish' to mean 'somewhat' or 'like a prude'.
Kelly Says
The Victorian era (1837-1901) is famous for prudish attitudes, but historians found they had Victorian-era romance novels just as scandalous as today's—the difference was just what was considered 'scandalous.'
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አምላክ (amlak)
a-m-lak
ARالعربية
متقشف (mutaqashf)
mu-ta-qashf
BNবাংলা
শরীরের (sharira-rer)
sha-ri-ra-rer
CACatalà
prudent
pro-den-t
CSČeština
skromný
skrom-ny
DEDeutsch
bescheiden
be-she-den
ELΕλληνικά
καταπιεστικός (katapiestíkos)
ka-ta-pi-es-ti-kos
ESEspañol
púdico
poo-dee-ko
FAفارسی
مجبور (majbur)
ma-j-bur
FISuomi
piittaileva
pi-tta-i-le-va
FRFrançais
pudique
pwi-dik
GUGU
સાર્થક (sārthak)
sa-ar-thak
HAHA
mai-saura
mai-sau-ra
HEעברית
צנוע (tz'nu'a)
tz-noo-a
HIहिन्दी
लज्जित (lajjit)
la-j-jit
HUMagyar
felfogott
fel-fog-ott
IDBahasa Indonesia
kaku
ka-ku
ITItaliano
prudente
proo-den-te
JA日本語
禁欲的 (kinyoku-teki)
ki-nyo-ku-te-ki
KKKK
білігімді (biligimdi)
bi-li-gim-di
KMKM
ស្មារត (s'ma'rat)
s'ma-rat
KO한국어
수줍은 (sujupeun)
su-ju-peun
MRMR
सावधळे (sāvadhale)
sa-va-dhal-e
MSBahasa Melayu
berlagak
ber-la-gak
MYမြန်မာ
ကျွန်တော် (kyun taw)
kyun taw
NLNederlands
bescheiden
be-she-den
PAPA
ਸਿਆਣਾ (sīānā)
see-a-na
PLPolski
sromotliwy
sro-mot-li-vy
PTPortuguês
púdico
poo-dee-ko
RORomână
prudent
pro-den-t
RUРусский
стеснительный (stenisnitelly)
ste-ni-snit-tel-ly
SWKiswahili
mwenye haya
mwen-ye ha-ya
TAதமிழ்
தாழ்மையான (thazhmaiyaana)
tha-zh-mai-ya-na
TEతెలుగు
సాధారణ (sādhāraṇa)
sa-dha-ra-na
THไทย
เขินอาย (khein ai)
khein ai
TRTürkçe
aşırı duyarlı
a-shi-ri doo-yar-li
UKУкраїнська
закритий (zakrittiy)
za-kri-ti-y
URاردو
شرمیلا (sharmila)
shar-mi-la
VITiếng Việt
hèn nhát
hen-nhat
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Originally applied to both genders, but by the 18th-19th centuries became weaponized primarily against women's sexuality and bodily autonomy, labeling female sexual restraint as character flaw rather than choice.
Inclusive Usage
Use sparingly and with awareness of gendered double standard. When describing behavior, specify the actual concern (e.g., 'restrictive attitudes toward sexuality') rather than the character judgment.
Inclusive Alternatives
["conservative","cautious","reserved"]
Empowerment Note
Historically, women's refusal of unwanted sexual advances was reframed as personal frigidity rather than legitimate boundary-setting.