What does shyness mean?
Word: Shyness
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Shyness means the feeling of being quiet and uneasy with people you do not know well.
How do you spell shyness?
Syllables: shy - ness
Tricky part: Pupils used to changing y to i (happy, happily) often write an i here, but this word keeps the y of shy.
Watch out for: shiness, shieness
Memory tip: Shy children hug their teddies tight, and shy hugs its y just as tightly: the y never turns into an i.
Shyness in a sentence
Example 1: Mia's shyness melted away once the puppy ran up to her.
Example 2: Arjun hid his shyness behind a big smile on his first day at the swimming club.
Example 3: With a little shyness, the new girl asked if she could join our game of catch.
Fun Fact
The word shy has no vowel letter at all: its y does the vowel's job, as it does in sky, fly and dry.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the suffix that completes the word:
shy____
a) niss
b) nes
c) nass
d) ness
Show answer
d) ness. This is the ending that turns a describing word into a noun, as kind becomes kindness.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
shyness
a) confidence
b) quietness
c) modesty
d) timidity
Show answer
a) confidence. Confidence lets you speak up and join in, while the other three all mean holding back in some way.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) whisper
b) shyness
c) nervous
d) gentel
Show answer
d) gentel. Gentle ends in le, the same ending as little and table.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which child is showing shyness?
a) one hiding behind Mum when a visitor says hello
b) one asking every new child at the park to play
c) one shouting out answers before others can speak
d) one dancing on stage in front of the whole school
Show answer
a) one hiding behind Mum when a visitor says hello
2. What would most likely help a child get over shyness in a new class?
a) sitting alone at the back of the room every day
b) eating lunch by the window away from others
c) never being asked to speak during lessons
d) being given a friendly buddy for the first week
Show answer
d) being given a friendly buddy for the first week
