Learn French: Ils sont très timides.

Ils sont très timides.

They are very shy.

Breakdown of Ils sont très timides.

they (masculine/mixed)

timide

shy

Questions & Answers about Ils sont très timides.

Why does timides have an "s" at the end?

In French, adjectives must match the noun or pronoun they describe. Because ils (they) is plural, we have to add an -s to the singular adjective timide to make it plural.

Do I pronounce the "s" at the end of timides?

No, the plural -s on the end of French adjectives is almost always silent. You pronounce timides exactly the same as the singular form, timide.

Since ils is masculine, why does timides end in an -e? Isn't that for feminine words?

The base dictionary form of the word for shy is timide. Because it naturally ends in an -e, it doesn't need an extra -e for the feminine form. Both masculine and feminine groups use timides in the plural.

Could ils refer to a group of women who are shy?

No, ils is used for a group of men, or a mixed group of men and women. If the group is entirely female, you would use elles to say Elles sont très timides.