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Ela tem vergonha de cantar aqui.

Ela tem vergonha de cantar aqui.
She is embarrassed to sing here.
From Lesson 203:Sentimentos (ter pena, ter vergonha)·Portuguese (Portugal)

Breakdown of Ela tem vergonha de cantar aqui.

aqui
here
cantar
to sing
ter vergonha
to be ashamed, to be embarrassed

Questions & Answers about Ela tem vergonha de cantar aqui.

Why does this sentence use tem (has) instead of a word for 'is'?
In Portuguese, many physical and emotional states use the verb ter (to have) followed by a noun, rather than a verb for 'to be' followed by an adjective. Just like you say ter fome (to be hungry, literally 'to have hunger'), you say ter vergonha (to be embarrassed, literally 'to have shame').
Why is there a de between vergonha and cantar?
When you link a noun like vergonha to an action (the infinitive verb cantar), you usually need a preposition. The phrase ter vergonha specifically requires the preposition de to express what the person is ashamed or embarrassed about doing.
Does vergonha mean embarrassment or shame?
It means both! In Portuguese, vergonha covers a wide range of feelings, from mild shyness or embarrassment to deep moral shame. You have to rely on the context to know which one is meant. Here, feeling embarrassed or shy makes the most sense for singing in front of people.
Could I say Ela está envergonhada instead of Ela tem vergonha?
Yes, ela está envergonhada also works and means she is embarrassed. However, ter vergonha is much more common in everyday speech, especially when talking about being too shy or embarrassed to do a specific action.

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