Gêné or embarrassé: what to say when things feel awkward

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 24 September 2026 · About the library

Practise gêné and embarrassé when asking a favour or answering a difficult question. Compare ça me gêne, embarrassant and avoir honte.

B1
12 phrases
3 situations
Learn this in the B1 notebook →

In short

Gêné and embarrassé can both mean embarrassed or awkward. Gêné also covers being bothered or inconvenienced, while embarrassé can mean being at a loss about how to respond. Give the cause: Je suis gênée de vous demander encore un service.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

A hesitant colleague asking another for a small favour at an office doorway, modest open-handed gesture. — A favour gives context to je suis gênée de demander. Illustration: Atelier

gêné / gênéeembarrassed; uncomfortable; bothered

Focus: the discomfort you feel

Je suis gênée de te demander ça.
I feel awkward asking you this.

Le bruit me gêne.
The noise bothers me.

embarrassé / embarrasséeembarrassed; awkward; at a loss

Focus: the awkward position or difficulty answering

Il est embarrassé par cette question.
He feels awkward about this question.

Je suis embarrassé : je ne sais pas quoi répondre.
I’m at a loss: I don’t know what to say.

Ask one more favour

Lina is speaking; her adjective takes the feminine ending.

YouJe suis gênée de te demander encore un service.I feel awkward asking you for another favour.

Friend or colleagueNe sois pas gênée. Dis-moi ce qu’il te faut.Don’t feel awkward. Tell me what you need.

YouTu pourrais relire mon message ?Could you reread my message?

Friend or colleagueBien sûr, ça ne me gêne pas.Of course, I don’t mind.

A question you would rather leave

Friend or colleaguePourquoi as-tu quitté ton dernier emploi ?Why did you leave your last job?

YouCette question me met un peu mal à l’aise.That question makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

Friend or colleaguePardon, on peut parler d’autre chose.Sorry, we can talk about something else.

YouMerci, je préfère.Thank you, I’d prefer that.

A reply you cannot give yet

Marc is speaking; his adjective is masculine.

Friend or colleagueTu peux choisir entre les deux candidats ?Can you choose between the two candidates?

YouJe suis embarrassé : je les connais tous les deux.I’m in an awkward position: I know both of them.

Friend or colleagueTu préfères prendre un peu de temps ?Would you rather take some time?

YouOui, je voudrais réfléchir avant de répondre.Yes, I’d like to think before answering.

The feeling, the cause and shame

French	Meaning
une personne embarrassée	a person who feels embarrassed
une question embarrassante	a question that causes awkwardness
Ça me gêne.	That bothers me / makes me uncomfortable.
J’ai honte de mon comportement.	I’m ashamed of my behaviour.

Keep the accents in gêné, gênée and la gêne. Write double r and double s in embarrassé. The two adjectives overlap in social situations; adding un peu or très gives a clearer indication of intensity than choosing one adjective alone.