Embarrassment is a tricky word to spell due to its silent letters. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is /ɪmˈbær.əs.mənt/. The stress falls on the second syllable, which is pronounced as "bær". The first silent letter is the "e" at the beginning, while the second is the "a" in the second syllable. Many people mistakenly spell the word with only one "r" or write it as "embarassment". It’s important to remember the correct spelling and pronunciation of this word to avoid any embarrassing mistakes.
Embarrassment is a noun that refers to a complex emotional state involving feelings of awkwardness, self-consciousness, and discomfort arising from a sense of one's own perceived social blunder, mistake, or failure. It is typically triggered by situations, actions, or remarks that cause humiliation, shame, or a loss of dignity.
Embarrassment is often characterized by physical manifestations such as blushing of the face, sweating, trembling, or stuttering, along with psychological symptoms like anxiety, nervousness, or a desire to hide or escape from the situation. People experiencing embarrassment tend to feel a heightened awareness of being observed or judged by others, leading to a diminished sense of self-esteem and confidence.
This unpleasant emotional state can arise in various social contexts, including public presentations, conversations, social interactions, or when one's actions or appearance are deemed inappropriate or deviant from social norms. The intensity of embarrassment varies from mild discomfort to extreme distress, depending on the individual's personality, cultural background, and the seriousness of the perceived social transgression.
Embarrassment plays a crucial role in socialization, indicating a sense of awareness and adherence to social expectations. It also helps to regulate social behavior and uphold social norms. Overcoming embarrassment often involves coping strategies such as humor, self-deprecation, or expressions of apology to restore one's social standing and diffuse the tension caused by the embarrassing situation.
Perplexity; confusion; distress or perplexity from inability to discharge debts.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word embarrassment originates from the French word embarrasser, which means to block or obstruct. It can further be traced back to the Spanish word embarazar, which means to impede or restrain. The term embarked on Old French as embaracer, later evolving to embarrasser. Over time, the meaning shifted to imply a feeling of self-consciousness, discomfort, or awkwardness, ultimately giving rise to the modern English term embarrassment.