What is the difference between "socially awkward" and "shy"?

Answer 1

To me, someone who is shy is basically a social intravert , who may want to speak up and socialize with others, but feels too insecure to take those first steps. Too shy to speak, too shy to make eye contact while speaking, or simply hopes no one will notice them, and ask them to contribute any thoughts on a situation. For many reasons, a shy person, either fears they have little to contribute, or feels out of place in their surroundings.

Someone who is socially awkward may not feel shy at all. They may actually be a social extravert, but with little social or cultural experience. Someone who doesn't hesitate to speak, or doesn't think before speaking, may often say things that are just rude, insensitive, off the wall, or judgemental, without really meaning to. They simply speak, "off the cuff", so to speak. Which in turn, makes those around them feel as awkward as their comment.

Socially awkward , I find, is more common, simply because most of us can look back at one moment in time where we wish we hadn't spoken out about something, or just blurted out a comment that we couldn't take back. That moment where all eyes seem to be looking around at the immediate response of others, that made us want to crawl in a hole somewhere.

On the basis of the saying, "It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt." I'd rather be shy, than socially awkward. ;)

Answer 2

I would think that a person who is shy is afraid to get involved - for whatever reason. The person who is "socially awkward" may not be shy at all (sometimes the opposite) but may not know (or care) about certain norms (written or tacit).

Answer 3

not a lot according to some.

But:

Anyone who switches cultures becomes socially awkward to that culture, and it tends to make those who are in the situation to be shy.

Not knowing what to do, can be terrible. Not knowing what to say as can be as well. Why do we put ourselves through these things...

But shyness can be a specific condition, where people cannot speak for other reasons than being socially awkward.

In my opinion that is. Others will disagree. They always do.

Answer 4

In my opinion, being socially awkward is someone who does not know how to act in social situations, for instance, how to start a conversation, how to act around a crowd of people, how to socialize. Being shy is just that..... shy. Someone who has a hard time meeing new people, but they know how to act in a social situation. They just need a little boost to start talking. But they know social etiquette.
This is how I would interpet this.

Answer 5

In my opinion, shy people just have a problem getting involved in conversations where as socially awkward people get into conversations but say inappropriate things.

Answer 6

Steve Urkel-Socially Awkward, certainly not shy

Answer 7

Shy to me is more of physical thing you are born with, blushing,etc.

Socially awkward is more of the mind, somebody who does not posses the skills to communicate in a social system through lack of experience or training.

Answer 8

When you fall in love with him, the socially awkward suddenly becomes shy.

Answer 9

In humans, shyness is a feeling of insecurity or awkwardness that certain people experience while being among others, talking with others, asking favors of others, etc. In zoology, shy generally means "tends to avoid human beings"; see cryptic.