I need a word to describe a person who doesn´t know how to treat with people, who gets embarrased when speaking on the phone, etc; and I don´t want to use neither "shy" nor "clumsy", I need a more precise word. Can anybody help me, please?
Tks  :)

The word you seek is gauche.

(On the other hand, some readers might think that sinister )

Bryn

gauche sinister? Oh…..BAD BAD BAD   ;D

How about socially inept, timid, timorous or taciturn ?    

gauche
adjective
awkward and uncomfortable with other people, esp. because young and lacking in experience
She had grown from a gauche teenager to a self-assured young woman

(from Cambridge International Dictionary of English)

Exactly!! That´s the word I was looking for. Thank you very much!!

I don’t think gauche is right.                 ::)

The AHD gives:

gauche adj.
Lacking social polish; tactless.

I’ve always heard gauche used in a negative sense.  

How about:

bashful
bash·ful adj.

1.  Shy, self-conscious, and awkward in the presence of others. See Synonyms at shy1.

2.  Characterized by, showing, or resulting from shyness, self-consciousness, or awkwardness.

or

timid
tim·id adj. tim·id·er, tim·id·est

1.  Lacking self-confidence; shy.

2.  Fearful and hesitant: problems that call for bold, not timid, responses.

 

I agree.  Gauche implies a lack of sophistication from not knowing how to behave in high society, but it doesn’t imply shy or someone who has a hard time talking to people.  The guy who, in the commercial for Polaner All Fruit, said "Please pass the jelly!" instead of "Please pass the Polaner All Fruit!" was gauche, but he sure didn’t seem shy, and he didn’t seem to feel awkward.

~Shannon

[quote author=Silken link=board=what;num=1046960638;start=0#0 date=03/06/03 at 09:23:58] I need a word to describe a person who doesn´t know how to treat with people, who gets embarrased when speaking on the phone, etc ...

Sounds to me, Silken, as if you’re describing a case of what in DSM-IV is termed «Avoidant Personality Disorder». Don’t know if tamisaac feels called upon to comment….

Henri

Socially inept?

(Well, okay, so that’s two words. Bah!)

OK, how about:
[list]
self-conscious

timorous

mousy

sheepish

timid

apprehensive

tentative

unassertive

blushing

self-effacing

nervous
[/list]
-Tim

Wow! I didn’t know there were so many words to describe myself!!!

Don’t worry, Katy, it’s OK.  :)

I encountered a new word on World Wide Words: hobbledehoy.  http://www.quinion.com/words/weirdwords/ww-hob1.htm  

This seems close to a lot of the connotations that you originally mentioned.