I find etymology so fascinating.

[novapsyche]

embarrass, v.t. From French embarrasser, from Spanish embarazar, from Portuguese embaraçar, from em- (from Latin in-) + baraça noose

1: (a) to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties; (b) to involve in financial difficulties; (c) to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress (bawdy stories embarrassed him)
2: (a) to hamper the movement of; (b) HINDER, IMPEDE
3: to make intricate : COMPLICATE
4: to impair the activity of (a bodily function) or the function of (a bodily part) (digestion embarrassed by overeating)


(courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online)

Comments

[tmbgman.livejournal.com]

You will find this interesting. In Spanish the adjective embarrasada means pregnant.

"Soy embarrasada" in English means "I'm pregnant."

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Yes! In my intro Spanish course in college, this was one of the first things we were taught (presumably so that we wouldn't, erm, embarrass ourselves if in a Spanish-speaking country).