Changes in dictionary definitions over time reflect the way in which the degree of centrality of the features of the everyday concepts shame and vergüenza has changed, hence presenting different degrees of overlap between the categories at different times. We present a lexicographic analysis of the concepts shame and vergüenza in English and Spanish synchronic and diachronic dictionaries. Our results support Hurtado de Mendoza, Fernández-Dols, Parrott, and Carrera’s findings of differences between the contemporary everyday concepts of shame and vergüenza and they contradict the widespread idea that emotion concepts are classical, universal, and static notions. We warn about important inaccuracies of one-to-one translations in cross-cultural research.