lastima
/las-TEE-mah/
hurts
Lastima can describe the act of causing physical pain, such as a minor injury.
lastima(verb)
hurts
?when someone or something causes physical pain
,injures
?causing physical damage to a body part
damages
?harming an object or surface
📝 In Action
El zapato me lastima el talón.
A2The shoe hurts my heel.
¡Cuidado! Esa caja pesa mucho y lastima la espalda.
B1Careful! That box is very heavy and hurts your back.
💡 Grammar Points
Who is doing the hurting?
'Lastima' is the form used for 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' or 'you (formal).' It is also the command form for 'tú' (e.g., 'Don't hurt me' would use 'no me lastimes', but the affirmative command 'hurt!'—though rare—is 'lastima').
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Accent Mark Trap
Mistake: "Using 'lastima' when you mean 'pity'."
Correction: Use 'lástima' (with an accent) for the noun 'pity/shame'. Use 'lastima' (no accent) for the verb 'he/she hurts'. For example: '¡Qué lástima!' (What a pity!) vs 'Me lastima el pie' (My foot hurts).
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive Usage
In Spanish, we often say 'se lastima' to mean 'he/she gets hurt' (literally: 'hurts themselves') rather than just saying they were injured.
Lastima is also used when someone's feelings are hurt or they feel emotional distress.
lastima(verb)
hurts feelings
?causing emotional distress or sadness
,offends
?upsetting someone with words or actions
📝 In Action
Tu indiferencia me lastima.
B1Your indifference hurts me.
Él no se da cuenta, pero su tono de voz lastima a los demás.
B2He doesn't realize it, but his tone of voice hurts others.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'a' with people
When 'lastima' is used to show someone is hurting another person emotionally, remember to use the 'personal a': 'Lastima a su madre' (He hurts his mother).
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lastima
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'The bright light hurts my eyes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'lastima' always mean physical pain?
No, it is very frequently used for emotional pain, such as when someone's words or lack of attention cause sadness.
Is 'lastima' the same as 'me duele'?
Not exactly. 'Me duele' means 'it is painful to me' (the sensation), while 'me lastima' usually implies that something is actively causing the pain or injury.