lástima
/LAH-stee-mah/
pity
When you feel lástima (pity) for someone, you feel sorry for them and often try to comfort them.
lástima(noun)
pity
?feeling sorry for someone
,shame
?unfortunate situation
compassion
?deep sympathy
,regret
?feeling sad about an outcome
📝 In Action
Le di algo de dinero por lástima, se veía muy triste.
A2I gave him some money out of pity; he looked very sad.
Siento lástima por la gente que tiene que trabajar en la calle bajo la lluvia.
B1I feel sympathy for the people who have to work on the street in the rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Pity
You can say 'Siento lástima' (I feel pity) or use the common phrase 'Dar lástima' (to give pity), which means someone/something looks sad or pitiful: 'Ese perro da lástima' (That dog is pitiful/sad-looking).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Pity and Harm
Mistake: "Using 'lastimar' when you mean 'to feel sorry'. 'Lastimar' is the verb meaning 'to hurt' or 'to wound,' not 'to pity.'"
Correction: Use 'sentir lástima' for the emotion of pity. Use 'lastimar' only when talking about physical or emotional injury.
⭐ Usage Tips
Common Preposition
When talking about the person or thing you feel pity FOR, use the preposition 'por' (for): 'lástima por los niños' (pity for the children).
¡Qué lástima! is an interjection used to express disappointment, like when something unfortunate happens.
lástima(interjection)
What a shame!
?expressing disappointment
,That's a pity
?expressing regret about a missed opportunity
Too bad
?casual expression of misfortune
,What a disappointment
?stronger feeling of shame
📝 In Action
¡Qué lástima! Se nos acabó la pizza antes de que llegaras.
A2What a shame! We ran out of pizza before you arrived.
Es una lástima que no exista una solución fácil.
B1It's a pity that an easy solution doesn't exist.
Lástima que el concierto haya sido cancelado.
B2Too bad the concert was canceled.
💡 Grammar Points
Subjunctive Alert!
When you use '¡Qué lástima que...' or 'Es una lástima que...' to talk about a situation, the verb that follows must be in the special verb form (the subjunctive) because you are expressing emotion or a judgment about the situation. For example, 'que haya sido' (that it has been) instead of 'que ha sido' (that it has been - normal form).
The Short Form
In casual talk, you can drop the 'Es' and just say 'Una lástima' or simply 'Lástima' to react quickly to bad news.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Verb Form
Mistake: "Es lástima que *fue* un día feo. (Using the normal past tense)"
Correction: Es lástima que *fuera* un día feo. (Using the special past verb form/subjunctive) — Remember, expressing regret requires that special verb change!
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lástima
Question 1 of 1
Which of these sentences uses 'lástima' to express regret or disappointment?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pena' or 'lástima' more common when saying 'What a shame'?
Both are extremely common and often interchangeable! '¡Qué pena!' is perhaps used more broadly across different regions of Latin America. '¡Qué lástima!' is also universally understood and frequently used, especially when referring to a disappointment or misfortune.
How is 'lástima' related to the English word 'last'?
They are completely unrelated. 'Lástima' comes from Latin words meaning 'injury' or 'hurt,' whereas the English word 'last' comes from Old English and Germanic roots related to 'to follow' or 'a track'.