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pena

PEH-nahˈpena

pity, shame, sadness

Also: sorrow, grief
NounfA2
A sad child sitting on the floor next to a broken, single-wheeled toy car, illustrating sorrow or pity.

📝 In Action

Qué pena que no puedas venir a la fiesta.

A2

What a shame you can't come to the party.

Me da mucha pena ver a los perros en la calle.

B1

It makes me very sad to see dogs on the street.

Siento una gran pena por su pérdida.

B2

I feel great sorrow for their loss.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • dar pena – to make someone feel sad/pity
  • sentir pena – to feel sad/sorry
  • ¡Qué pena! – What a shame! / How sad!

embarrassment, shyness

NounfB1informal
Latin AmericaChile
A person standing awkwardly in a spotlight, blushing intensely and covering their mouth, illustrating shyness.

📝 In Action

Me da pena hablar en público.

B1

I get embarrassed speaking in public.

No tengas pena, pregunta lo que quieras.

B1

Don't be shy, ask whatever you want.

A mi hijo le da pena hablar con adultos.

B2

My son is shy about talking to adults.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • vergüenza (shame, embarrassment)
  • timidez (shyness)

Antonyms

  • confianza (confidence)
  • descaro (shamelessness)

Common Collocations

  • dar pena – to be embarrassed/shy
  • tener pena – to be shy
  • perder la pena – to lose one's shyness

effort, trouble

Also: pains
NounfB1
A determined hiker standing triumphantly on the high peak of a steep mountain, symbolizing that the great effort was worthwhile.

📝 In Action

Aprender un nuevo idioma vale la pena.

B1

Learning a new language is worth the effort.

Merece la pena visitar ese museo.

B1

It's worthwhile to visit that museum.

A duras penas llegamos a tiempo.

B2

We barely managed to arrive on time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • valer la pena – to be worth the effort, to be worthwhile
  • merecer la pena – to be worth the effort (synonym for 'valer la pena')
  • a duras penas – barely, with great difficulty
  • sin pena ni gloria – without leaving a mark, inconsequentially

penalty, sentence

Also: punishment
NounfB2formal
A stark image of heavy, dark metal bars casting a harsh shadow onto a gray background, symbolizing confinement and punishment.

📝 In Action

El ladrón cumplió su pena de tres años.

B2

The thief served his three-year sentence.

La pena de muerte es un tema controversial.

B2

The death penalty is a controversial topic.

Conducir ebrio conlleva una pena severa.

C1

Drunk driving carries a severe penalty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • castigo (punishment)
  • sanción (sanction, penalty)
  • condena (sentence, conviction)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pena de muerte – death penalty
  • pena de cárcel – prison sentence
  • cumplir una pena – to serve a sentence

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pena

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'pena' to mean 'embarrassment' or 'shyness'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
penar(to suffer; to punish) — Verb
penoso(painful, pitiful, pathetic) — Adjective
penal(penal, related to punishment) — Adjective
penalidad(hardship, penalty) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'poena', which meant 'punishment,' 'penalty,' or 'pain.' You can see how this single origin branched out into all of its modern meanings: the 'pain' of sadness, the 'pain' of embarrassment, the 'pain' or effort something is worth, and the 'pain' of a legal punishment.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pain, penalty, subpoenaFrench: peineItalian: penaPortuguese: pena

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'pena' and 'vergüenza' for 'embarrassment'?

They are often interchangeable, but 'pena' can feel a bit softer, closer to 'shyness' or 'self-consciousness.' 'Vergüenza' can imply a stronger feeling of shame, like you did something wrong. In many parts of Latin America, 'pena' is much more common in everyday situations.

Can I say 'vale el esfuerzo' instead of 'vale la pena'?

Yes, you can! 'Vale el esfuerzo' (it's worth the effort) is perfectly correct and understood. However, 'vale la pena' is a much more common and natural-sounding fixed phrase that learners should master.