Inklingo

How to Say "remorse" in Spanish

English → Spanish

arrepentimiento

/ah-rreh-pehn-tee-myehn-toh//arepentiˈmjento/

nounB1general
Use 'arrepentimiento' when you want to express a strong feeling of guilt or regret for a specific wrong action you committed, focusing on the desire to undo it or apologize.
A sad character sitting alone on a wooden bench, looking down at a broken toy on the ground.

Examples

Siento un profundo arrepentimiento por haber roto su confianza.

I feel deep remorse for having broken her trust.

Siento mucho arrepentimiento por haberle gritado.

I feel a lot of regret for having shouted at him.

Sus lágrimas eran una señal de arrepentimiento sincero.

Her tears were a sign of sincere remorse.

Él no mostró ningún arrepentimiento ante el juez.

He didn't show any regret before the judge.

Masculine Ending

This word ends in '-miento', which is a very common way to turn a verb into a noun. Almost all words ending in '-miento' are masculine, so you will always use 'el' or 'un'.

Noun vs. Verb

Use 'arrepentimiento' when you want to name the feeling itself. If you want to say 'I regret,' you need the action word: 'Me arrepiento'.

Confusing with 'remordimiento'

Mistake: “Using 'remordimiento' to mean a simple change of mind.”

Correction: Use 'arrepentimiento' for general regret. 'Remordimiento' is much heavier and implies a deep, painful 'stinging' of the conscience.

remordimiento

/re-mor-dee-myehn-toh//remoɾðiˈmjento/

nounB1general
Choose 'remordimiento' for a deeper, more persistent sense of regret or guilt about a past action, often involving a nagging conscience.
A child sitting on the floor looking sadly at a broken ceramic flower vase.

Examples

A pesar del tiempo, todavía tiene remordimientos por lo que hizo.

Despite the time, he still has remorse for what he did.

No siento ningún remordimiento por mi decisión.

I don't feel any remorse for my decision.

El remordimiento no le dejaba dormir por las noches.

Remorse didn't let him sleep at night.

Comió todo el pastel y ahora tiene remordimientos.

He ate the whole cake and now he has feelings of guilt.

It's a Naming Word (Noun)

Unlike 'regret' in English, which can be an action (to regret), 'remordimiento' is only a noun. To express the action, use the verb 'arrepentirse'.

Using the Plural Form

Spanish speakers often use the plural 'remordimientos' to describe a general feeling of guilt or multiple 'pangs' of conscience.

Don't use it as a verb

Mistake: “Yo remordimiento mi error.”

Correction: Siento remordimiento por mi error (I feel remorse) or Me arrepiento de mi error (I regret my mistake).

Arrepentimiento vs. Remordimiento

Learners often confuse 'arrepentimiento' and 'remordimiento'. Remember that 'arrepentimiento' is more about the active feeling of guilt and the desire to apologize or change, while 'remordimiento' implies a more internal, lingering sense of guilt about past actions.

Related Translations

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