What does pena in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word pena in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pena in Spanish.

The word pena in Spanish means sentence, sadness, shame, pity, embarrassment, struggle, hardship, ghost, rock, crag, club, group, crew, gang, punish, agonize, agonize, be in torment, as a penalty, as a punishment, soul in Purgatory, lost soul, carry out a sentence, issue a sentence, commutation of sentence, be sorry, feel embarrassed, be pitiful, be sad, feel embarrassed, be embarrassed, make feel sad, make feel shy, atrocious, terrible, shameful, appalling, shocking, horrible, crime punishable by the death penalty, in a state, be worth it, be worth, not be worth it, secondary sentence, secondary punishment, cringe, capital punishment, death penalty, fine, , ignominious punishment, fine, what a shame, I'm so sorry!, be a shame, unnoticed, under penalty of, be worth it. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word pena

sentence

nombre femenino (condena, castigo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El ladrón fue condenado a una pena de cárcel.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. The accused received a sentence of three years probation for their first offence.

sadness

nombre femenino (tristeza)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
José sintió mucha pena cuando su mejor amiga se mudó a Francia.
José felt a lot of sadness when his best friend went to live in France.

shame, pity

nombre femenino (lástima)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
¡Qué pena tirar toda esta comida a la basura con tanta gente pasando hambre!
It's such a shame to throw away all this food with so many people going hungry.

embarrassment

nombre femenino (AmL (vergüenza, timidez)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
—¿No te da pena que te vean desnudo?
Is it not an embarrassment for you to be seen naked?

struggle, hardship

nombre femenino (gen pl (dificultad, trabajo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Los padres pasaron muchas penas para sacar adelante a sus hijos.
The parents went through a lot of hardship to raise their children.

ghost

nombre femenino (AmL (fantasma)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
—¡Recién vi a una pena asomarse por la ventana!
I just now saw a ghost peeking out through the window!

rock

nombre femenino (roca grande)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Encontré muchos mejillones en una peña de la playa.
I found lots of mussels on a rock at the beach.

crag

nombre femenino (montaña, altitud)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Durante la excursión subimos a una peña y nos perdimos.
During the excursion, we went up a crag and got lost.

club, group

nombre femenino (club)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La peña compró entradas para el partido del domingo.
The club (or: group) bought tickets for the match on Sunday.

crew, gang

nombre femenino (ES: coloquial (grupo de amigos) (colloquial)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

punish

verbo transitivo (Derecho (castigar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le penaron con diez años de cárcel.
They punished him with ten years in prison.

agonize

verbo intransitivo (padecer) (emotional)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Penaba por el futuro de sus nietos.
She agonized about the future of her grandchildren.

agonize

verbo intransitivo (literario (ansiar algo)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Penaba por volverla a ver.
He agonized about seeing her again.

be in torment

verbo intransitivo (alma en purgatorio: sufrir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Su alma penaría por toda la eternidad.
Her soul would be in torment for all of eternity.

as a penalty, as a punishment

locución preposicional (como castigo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Se le han impuesto servicios a la comunidad a título de pena por sus delitos.
He was given community service as a penalty for his crimes.

soul in Purgatory

locución nominal femenina (Religión: ánima del Purgatorio) (Catholicism)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Se solían rezar misas por las almas en pena.
Mass used to be said for souls in Purgatory.

lost soul

locución nominal femenina (persona desgraciada)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Anda por ahí, llorando como un alma en pena.
He goes around weeping like a lost soul.

carry out a sentence, issue a sentence

locución verbal (castigar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El juez aplicó una pena de seis años sobre el criminal.

commutation of sentence

nombre femenino (reducción de castigo)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El juez le denegó la conmutación de la pena.

be sorry

locución verbal (afligir hondamente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. I'm sorry for being the reason why you're upset.

feel embarrassed

locución verbal (MX, AmC (sentir gran timidez)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Federico es muy tímido y hablar con gente le da mucha pena.
Federico is very shy and talking with people makes him feel embarrassed.

be pitiful, be sad

locución verbal (inspirar lástima)

La tristeza de María da pena. Los niños sin hogar dan mucha pena.
Maria's sadness is pitiful.

feel embarrassed, be embarrassed

(AmC, CO, MX (provocar vergüenza)

A Carlitos de daba pena que sus padres se besaran en público.
Charlie would be embarrassed when his parents kissed in public.

make feel sad

locución verbal (causar tristeza)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A Juan le da pena ver niños viviendo en la calle.
Seeing children living on the streets makes Juan feel sad.

make feel shy

locución verbal (MX, AmC (sentir vergüenza)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
A Martín le da pena hablar con desconocidos.
Speaking with strangers makes Martin feel shy.

atrocious, terrible, shameful

locución adverbial (coloquial, vulgar (muy mal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La situación del país es de puta pena.

appalling, shocking, horrible

locución adverbial (vulgar (muy mal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Las groserías que me hizo son de puta pena.

crime punishable by the death penalty

(der: castigado con pena capital)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

in a state

locución adjetiva (en mal estado) (UK, colloquial)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Los niños dejaron el cuarto hecho una pena, tendrán que ordenarlo.

be worth it, be worth

locución verbal (compensar el esfuerzo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Viajar por el mundo merece la pena: tendrás experiencias inolvidables y conocerás a muchas personas.
Travelling the world is worth it. You will have unforgettable experiences and meet so many people.

not be worth it

locución verbal (no compensar el esfuerzo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No lo intentes más, no merece la pena.

secondary sentence, secondary punishment

locución nominal femenina (derecho: dependiente de la principal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

cringe

nombre femenino (MX, NI, CR, GT, SV, HN (vergüenza ajena)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Le dio pena ajena ver a su amigo tan borracho.

capital punishment

nombre femenino (pena de muerte)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En algunos países existe la pena capital.
Some countries have capital punishment.

death penalty

(Derecho: ejecución)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
El crimen es tan atroz que podrían condenar al acusado a pena de muerte.
The crime was so heinous that they gave the accused the death penalty.

fine

locución nominal femenina (derecho: sanción económica)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

(derecho: sanción militar)

ignominious punishment

locución nominal femenina (derecho: produce infamia)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

fine

locución nominal femenina (derecho: multa)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

what a shame

expresión (qué lástima)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Teníamos muchas ganas de verlas pero no llegamos a tiempo. ¡Qué pena!
We really wanted to see them but we didn't get there in time. What a shame!

I'm so sorry!

expresión (CO: coloquial (para disculparse)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
¿Te pisé? No te había visto. ¡Qué pena!
Did I step on you? I didn't see you there! I'm so sorry!

be a shame

locución verbal (causar tristeza)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La situación de esa familia es una pena. Es una pena que no vengas a mi cumpleaños.
It's too bad that that family is going through a rough time.

unnoticed

locución adverbial (coloquial (de forma desapercibida)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Mauricio aprobó el examen sin pena ni gloria: obtuvo un seis sobre diez.

under penalty of

locución preposicional (anticuado (introduce posible castigo)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
El secreto profesional es obligatorio so pena de multa.
Professional secrecy is mandatory under penalty of fine.

be worth it

locución verbal (merecer un esfuerzo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El detective cree que vale la pena buscar más pistas en la escena del crimen.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. We could go and see if he's at home, but I don't think it's worth it.

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Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.