Spanish Conversation · Level 152
30 words
Spanish word
penitencia
Pronunciation
IPA/peniˈtenθja/
Meaning
- feminine nounpenance
Example
En la iglesia, hizo penitencia durante la misa.
In church, he did penance during Mass.
More examples
Al llegar tarde al trabajo, tuvo que pagar la penitencia y quedarse hasta tarde.
When he arrived late for work, he had to pay penance and stay late.
Core concept
Remorse together with acts to atone.
Common phrases
pagar la penitencia
pay penance
hacer penitencia
do penance
ser una penitencia
be a pain
Similar words
arrepentimiento: Sincere regret accompanied by a resolve to reform one's behavior.
remordimiento: Intense, conscience-plagued remorse that causes inner torment.
confesión: Formal verbal admission of sins, typically made to a priest or during a ritual.
expiación: Deliberate act of making reparation for wrongdoing, often ritual or sacrificial.
Definition in Spanish
Sentimiento y acción de arrepentirse por un pecado o falta y de realizar actos o aceptar una sanción para expiarlo y obtener perdón.
Word origin
From Latin paenitentia, from the verb paenitēre 'to regret', the word came to mean both inward repentance and the outward acts done in Christian practice to obtain forgiveness.
Usage tips
- Penitencia sounds formal and religious in Spanish, so use lo siento or me arrepiento for casual apologies and reserve penitencia for church, confession, or literary contexts.
Other meanings
- repentancenoun
- atonementnoun
Related words
- penitentepenitentnoun