Spanish Conversation · Level 148
30 words
Spanish word
penoso
Pronunciation
IPA/peˈnoso/
Meaning
- adjectivepitiful
Example
Es penoso ver a los niños sin comida.
It is pitiful to see the children without food.
More examples
Me parece penoso que no pidieras ayuda.
I find it pitiful that you didn't ask for help.
Core concept
A sad, awkward scene that prompts both pity and embarrassment.
Common phrases
me parece penoso
find it pitiful
qué penoso
how pitiful
lo penoso de
the pitiful thing about
Similar words
vergonzoso: Causes shame or personal embarrassment, highlighting a loss of dignity.
embarazoso: Makes a situation awkward, causing people to feel embarrassed or flustered.
incómodo: Creates physical or social unease, making people feel ill at ease.
humillante: Causes humiliation, stripping dignity and provoking intense shame.
Definition in Spanish
Que causa pena, ya sea por compasión o por vergüenza, ante un hecho, una acción o una persona.
Word origin
From Spanish pena 'sorrow, shame' (from Latin poena 'pain, punishment') plus suffix -oso meaning 'full of', so originally 'full of sorrow/shame'.
Usage tips
- Calling a person penoso can sound reproachful rather than compassionate, so the word often carries an accusing or discomforting tone.
Other meanings
- painfuladjective
- embarrassingadjective
Opposites
- dignoworthyadjective
- honorablehonorableadjective