"me da pena!"

Question

Google translate isn't helping with this one. Gracias!

que hago? means "what should I do?" (: - nicakim, Aug 18, 2010

Answer 1

I am embarrassed : this is only true for Mexico and maybe a couple of Central America countries.

In other Spanish speaking countries, "Me da pena" could mean it makes me feel sorry, or it gives me grief, depending on the context.

Could be. I must confess my Spanish is very slanted to Latin America and Mexico in particular. Basicamente soy Chilango. - petersenkid2, Aug 18, 2010

explain, Chilango(what combination?) - Silvia, Aug 18, 2010

Silvia, was your question what Chilango means? It's a demonym for a person from Mexico City. - MacFadden, Aug 18, 2010

and Chilangolandia is another word for Distrito Federal. - petersenkid2, Aug 18, 2010

Answer 2

I am embarrased.

Literally: it gives me embarassment.

Great, thank you! And what about: "que hago???" coming after "me da pena" - gradient, Aug 18, 2010

Try typing in "¿Qué hago?" to Google translate. I'm sure that, formatted properly, it will give you a solid translation of that phrase. - MacFadden, Aug 18, 2010

Answer 3

On a little side note - the question was about "me da pena", but it makes me think of the use of the word "pena" in general.

Sorry that I was not so aware of the use in other countries like Guillermo mentions, but here in Mexico, there is a very popular phrase: ¡Que pena!

This could mean - Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry, how embarrasing! Example:

Tu:!Me pisaste la pata! (You stepped on my foot!)

Yo: !Que pena! (Oops, sorry! I'm so embarrassed)

Another very similar meaning - Oh, dear, you must feel ashamed!

Tu: ¡Lo encontró con otra vieja! (She caught him with another woman)

Yo: ¡Que pena! (Oops. He must feel so ashamed.)

These examples of que pena are different than "me da pena".

Another example of "me da pena" is almost like an 'excuse me' type of tone....

"disculpe señor, me da pena decir algo, pero estas pisando mi pata" (Excuse me sir, I hate to bring it up, but you're standing on my foot".

Sorry for the rambling....

Wow, thank you so much, very interesting I wouldn't have known and also the use of 'la vieja' and 'pata' I would have thought it was a joke! - margaretbl, Aug 18, 2010

all of these phrases are used often in Cuba as well :) - E-L-Robinson, Aug 20, 2010

Answer 4

if it helps, the speaker/writer is from Nicaragua, and the conversation flow went like:

Me da pena! ¿Que hago?

so it means, I'm so embarrassed, what should I do?

or I feel bad! - Silvia, Aug 18, 2010

Yes, that's right. - MacFadden, Aug 18, 2010

Thanks! Would "¿Que hice?" be past tense, like what have I done? - gradient, Aug 18, 2010

yes. - margaretbl, Aug 18, 2010

arriva nicaragua!! i'm nicaraguan myself (: * - nicakim, Aug 18, 2010

"que hice?" means "what did i do?" - nicakim, Aug 20, 2010

Answer 5

Very interesting - I didn't know it meant that in Mexico, for me it only means what Guillermo said. How many songs are written with 'ay, que pena' it makes me think of a real stab to the heart.

Answer 6

¡No tengas pena!

Don't be shy!

Really? Is it like a saying? For me don't be shy: no seas tímido/a - margaretbl, Aug 18, 2010

Well, a native spanish speaker said this to me, when I was shy about speaking in spanish. I've also heard it used in movies. - Sheily, Aug 18, 2010

I bet he was from Mexico. - 00e657d4, Aug 19, 2010

Answer 7

If you look up pena in the dictionary here it explains the regional differences.

I see that and it is all fine but I must be blind I do not see the 'don't be shy' anywhere? - margaretbl, Aug 18, 2010

look towards the bottom because it is there {timid, shy} - foxluv, Aug 19, 2010

Answer 8

To the best of my knowledge, "¡Me da pena!" is entirely standard Spanish and would be understood (with the same meaning) anywhere.