Que lástima or que pena?

Question

Seems like both of these terms mean "What a pity", so what's the better one to use'

Answer 1

Better for what? All languages have more than one way to say the same thing, and often one alternative is not necessarily better than another. I can see no significant difference between both alternatives, although I personally probably use "pena" more.

I agree I can't see any significant difference either although I use Qué lástima more often... it's just a personal preference - FELIZ77, Jul 15, 2010

Answer 2

Qué lástima! What a pity!

Qué pena! What a shame!

When meaning 'compasión' they are almost the same, maybe even interchangeable. However 'pena' has other connotations that 'lástima' doesn't have:

It can be a 'punishment', it can be a 'difficulty' and in several countries in Latin America it means 'embarrassment'.

A reply? depends really on what is a shame - if it's some-thing that's happened to a person you could say 'pobrecita/o'

Answer 3

Qué pena is more intensified and can (just hardly ever) be taken as an ironic stance on part of the speaker for facts that are mendable, at least on Argentina and Uruguay, Anyway, they do not take this into account when they realize that the speaker is from another country, qué pena is more common as we move north

For example:

-[Francisco chocó el auto nuevo] o [No podré ir a tu cumpleaños]

-¡Oh!, qué lástima

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-[Los libros se perdieron con la inundación] // [Mi vecino falleció la semana pasada]

-¡Qué pena!

Answer 4

What would be a good response to "que lastima"?

What a pity too bad how sad ! - ray76, Sep 26, 2015