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"Penas" is a form of "penar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to punish". "Penalidades" is a form of "penalidad", a noun which is often translated as "hardship". Learn more about the difference between "penas" and "penalidades" below.
penar(
peh
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to suffer
Penaba por el futuro de su hija como bailarina cuando ella se quebró la pierna.He suffered over his daughter's future as a ballerina when she broke her leg.
a. to pine
Mi mamá penaba por mí cuando me enviaron a la guerra.My mother pined for me when I was sent to war.
a. to be in torment
Después de la medianoche, se pueden ver a los fantasmas que penan por el manicomio.After midnight, you can see the ghosts who are in torment around the asylum.
penarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to grieve
Toda la facultad y los estudiantes se penaron por el profesor que los había conmovido tanto a todos.All of the faculty and students grieved for the professor who had touched them all deeply.
b. to mourn
Mis hermanos y yo nos penamos la pérdida de nuestro padre en el funeral.My siblings and I mourned the loss of our father at the funeral.
la penalidad(
peh
-
nah
-
lee
-
dahd
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (adversity)
a. hardship
Estela aún recuerda las penalidades que sufrió su familia cuando su papá se quedó sin trabajo.Estela still remembers the hardships her family went through when her father lost his job.
b. suffering
Los amigos pueden ayudarte a superar una penalidad.Friends can help you overcome suffering.
2. (legal)
a. punishment
Se le impuso una penalidad por intento de soborno.She was imposed a punishment for attempted bribery.
