Meaning
pain
- punishment, penalty, sentence
- sorrow
- pity
In a sentence
Mi fa pena vederlo così triste.
It pains me to see him so sad.
Hai avuto pena per tua sorella ieri?
Did you feel sorrow for your sister yesterday?
Non ne vale la pena, lascia stare.
It's not worth it, just let it go.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| pena | feminine · singular |
| pene | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'pena' for emotional pain/sorrow, not physical pain (use 'dolore' instead).
- Common in expressions like 'valere la pena' (to be worth it), not standalone for 'worth'.
- Often paired with 'di' (e.g., 'pena di morte' = death penalty), not 'per' for cause.