Meaning
penance
- forfeit, penalty (in games)
In a sentence
Dopo l'errore, ha fatto penitenza per un'ora.
After the mistake, he did penance for an hour.
Ma davvero basta una penitenza così piccola?
But is such a small punishment really enough?
Non è una penitenza, è solo una pausa.
It's not a punishment, it's just a break.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| penitenza | feminine · singular |
| penitenze | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- More formal and religious than pentimento. Use pentimento for personal regret; penitenza often implies confession, atonement, or church context.
- Common in the fixed phrase fare penitenza, meaning to abstain or go without as a punishment or sacrifice.
- In Catholic contexts, penitenza can also refer to an assigned act after confession, not just the feeling of repentance.