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B1 verb #10,000 가장 일반적인 12분 분량

apenar

상위 10,000

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 apenar 30초 만에

설명 apenar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you might not use the verb 'apenar' yet, but you definitely know its root: 'pena'. You probably use 'pena' in the phrase '¡Qué pena!' to mean 'What a pity!' or 'That's too bad!' Beginners usually stick to simple adjectives like 'triste' (sad). However, understanding that 'apenar' is the action of 'giving pena' helps you see how Spanish builds verbs from nouns. You might hear it in very simple sentences like 'Me apena' (It makes me sad), usually accompanied by a sad face or a sympathetic gesture. At this stage, just focus on recognizing the word when someone is expressing sympathy or feeling sorry about something. It's a 'feeling' word that you'll see more often as you start talking about emotions.

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At the A2 level, you start to learn verbs that describe how things affect you, like 'gustar' or 'interesar'. 'Apenar' works exactly like those verbs. You can say 'Me apena la noticia' (The news saddens me). You are beginning to move away from just saying 'Estoy triste' and starting to describe the causes of your emotions. You might also encounter the reflexive form 'apenarse' in simple contexts, especially if you are studying Mexican Spanish, where it means 'to be shy'. For an A2 student, the goal is to use 'apenar' to show basic empathy: 'Me apena que no tengas trabajo' (I'm sorry/sad that you don't have a job). You are learning to connect with others through shared feelings.

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B1 is where 'apenar' becomes a vital part of your vocabulary. At this level, you are expected to talk about your feelings and reactions in more detail. You will learn to use 'apenar' with the subjunctive mood: 'Me apena que no *puedas* venir'. This is a key B1 grammar point. You also start to distinguish between the transitive 'apenar' (to sadden) and the reflexive 'apenarse' (to feel sad/embarrassed). You can now use it to soften bad news or to be polite in social situations. You understand that saying 'Me apena' sounds more sophisticated and empathetic than 'Es triste'. You are beginning to master the emotional nuances that make your Spanish sound more natural and less like a translation from English.

At the B2 level, you use 'apenar' with confidence across different tenses and moods. You can use the conditional to be extra polite: 'Me apenaría mucho molestarte' (It would sadden/bother me a lot to disturb you). You are also aware of regional differences and can adjust your meaning based on who you are talking to. You might use it in more formal writing, such as an email to a professor or a business partner, to express regret. You also understand related words like 'penoso' (pitiful/shameful) or 'apenitas' (just barely). At this stage, 'apenar' is not just a word for sadness; it's a tool for social navigation and expressing complex emotional states with precision.

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By C1, 'apenar' is a word you can manipulate for stylistic effect. You understand its literary value and can use it in creative writing or formal debates. You might use it to describe societal issues: 'Apena ver la degradación de los valores en la política actual'. You are also familiar with idiomatic expressions and can distinguish 'apenar' from more intense verbs like 'afligir', 'atribular', or 'congojar'. You use the reflexive form 'apenarse' effortlessly with prepositions ('se apena de haber actuado así'). Your usage is nuanced, and you can use the word to convey irony, deep empathy, or professional distance with equal ease. You are fully attuned to the cultural weight the word carries in different Spanish-speaking regions.

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At the C2 level, 'apenar' is part of a vast emotional lexicon. you can analyze its use in classical literature or contemporary poetry. You understand the subtle historical shifts in its meaning and how it relates to concepts of honor and public shame in Hispanic history. You can use it in high-level academic discourse or in delicate diplomatic situations where every word choice matters. You might explore the etymological links between 'apenar', 'pena', and 'punición' (punishment). For you, 'apenar' is a versatile instrument that can play a wide range of emotional notes, from the slightest social hesitation to the most profound existential sorrow, all while maintaining perfect grammatical and cultural accuracy.

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연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

apenar 30초 만에

Apenar means to sadden or cause pity. It is a key verb for expressing empathy in Spanish-speaking cultures.
In Mexico, the reflexive form 'apenarse' is the primary way to say 'to feel shy' or 'embarrassed'.
Grammatically, it often functions like 'gustar' and triggers the subjunctive mood when followed by 'que'.
It is more formal than 'estar triste' and is frequently used in polite social and professional contexts.

The Spanish verb apenar is a deeply emotive word that primarily means to cause sorrow, sadness, or distress. Rooted in the noun pena (grief, pain, or pity), it describes the action of inflicting a sense of emotional heaviness upon someone else. However, its usage is nuanced and varies significantly across the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain and many parts of South America, it is most frequently encountered as a transitive verb meaning 'to sadden' or 'to make someone feel sorry.' In Mexico and parts of Central America, the reflexive form apenarse takes on a very specific secondary meaning: to feel embarrassed, shy, or ashamed. This duality makes it a fascinating study for B1 learners who are moving beyond simple adjectives like triste and into more descriptive verbs that capture the cause of an emotion.

Emotional Causation: When used transitively, the subject is the thing or event causing the sadness. For example, 'Tu partida me apena' (Your departure saddens me). Here, the departure is the active agent of the sorrow.

Me apena mucho ver que la biblioteca del barrio ha cerrado definitivamente por falta de fondos.

In a social context, apenar acts as a bridge between empathy and regret. It is the word you use when you see a stray dog on the street or when a friend tells you they lost their job. It conveys a specific type of 'pity-sadness' that is less about your own personal tragedy and more about the distress caused by external circumstances. It is softer than sufrir (to suffer) but more formal and profound than simply saying estar triste.

The Reflexive Shift: In Mexico, if you say 'Me apené,' you aren't saying you got sad; you're saying you felt embarrassed. This is a crucial distinction for travelers to master to avoid social confusion.

No te apenes por lo que pasó; todos cometemos errores cuando estamos aprendiendo un idioma nuevo.

Furthermore, the word is often used in formal correspondence or polite conversation. When declining an invitation or delivering bad news, starting with 'Me apena informarle que...' (It saddens me to inform you that...) adds a layer of professional empathy that is highly valued in Hispanic cultures. It softens the blow of the information while maintaining a respectful distance.

Grammatical Structure: It functions like 'gustar'. The thing causing the sadness is the subject, and the person feeling it is the indirect object (Me apena, Te apena, Le apena).

A los abuelos les apena que sus nietos vivan tan lejos y no puedan visitarlos con frecuencia.

¿Te apenaría mucho si cancelamos la cena de hoy? Es que me siento un poco mal.

Esa canción siempre logra apenar a mi madre porque le recuerda a su juventud en el campo.

In summary, apenar is more than just 'to be sad.' It is an active verb that describes the transmission of sorrow or the internal feeling of social discomfort. Whether you are empathizing with a tragedy or feeling shy at a party, apenar provides the linguistic tools to express these complex human states with precision and cultural resonance.

Using apenar correctly requires understanding its role as a transitive verb and its reflexive counterpart. Much like the verb gustar, the structure often places the person experiencing the emotion as the indirect object. This is the most common way to express that something is making you sad. You will say 'Me apena' followed by the cause. If the cause is a verb, it must be in the infinitive (if the subject is the same) or the subjunctive (if the subject changes).

Transitive Usage (To Sadden): Subject + Indirect Object Pronoun + Apenar. 'La noticia (subject) me (IO) apena (verb)'. This is the standard way to say 'The news saddens me.'

Me apena que no puedas venir a la fiesta de graduación este viernes.

When you want to express that you feel sorry about something that happened to someone else, you use the reflexive form apenarse + the preposition de or por. This shifts the focus to your internal state of being saddened by an external event. 'Me apeno de tu situación' (I feel sorry/sad about your situation).

Reflexive Usage (To Feel Sorry/Embarrassed): Reflexive Pronoun + Apenar + Preposition. 'Ella se apena por los animales abandonados' (She feels sad for abandoned animals).

A Juan le apenó mucho tener que vender su primer coche para pagar las deudas.

In the Mexican context of 'embarrassment,' the verb is almost always reflexive. If someone gives you a compliment and you blush, you might say 'Me apena que me digas eso' (It makes me shy/embarrassed that you say that to me). It is a polite way to acknowledge a compliment while appearing humble.

The 'Pena' Connection: Remember that 'Dar pena' is often used interchangeably with 'apenar'. 'Me da pena' and 'Me apena' both mean 'It makes me sad' or 'It makes me feel sorry'.

No te apenes si no hablas perfecto; lo importante es que estamos comunicándonos.

¿No te apena ver cómo desperdician tanta comida en este restaurante?

Nos apenaría enormemente perder su confianza después de tantos años de trabajo.

Mastering apenar involves recognizing these structural patterns. Whether you are using it to express sympathy or to navigate a social situation that makes you feel self-conscious, the verb provides a sophisticated way to handle delicate emotional topics in Spanish.

You will encounter apenar in a wide variety of real-life scenarios, from the most formal settings to intimate family conversations. In the realm of news and journalism, reporters often use it to describe the public's reaction to a tragedy or a loss. You might hear a news anchor say, 'A la comunidad le apena la pérdida de este monumento histórico,' which sets a tone of collective mourning. It is a 'clean' word—meaning it is respectful and suitable for all audiences, unlike more slang-heavy terms for sadness.

In the News: Used to report on collective sentiment regarding social issues, environmental damage, or the death of public figures.

Al presidente le apena tener que anunciar nuevas restricciones económicas.

In literature and songwriting, apenar is a staple. It fits perfectly into the rhythmic and emotional landscape of boleros and rancheras. If you listen to traditional Mexican music, you will hear singers lamenting things that 'les apenan.' In this context, it often refers to the 'shame' or 'embarrassment' of a lost love or a personal failing, blending the two meanings of the word into a single expression of vulnerability.

In Music and Poetry: Used to express deep, often romantic, melancholy or the shame of a broken heart.

La letra de esa canción apena el alma de cualquiera que haya perdido a un ser querido.

In daily social life, especially in Mexico, apenarse is the go-to word for 'being shy.' If you ask someone to dance and they look at the floor and decline politely, they might say, 'Es que me apena mucho' (It's just that I'm very shy/embarrassed). It is a way of excusing oneself from social pressure without being rude. In Spain, however, if you use apenar in that same situation, they might think you are saying the idea of dancing makes you profoundly sad, which would be quite a dramatic response!

Social Etiquette: Used to decline offers modestly or to express empathy when someone tells you about a minor misfortune.

Me apena pedirte dinero, pero realmente estoy en una situación difícil.

¿Te apena que la gente te mire cuando hablas en público?

Siempre me apena ver los edificios antiguos en ruinas; tienen tanta historia.

From the dignified halls of government to the dusty streets of a small town, apenar is the word that connects the heart to the world, allowing speakers to express a range of feelings from profound grief to the simple awkwardness of a first date.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with apenar is misinterpreting the reflexive versus non-reflexive forms. Because English often uses 'I am sorry' for both 'I am sad' and 'I am embarrassed,' students tend to use apenar incorrectly in one of those contexts. Another common pitfall is the regional variation mentioned previously. If you are in Spain and you say 'Me apena mucho' because you spilled a drink on yourself, people will look at you with concern, thinking you are experiencing a deep emotional crisis over a wet shirt.

The 'Gustar' Problem: Many learners say 'Yo apeno la noticia' instead of 'Me apena la noticia'. Remember, the news is the subject doing the saddening to you.

Yo apeno por ti. → Me apeno por ti (Correct reflexive form).

Another mistake involves the confusion between apenar and avergonzar. While both can mean 'to embarrass,' avergonzar is much stronger and usually implies a sense of guilt or a significant blow to one's dignity. If you make a small social faux pas, me apena (in Mexico) or me da pena is appropriate. If you are caught lying, me avergüenza is the correct choice. Using apenar for a serious moral failing might make you sound like you don't take the situation seriously enough.

Subjunctive Neglect: Failing to use the subjunctive after 'Me apena que...' is a classic B1 mistake. 'Me apena que *estás* triste' is incorrect; it must be 'Me apena que *estés* triste'.

Me apena que él se va. → Me apena que él se vaya.

Finally, watch out for the prepositional use. People often forget the 'de' or 'por' when using the reflexive form. You don't 'apenar algo'; you 'se apena *de* algo' or 'se apena *por* algo'. Without the preposition, the sentence becomes grammatically incomplete and confusing to native speakers.

False Friend Confusion: Do not confuse 'apenar' with 'apenas' (scarcely/hardly). While related etymologically, 'apenas' is an adverb and functions totally differently.

Ella se apena de su falta de experiencia, pero está dispuesta a aprender.

¿Te apenó que no te invitaran, o simplemente no querías ir?

Nos apena ver que el proyecto no ha tenido el éxito esperado.

By avoiding these common traps—especially the 'gustar' structure error and the subjunctive skip—you will sound much more natural and empathetic in your Spanish conversations.

Understanding apenar is easier when you see it alongside its synonyms and near-synonyms. Each word in the 'sadness' family carries a different weight and is used in specific contexts. While apenar is excellent for general sorrow or social awkwardness, other words might be more precise depending on the intensity of the feeling or the formality of the situation.

Apenar vs. Entristecer: Entristecer is the most direct synonym. It literally means 'to make sad.' However, apenar often carries a more external, empathetic quality, whereas entristecer is more about the internal state of sadness.

La lluvia me entristece (makes me sad personally), pero tu historia me apena (makes me feel sorry for you).

Then there is afligir. This is a much stronger, more dramatic word. It implies a deeper suffering or torment. You would use afligir for a major life tragedy, whereas apenar is suitable for a wider range of daily emotional experiences. If apenar is a sigh, afligir is a heavy sob.

Apenar vs. Afligir: Afligir is formal and intense. It suggests that the sorrow is almost a physical weight or a form of suffering.

Me apena que no haya más pastel, pero me aflige la noticia de la enfermedad de mi tío.

Regarding the 'embarrassment' meaning, avergonzar and dar vergüenza are the main competitors. As discussed, avergonzar is for deeper shame. Interestingly, dar pena is used in Spain to mean 'to cause pity,' while in Mexico it's the standard way to say 'to be embarrassed.' This regional split is one of the most important things for a student to remember when choosing an alternative.

Apenar vs. Avergonzar: Avergonzar is about 'shame' (moral failing). Apenar (Mexico) is about 'shyness' or 'social awkwardness'.

Me apena hablar en público, pero me avergüenza haber mentido a mi jefe.

Sus palabras me conmovieron más de lo que me apenaron.

No quiero apenar a nadie con mis problemas personales, así que prefiero no hablar de ello.

By diversifying your vocabulary with these alternatives, you can tailor your emotional expression to the exact situation, whether you are offering condolences, admitting shyness, or describing a profound tragedy.

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The word 'apenas' (scarcely) comes from the same root. It literally meant 'with pain' or 'with great effort', which is why it now means 'barely'.

발음 가이드

UK /a.peˈnaɾ/

US /a.pɛˈnɑɹ/

The stress is on the last syllable 'nar' because it ends in 'r'.

라임이 맞는 단어

cenar llenar ordenar estrenar frenar suenar truenar penar

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing the 'p' with a puff of air (aspiration). Keep it soft.
Stressing the second syllable (a-PE-nar) instead of the last.
Making the 'e' sound like 'ay' in 'play'. It should be a short 'e' like in 'bed'.
Rolling the 'r' too much. It is a single tap 'r', not a trill.
Pronouncing 'apenar' like 'open' at the start. It's a clear 'ah' sound.

난이도

독해 3/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its root 'pena'.

쓰기 4/5

Requires mastery of the 'gustar' structure and subjunctive.

말하기 4/5

Regional meanings can lead to social confusion if not careful.

듣기 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'apenas'.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

triste pena gustar sentir vergüenza

다음에 배울 것

afligir entristecer conmover lamentar arrepentirse

고급

atribular congoja apesadumbrado desolación compungido

알아야 할 문법

Emotional verbs with 'que' require the subjunctive.

Me apena que *venga* tarde.

The 'gustar-like' structure: IO + verb + subject.

Le apena (IO/V) la lluvia (S).

Reflexive 'se' changes meaning in specific regions.

Se apena (He is shy - Mexico).

Preposition 'de' follows the reflexive 'apenarse' when indicating cause.

Se apena de su perro.

Infinitive follows 'apenar' if there is no change of subject.

Me apena *decir* esto.

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수준별 예문

Me apena tu gato.

I feel sorry for your cat.

Simple present with indirect object 'me'.

Esa película me apena.

That movie makes me sad.

The movie is the subject.

¡No te apenes!

Don't be sad/embarrassed!

Negative imperative (reflexive).

Me apena la noticia.

The news saddens me.

Noun as subject.

A ella le apena el frío.

The cold makes her feel sad/pity.

Third person singular 'le'.

Me apena ver esto.

It saddens me to see this.

Infinitive 'ver' as the cause.

Nos apena mucho.

It saddens us a lot.

Plural indirect object 'nos'.

¿Te apena?

Does it make you sad?

Interrogative form.

Me apena que estés enfermo.

It saddens me that you are sick.

Use of 'que' + subjunctive.

A Juan le apena perder su reloj.

It saddens Juan to lose his watch.

Infinitive used as subject.

Me apené cuando rompí el vaso.

I felt embarrassed when I broke the glass.

Preterite reflexive (Mexican usage).

No me apena decir la verdad.

It doesn't make me sad/shy to tell the truth.

Negative construction.

A mis padres les apena el ruido.

The noise bothers/saddens my parents.

Plural subject 'los padres'.

Me apena mucho tu situación económica.

I feel very sorry about your economic situation.

Adverb 'mucho' modifying the verb.

¿Te apenaste en la fiesta?

Did you feel shy at the party?

Preterite reflexive question.

Esa canción me apena el corazón.

That song saddens my heart.

Direct object 'el corazón'.

Me apena que no hayamos podido vernos antes.

It saddens me that we haven't been able to see each other sooner.

Present perfect subjunctive.

Ella se apena de sus errores del pasado.

She feels sorry/embarrassed about her past mistakes.

Reflexive + preposition 'de'.

Me apena que la gente sea tan cruel a veces.

It saddens me that people are so cruel sometimes.

Subjunctive 'sea' for emotion.

Si no vienes, me apenaré mucho.

If you don't come, I will be very sad.

Future tense.

Me apena tener que darte esta mala noticia.

It saddens me to have to give you this bad news.

Periphrastic infinitive 'tener que darte'.

A todos nos apenó el cierre de la fábrica.

The factory closure saddened all of us.

Preterite tense with plural IO.

¿No te apena ver tanta pobreza en la calle?

Doesn't it sadden you to see so much poverty on the street?

Negative question with infinitive.

Se apenó tanto que no pudo hablar.

He felt so embarrassed/sad that he couldn't speak.

Consecutive clause with 'tanto que'.

Me apenaría enormemente que pensaras eso de mí.

It would sadden me enormously if you thought that of me.

Conditional + imperfect subjunctive.

No quiero que te apenes por algo que no fue tu culpa.

I don't want you to feel sorry about something that wasn't your fault.

Subjunctive after 'querer que'.

Me apena profundamente la falta de diálogo entre las partes.

I am deeply saddened by the lack of dialogue between the parties.

Adverb 'profundamente'.

Siempre se ha apenado por la suerte de los más desfavorecidos.

He has always felt sorry for the fate of the most disadvantaged.

Present perfect reflexive.

Me apena informarle que su solicitud ha sido rechazada.

I regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.

Formal register.

A pesar de todo, no me apena haber tomado esa decisión.

Despite everything, I don't regret/feel sad about having made that decision.

Perfect infinitive 'haber tomado'.

Se apenaba cada vez que recordaba su antigua casa.

She used to get sad every time she remembered her old house.

Imperfect tense for habitual action.

¿Crees que le apenaría si no le compro nada?

Do you think it would sadden him if I don't buy him anything?

Conditional in a subordinate clause.

Me apena constatar que los prejuicios siguen vigentes.

It saddens me to confirm that prejudices are still in force.

Formal verb 'constatar'.

Se apenó de tal manera que se recluyó en su habitación.

He became so saddened that he shut himself in his room.

Reflexive with intensifying 'de tal manera'.

Me apena que la belleza de este paisaje se vea empañada por la basura.

It saddens me that the beauty of this landscape is marred by trash.

Passive subjunctive 'se vea empañada'.

No cabe sino apenarse ante semejante espectáculo de intolerancia.

One can only feel saddened before such a spectacle of intolerance.

Impersonal 'no cabe sino'.

Me apena sobremanera el desinterés de los jóvenes por la lectura.

I am exceedingly saddened by the lack of interest in reading among young people.

Adverb 'sobremanera'.

Se apenaba de no haber podido despedirse de su mentor.

He felt sorry for not having been able to say goodbye to his mentor.

Reflexive with negative perfect infinitive.

Me apena que se haya perdido la tradición de escribir cartas a mano.

It saddens me that the tradition of writing letters by hand has been lost.

Present perfect subjunctive.

Su actitud altiva me apena más que su ignorancia.

His haughty attitude saddens me more than his ignorance.

Comparative structure.

Apena sobremanera observar la paulatina erosión de las libertades civiles.

It is exceedingly saddening to observe the gradual erosion of civil liberties.

Infinitive subject with formal adverb.

Me apena que la posteridad no vaya a conocer la verdadera magnitud de su obra.

It saddens me that posterity will not know the true magnitude of his work.

Future periphrasis in the subjunctive.

Se apenó hondamente al comprender que su sacrificio había sido en vano.

He was deeply saddened upon realizing that his sacrifice had been in vain.

Adverb 'hondamente' + temporal 'al' + infinitive.

Me apena que el discurso público se haya degradado hasta este punto.

It saddens me that public discourse has degraded to this point.

Compound subjunctive 'se haya degradado'.

Apenarse por la finitud de la vida es una constante en la lírica universal.

Feeling sad about the finitude of life is a constant in universal lyric poetry.

Substantivized infinitive as subject.

Me apena que la verdad sea a menudo sacrificada en aras del beneficio político.

It saddens me that truth is often sacrificed for the sake of political gain.

Passive voice in the subjunctive.

Se apenaba de su propia incapacidad para perdonar las afrentas recibidas.

He felt sorry for his own inability to forgive the slights he had received.

Reflexive with complex noun phrase.

Me apena que el arte se convierta en una mera mercancía sin alma.

It saddens me that art becomes a mere soulless commodity.

Subjunctive 'se convierta'.

자주 쓰는 조합

me apena mucho

apenar el alma

apenar profundamente

apenarse de algo

apenarse por alguien

no me apena

apenar de veras

apenar a la familia

apenarse ante la injusticia

apenar soberanamente

자주 쓰는 구문

Me apena decírtelo

— Used when you have to deliver bad news. It shows you feel bad about being the messenger.

Me apena decírtelo, pero el vuelo se canceló.

No te apenes

— A way to comfort someone or tell them not to feel shy/embarrassed.

No te apenes, todos cometemos errores.

Me apena que...

— Standard way to express sadness about a situation (requires subjunctive).

Me apena que no te guste la comida.

¡Qué apenado estoy!

— I am so sorry/embarrassed (common in Mexico).

¡Qué apenado estoy por llegar tarde!

Me apena molestarte

— A polite way to start a request or an interruption.

Me apena molestarte, ¿tienes un minuto?

Le apena mucho su situación

— He/She feels very sorry for his/her situation.

Le apena mucho su situación actual.

Apenarse por nada

— To get sad or shy over trivial things.

No vale la pena apenarse por nada.

Me apena de verdad

— I am truly sorry/sad.

Me apena de verdad no poder ayudarte.

Se apena con facilidad

— He/She gets embarrassed/shy easily.

Mi sobrina se apena con facilidad ante los extraños.

Me apena verte así

— It saddens me to see you in this state (sad, sick, etc.).

Me apena verte así, tan desanimado.

자주 혼동되는 단어

apenar vs apenas

An adverb meaning 'barely' or 'scarcely'. It looks the same but has no pronouns and a different function.

apenar vs apelar

A legal term meaning 'to appeal'. One letter difference, but completely unrelated meaning.

apenar vs apilar

Means 'to stack' or 'to pile up'. Don't confuse the 'p' and 'l' sounds.

관용어 및 표현

"Apenar el corazón"

— To cause deep emotional sorrow.

Su soledad me apena el corazón.

Literary

"No tener pena"

— To not be shy (Mexico) or to have no shame.

Él no tiene pena de cantar en la calle.

Informal

"Dar pena ajena"

— To feel embarrassed on behalf of someone else (cringe).

Su baile me dio pena ajena.

Colloquial

"Valer la pena"

— To be worth the effort/sorrow.

Estudiar español vale la pena.

Universal

"Ahogar las penas"

— To drink alcohol to forget one's sorrows.

Fue al bar a ahogar las penas.

Colloquial

"Contar sus penas"

— To share one's problems or sorrows with someone.

Se pasó la noche contándome sus penas.

Neutral

"Pasar penas"

— To go through hardships or difficulties.

Pasaron muchas penas antes de tener éxito.

Neutral

"Ser un alma en pena"

— To be a soul in torment or a very sad/lonely person.

Vaga por la casa como un alma en pena.

Literary

"Estar apenitas"

— To be just barely making it (financial or physical).

Llegamos a fin de mes apenitas.

Colloquial (Mexico)

"Pena de muerte"

— Death penalty (legal term using the root).

En ese país existe la pena de muerte.

Formal

혼동하기 쉬운

apenar vs avergonzar

Both can mean 'to embarrass'.

Avergonzar is for deep shame/guilt. Apenar (Mexico) is for shyness/light embarrassment.

Me avergüenza haber robado; me apena cantar solo.

apenar vs entristecer

Both mean 'to sadden'.

Entristecer is more about your own state; apenar is often about pity for others.

Me entristece la lluvia; me apena tu enfermedad.

apenar vs lamentar

Both express regret.

Lamentar is 'to regret' a fact; apenar is the emotional feeling of sadness caused by it.

Lamento la pérdida; me apena verlos sufrir.

apenar vs compadecer

Both involve pity.

Compadecer is 'to pity' someone (can sound superior); apenar is just feeling sad about their state.

Lo compadezco por su mala suerte; me apena su situación.

apenar vs humillar

Relates to embarrassment.

Humillar is to actively put someone down; apenar is a passive feeling of shyness.

Él me humilló en público; yo me apené por su comentario.

문장 패턴

Me apena [noun].

Me apena el gato.

Me apena que [present subjunctive].

Me apena que estés triste.

Se apena de [infinitive].

Se apena de haber gritado.

No te apenes por [noun].

No te apenes por el dinero.

Me apenaría que [imperfect subjunctive].

Me apenaría que no vinieras.

Apena ver como [clause].

Apena ver como destruyen el bosque.

Apenarse ante [noun].

Apenarse ante la tragedia.

Me apena sobremanera que [subjunctive].

Me apena sobremanera que se ignore la verdad.

어휘 가족

명사

pena

penuria

penalidad

arrepentimiento

동사

apenar

penar

apenarse

despenar

형용사

apenado

penoso

penal

penitente

사용법

frequency

Common in both spoken and written Spanish, especially in emotive contexts.

자주 하는 실수

Yo apeno por ti. → Me apeno por ti.
Apenar must be reflexive when you are the one feeling the emotion directly.
Me apena que tú estás mal. → Me apena que tú estés mal.
Emotional triggers require the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause.
Estoy apenado (meaning pregnant). → Estoy apenado (meaning shy/sad).
This is a reminder NOT to use 'embarazado' for 'embarrassed'. 'Apenado' is the correct choice.
Me apena la perro. → Me apena el perro.
The noun following 'apena' is the subject, so it must agree in gender/number with its article, but the verb only changes for plural subjects.
Apenar a la verdad. → Apenar de verdad.
Confusing 'the truth' (la verdad) with the adverbial phrase 'really/truly' (de verdad).

팁

Watch the Pronouns

Always check if you need 'me', 'te', 'le' etc. 'Apenar' is rarely used without them unless it's the infinitive as a subject.

Mexican Shyness

If you're in Mexico, use 'me apena' to decline a second helping of food politely. It shows you're being modest.

Subjunctive Trigger

Memorize the phrase 'Me apena que...' as a unit that always takes the subjunctive. It will save you time thinking about grammar.

Formal Emails

Use 'Nos apena' when responding as a company to a customer complaint. it sounds much more sincere than 'lo sentimos'.

Showing Empathy

When a friend has a minor problem, say 'Me apena mucho'. It's the perfect level of sympathy without being overly dramatic.

The Stress

Really hit that 'NAR' at the end. ape-NAR. It makes you sound much more like a native speaker.

Apenas vs Apenar

If you see 'apenas' at the start of a sentence like 'Apenas llegué...', it means 'I just arrived'. No sadness involved!

The Pen

Imagine writing a sad poem with a 'PEN'. That's your 'a-PEN-ar'.

Context is King

If you hear it at a party, think 'shy'. If you hear it at a hospital, think 'sad'.

Conditional Usage

Use 'Me apenaría' to talk about hypothetical situations that would make you sad. It shows a higher level of Spanish mastery.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'A-PEN-ar'. It’s like someone is sticking a PEN in your heart, causing you small pains (penas) of sadness or embarrassment.

시각적 연상

Imagine a person standing in the rain looking at a sad puppy. That feeling of 'pity-sadness' is 'apenar'.

Word Web

Pena (Sorrow) Apenar (To sadden) Apenado (Sad/Shy) Apenas (Barely) Penoso (Pitiful) Penal (Criminal) Penitencia (Penance) Repentir (To repent)

챌린지

Try to use 'apenar' in three different ways today: one for sadness, one for shyness, and one with the subjunctive 'Me apena que...'.

어원

Derived from the Spanish noun 'pena', which comes from the Latin 'poena'. This Latin root means 'punishment', 'penalty', or 'pain'. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from legal punishment to emotional suffering.

원래 의미: To inflict a penalty or to suffer a punishment.

Romance (Latin)

문화적 맥락

Be careful using 'me apena' for shyness outside of Mexico; people might think you are depressed. Likewise, don't use 'apenar' for deep grief where 'lamentar' or 'afligir' might be more respectful.

English speakers often use 'I'm sorry' for everything. Spanish splits this into 'Lo siento' (regret), 'Perdón' (apology), and 'Me apena' (empathy/sadness).

The song 'La Pena Negra' by Federico García Lorca. Mexican rancheras often use 'me apena' to describe romantic shame. The phrase 'Pena de muerte' in legal debates.

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Funerals or Bereavement

Me apena mucho su pérdida
Nos apena esta noticia
Acompaño su pena
Siento apenarlos

Social Awkwardness (Mexico)

Me apena hablar con ella
No te apenes, pasa
¿Te apena mi familia?
Me apené muchísimo

Professional Rejection

Me apena decirle que no
Nos apena el retraso
Apena ver la falta de interés
Me apena no poder asistir

Environmental/Social Concern

Me apena la contaminación
Apena ver a los niños así
Nos apena el estado del río
Apena que nadie haga nada

Romantic Regret

Me apena que hayamos terminado
Se apena de haberme dejado
No me apena quererte
Me apena verte con otro

대화 시작하기

"¿Qué es algo que te apena mucho ver en las noticias últimamente?"

"¿Te apena hablar en español cuando hay mucha gente escuchándote?"

"¿Te apena que hayamos perdido el contacto con viejos amigos de la escuela?"

"¿Hay alguna canción que siempre logre apenarte el corazón?"

"En tu país, ¿qué cosas les apena hacer a las personas en público?"

일기 주제

Escribe sobre una situación en la que te apenaste mucho por un error cometido.

Describe un lugar que te apena visitar debido a su estado de abandono.

¿Qué noticias del mundo te apenan más y por qué crees que te afectan tanto?

Reflexiona sobre la diferencia entre sentir pena por alguien y sentir vergüenza propia.

Escribe una carta formal donde uses 'me apena' para rechazar una invitación educadamente.

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No. In Mexico and Central America, it often means 'to be shy' or 'embarrassed'. In Spain, it almost always means 'to be sad' or 'to feel pity'.

'Lo siento' is 'I'm sorry' (regret). 'Me apena' is 'It saddens me' (empathy). You can use both, but 'me apena' describes the feeling more than the apology.

Because 'apenar' expresses an emotion or feeling about an action. In Spanish, verbs of emotion trigger the subjunctive in the following clause.

Yes, but usually reflexively: 'Me apeno' (I get sad/shy). If you say 'Me apena', you are saying 'It (something) saddens me'.

It's neutral-to-formal. In very informal speech, people might say 'me da pena' or 'me pone triste', but 'apenar' is perfectly fine for daily talk.

You say 'Estoy apenado' or 'Me apena'. Avoid 'Estoy embarazado', which means 'I am pregnant'!

'Penar' usually means 'to suffer' or 'to serve a sentence'. 'Apenar' is to cause that feeling in someone else.

Yes, if the object is causing you sadness. 'Me apena ver esta casa vieja'.

Very common. It's used to describe the melancholy of characters or the tragic nature of events.

Think: 'The news (subject) gives sadness (pena) to me (IO)'. News -> Apena -> Me.

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