How to Say ‘What a shame.’ in Mexican Spanish
Qué pena.
keh PEH-nah
[keh PEH-nah]
💬 Usage Tip: [Qué pena] does not mean [what embarrassment] here. As a set phrase, it usually means [what a shame] or [that's unfortunate].
Phrase Breakdown
Qué
[keh]
what; how
Used in exclamations; here it introduces the feeling of regret in the phrase.
Qué pena que no haya cajero cerca.
What a shame that there isn't an ATM nearby.
pena
[PEH-nah]
shame; pity
A feeling of regret or sympathy; in this phrase it means 'what a shame.'
Qué pena, no traigo efectivo.
What a shame, I didn't bring cash.
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