siento lástima por ti
/sjento lastima poɾ ti/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I feel sorry for you" is translated into Spanish as siento lástima por ti.
This phrase is used to express pity or compassion for someone who is in a sad or unfortunate situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of siento (I feel), lástima (pity/sorrow) and por ti (for you).
Which one should you use?
While siento lástima por ti focuses on your own feeling of compassion, the alternative me das lástima can sometimes sound more condescending, as it implies the person is pathetic.
How does it change in a sentence?
To adjust the level of respect when expressing sympathy, replace por ti with por usted to create the formal version siento lástima por usted.
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you are apologizing for a mistake you made rather than expressing pity for someone's misfortune, do not use this phrase. Instead, use lo siento.
Did you know?
- While siento lástima por ti is a direct translation, Spanish speakers often use the phrase qué pena to express the same sentiment in casual conversation.
- The word lástima comes from the verb lastimar, which means 'to hurt' or 'to injure'. This connects the feeling of pity directly to the concept of physical or emotional pain.
- Using the formal usted in siento lástima por usted can create a strange social tension, as expressing deep pity is an intimate emotion that often clashes with the professional distance of formal address.
Examples in context
- Siento lástima por ti al verte tan triste.I feel sorry for you seeing you so sad.
- Siento lástima por ti por haber perdido tu empleo.I feel sorry for you for having lost your job.
- Siento lástima por ti, la situación es muy difícil.I feel sorry for you, the situation is very difficult.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about Alejandro's bad luck with his car.
- SofíaTu coche se rompió otra vez, ¿verdad?Your car broke down again, right?
- AlejandroSí, y no tengo dinero para repararlo.Yes, and I don't have money to fix it.
- SofíaSiento lástima por ti, Alejandro.I feel sorry for you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, Sofía. Es un día muy difícil.Thanks, Sofía. It is a very difficult day.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lástima, por, ti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
