pentirsi
/penˈtir.si/
To repent in Italian is pentirsi.
The verb pentirsi means to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do. It can be used in a religious context (to repent of sins) or a secular context (to regret a decision).
Meaning: to feel sorrow or regret for what one has done or omitted to do (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
As a reflexive verb, pentirsi requires the preposition di before the thing or action being regretted. When using the first-person singular present tense, you must use the reflexive pronoun mi in the form mi pento.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /penˈtir.si/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word 'pentimento' is used in the art world to describe a visible change made by an artist during the painting process, where the original idea 'repented' and was altered.
- In Italian legal terminology, a pentito is a former mafia member who has repented and agreed to collaborate with the police.
- The Italian word pentirsi shares a root with the English word 'penitentiary'. While the English word refers to the prison, the Italian verb focuses on the internal feeling of remorse.
Examples in context
- Dopo aver riflettuto a lungo, mi sono pentito delle mie azioni passate.After careful consideration, I have repented for my past actions.
- Mi dispiace profondamente e mi ravvedo sinceramente per quello che ho detto.I deeply regret it, and I sincerely repent for what I said.
- Mi pento di aver perso l'occasione della mia vita e lo rimpiangerò per sempre.I repent for having missed the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will regret it forever.
- Mi spiace tanto, sono davvero pentito/a di quello che ho fatto.I'm so sorry, I really repent for what I did.
- Mi son rimpentito profondamente dei miei errori e spero di poter essere perdonato.I have deeply repented for my mistakes, and I hope to be forgiven.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “repent” translations and entries pentirsi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pentirsi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
