vergogna
/verˈɡoɲ.ɲa/feminine
The English word shame translates to vergogna in Italian.
vergogna is a feminine noun that refers to an uncomfortable or painful feeling. If you wish to use the adjective form, use vergognoso for masculine or vergognosa for feminine to mean 'shameful'.
Meaning: uncomfortable or painful feeling (noun)
Which one should you use?
If you want to express the English phrase 'That's a shame' in the sense of 'That's a pity' to express regret about a situation, use Che peccato instead of Che vergogna.
How does it change in a sentence?
While vergogna is the noun for shame, the reflexive verb vergognarsi is used to express the act of feeling ashamed.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /verˈɡoɲ.ɲa/.
Did you know?
- The word vergogna may share an ancient, highly vulgar linguistic root with the Latin word for 'vagina'.
- The expression non avere vergogna can be used as a compliment to describe someone with the courage or 'gall' to do something bold.
- While vergogna describes the feeling of shame, Italians use the word imbarazzo for the lighter feeling of being 'embarrassed' in a social setting.
Examples in context
- Oh, è una vergogna.Oh, that's a shame.This sentence uses vergogna to express that something is a shame.Tatoeba #3573884 by Guybrush88, translation #3573716 by CK
- Tu non hai vergogna?Have you no shame?This sentence uses vergogna to ask if someone lacks shame.Tatoeba #2697846 by Guybrush88, translation #2697844 by Rafik
- Lei è senza vergogna.She has no shame.This sentence uses vergogna to describe someone who has no shame.Tatoeba #2618019 by Guybrush88, translation #1877252 by Spamster
- Mi vergogno di aver commesso quell'errore.I'm ashamed of having made that mistake.
- Mi vergogno di quello che ho detto ieri sera.I'm ashamed of what I said last night.
- Mi sento in imbarazzo ad andare a quella festa.I feel embarrassed to go to that party.
- 50 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Alessandro are discussing a social mistake made at a party.
- ChiaraHo provato molta vergogna per quello che ho detto.I felt a lot of shame for what I said.
- AlessandroNon dovresti, non era nulla di grave.You shouldn't, it was nothing serious.
- ChiaraMa mi sento ancora in imbarazzo.But I still feel embarrassed.
- AlessandroDimenticalo, nessuno ti ha giudicato.Forget it, nobody judged you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shame” translations and entries vergogna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vergogna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
