lamento escuchar eso
/lamento eskut͡ʃaɾ eso/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'sorry to hear that' is expressed in Spanish as lamento escuchar eso.
This phrase is used to express sympathy or sadness after someone shares bad news.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase lamento escuchar eso literally means 'I regret to hear that', where lamento means 'I regret' or 'I feel sorrow'.
Which one should you use?
While lamento escuchar eso is a specific way to express sympathy regarding news, lo siento is a more common and versatile way to express sympathy or an apology.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb lamentar can be followed by an infinitive like saber (to know) or escuchar (to hear) to express regret about a piece of information, as seen in the phrase lamento saberlo ('I regret to know it').
How do you pronounce it?
/lamento eskutʃaɾ eso/
Did you know?
- The root of lamento comes from the Latin lāmentum, which referred to a loud wailing or a ritual dirge for the dead.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing sympathy is often accompanied by a light touch on the arm or a hug, which is more common than in English-speaking cultures.
- The verb lamentar is used more broadly in Spanish than 'regret' is in English, often describing a general state of sadness rather than a wish to change the past.
Examples in context
- Lamento mucho escuchar eso. Mis condolencias.I greatly regret hearing that. My condolences.
- ¡Qué pena! Lo siento mucho.That's a shame! I'm very sorry.
Example conversation
María tells Javier that she lost her wallet.
- Javier¿Qué pasó, María? Te ves muy triste.What happened, María? You look very sad.
- MaríaPerdí mi cartera en el autobús.I lost my wallet on the bus.
- JavierLamento escuchar eso, ¿estaba ahí tu dinero?I'm sorry to hear that, was your money in there?
- MaríaSí, y también mi identificación.Yes, and also my identification.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries escuchar, eso, lamento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
