Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pena | /ˈpena/ | feminine |
| infortunio | /infoɾˈtunjo/ | masculine |
| ay | /ˈai/ | masculine |
In Spanish, 'woe' can refer to deep grief, sorrow or a heavy calamity. The term ay is used as an exclamation to express sudden distress or grief, similar to saying 'Alas!' or 'Woe!' in English. The noun infortunio describes a heavy stroke of bad luck or a tragic fate.
Which one should you use?
While pena can mean grief or woe, it is also the standard word for 'pity' or 'shame' in many contexts. In contrast, infortunio is a more formal and literary term used specifically to describe misfortune or a heavy calamity. The word ay functions as an exclamatory form rather than a standard noun for sorrow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
pena is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles and adjectives, such as la gran pena. infortunio is a masculine noun, used with masculine articles like el gran infortunio. The phrase ¡Ay de mí! is a fixed idiomatic expression used to lament one's own misfortune.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpena/
Did you know?
- While pena means 'woe' or 'sorrow', it is also the root of the phrase dar pena, which is used to say something is 'cringe-worthy' or embarrassing in several Spanish-speaking countries.
- The word pena is a linguistic relative of the English word 'penalty'. Both originate from the Latin poena and the Greek poinḗ, which referred to a punishment or payment for a crime.
- In some Spanish dialects, the word pena can describe a physical sensation of tightness in the chest or throat associated with crying, rather than just the abstract emotion of sorrow.
Examples in context
- ¡Ay de los vencidos!Woe to the conquered!This sentence demonstrates the use of ay to express woe toward the conquered.Tatoeba #577054 by Leono, translation #432443 by jerom
- ¡El infortunio le acontece!Woe betide him!This sentence shows how infortunio is used to describe a heavy calamity befalling someone.Tatoeba #5874613 by albrusgher, translation #285065 by Igider
- ¡Ay de mí!Oh, woe is me!This sentence illustrates the fixed idiomatic expression using ay to lament one's own misfortune.Tatoeba #2035110 by marcelostockle, translation #1956871 by marcelostockle
- Siento una profunda tristezaI feel deep woe.
- El verla sufrir me causa pesarSeeing her suffer causes me woe.
- El joven expresó su dolor profundoThe young man expressed his deep woe.
- Qué pena me da su partidaWhat woe her departure brings me.
- Cuánta lástima me produce su tristezaWhat woe her sadness causes me.
- Siento angustia ante su sufrimientoI feel woe at his suffering.
- Me embarga una tristeza profunda al recordar su partida.A deep woe overwhelms me when I remember his departure.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María is comforting Daniel after a difficult loss.
- MaríaSiento mucho tu pena, Daniel.I am very sorry for your woe, Daniel.
- DanielEs un dolor muy difícil de llevar.It is a pain that is very hard to bear.
- MaríaNo tienes que pasar por esta pena solo.You do not have to go through this woe alone.
- DanielGracias por estar conmigo, María.Thank you for being with me, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “woe” translations and entries pena, infortunio, ay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ay, infortunio, pena, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
