How to pronounce “qué pena”
Hear how “qué pena (what a shame! (Mexico, Colombia: also "how embarrassing"))” sounds in Spanish, then read the breakdown below.
Accent
Breakdown
| Meaning | what a shame! (Mexico, Colombia: also "how embarrassing") |
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| Syllables | qué pe · na (3) |
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| IPA | /ˈke ˈpe.na/ |
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Tips for English speakers
- qu sounds like k; the u is silent.
- Keep every vowel short and pure: a = "ah", e = "eh", i = "ee", o = "oh", u = "oo". No gliding.
Learn more: Spanish vowels
Example sentences
¡Qué pena que no puedas venir!What a shame you can't come!
No hay entradas. ¡Qué pena!There are no tickets. What a shame!
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