Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"What a shame!" in Portuguese: que pena!
que pena!
What a shame! in Portuguese is que pena! Use it for canceled plans, near misses, and gentle bad news—warmer than harsh criticism.
Canceled concert
Que pena! Eu queria tanto ir.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce que pena!
Say it
kee PEH-nah
/ˈke ˈpe.na/
kee PEH-nah
"What a shame!" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| que pena! | what a shame! / too bad! Default sympathy. | Default sympathy. |
| ah, que pena | oh, what a shame Softer start. | Softer start. |
| que pena mesmo | what a real shame Stronger. | Stronger. |
| puxa, que pena | gosh, what a shame Extra empathy. | Extra empathy. |
How to use que pena! in real life
- 1Canceled concert
Que pena! Eu queria tanto ir.
What a shame! I wanted to go so much.
Que pena!
- 2Friend's missed flight
Que pena… ainda dá para remarcar?
What a shame… can you still rebook?
Follow-up help.
- 3Rain on picnic
Que pena o tempo. Vamos de café?
What a shame about the weather. Coffee instead?
Plan B.
Mistakes English speakers make with que pena!
Incorrect: What a shame!
Correct: Que pena!
Full Portuguese.
Incorrect: Que shame!
Correct: Que pena!
Pena, not English.
Good to know
Que pena! shows care without drama. Pair it with a fix—vamos remarcar?—so sympathy turns into help, which Brazilians appreciate.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Hearing a trip was canceled
ChatPal
O voo foi cancelado.
The flight was canceled.
You
Que pena! Que chato.
What a shame! How annoying.
ChatPal
É… que pena mesmo.
Yeah… what a real shame.
You
Quer ajuda para remarcar?
Want help rebooking?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"What a shame!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "What a shame!" in Portuguese
Stronger?
Que pena mesmo / que droga (more frustration).
I'm sorry (apology)?
Desculpa—different from que pena.
Too bad for me?
Que pena pra mim.
Pity as noun?
A pena also means sentence/pity—context decides.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
