Expressions
20 Spanish Expressions for Every Emotion (That Textbooks Never Teach You)
Community
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
Create accountor
Add a word/Sounds like "KEH" (as in "kept") + "PEH" (as in "pet") + "nah" (as in "nacho")/
Meaning
An expression meaning "sorry" or "how embarrassing" in Colombia and neighboring countries, not "what a pity." One of Spanish's most famous false friends: when someone says "qué pena" they are not sad, they are apologizing or feeling awkward. It trips up almost every foreigner learning Spanish in Colombia.
Examples
“Sorry to bother you, could you help me for a second?”
“My bad, I completely forgot about our appointment.”
Regional synonyms
Community
Your word isn't here yet
Join Hablaaa and add the expression no one else has documented.
/Sounds like "KEH" (as in "kept") + "PEH" (as in "pet") + "nah" (as in "nacho")/
Meaning
An expression meaning "sorry" or "how embarrassing" in Colombia and neighboring countries, not "what a pity." One of Spanish's most famous false friends: when someone says "qué pena" they are not sad, they are apologizing or feeling awkward. It trips up almost every foreigner learning Spanish in Colombia.
Examples
“Sorry to bother you, could you help me for a second?”
“My bad, I completely forgot about our appointment.”
Regional synonyms
Articles featuring this word
Hacer el indio
In Spain, to act the fool, clown around, or behave in a silly and inappropriate way. Hacer el indio is playful buffoonery in casual use, though the expression carries dated connotations that many now prefer to avoid.