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Lesson 168 of 238

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How embarrassing in Spanish

Yako wrote a word in a cookie tin, and the ink ran. Now the word reads like something completely different, and Yako's ears are burning.

In this lesson you'll learn to say you're embarrassed, admit you completely forgot something, and brush the whole thing off like a regular at Café Laurel.

By the end, you'll handle an awkward moment in Spanish without breaking a sweat.

By the end of this lesson

Say you're embarrassed and brush it off.

  • Qué penaHow embarrassing
  • Me da penaI'm embarrassed
  • Se me olvidó por completoI completely forgot
  • No te preocupes, a todos les pasaDon't worry, it happens to everyone
  • Ya pasóIt's over
  • Gracias por no hacerla de tosThanks for not botching it

Scene — a smudged note

Café Laurel, late morning. Yako has been writing Spanish words on little notes and keeping them in a cookie tin, and he's very proud of his handwriting.

Yesterday Justin borrowed the tin and forgot to put the lid back on. Overnight, a drop of water found the newest note.

At Café Laurel, Justin holds a small smudged note from an open cookie tin while Yako sits nearby looking proud.

Learn — embarrassed and brushing it off

Six lines for one awkward minute: react with Qué pena, own it with Me da pena, admit the slip, and then wave it away.

One of these lines is pure Mexican slang, so read the notes.

  1. Justin reads the smudged note aloud, wincing with an embarrassed half-smile.

    Qué pena

    How embarrassing

    When to use it: Say this to react to something embarrassing that just happened.

    In Mexico this can also mean what a shame, but here it's the classic reaction to embarrassment.

  2. Yako lowers his head and studies his cup, embarrassed by his smudged handwriting.

    Me da pena

    I'm embarrassed

    When to use it: Say this when the embarrassing thing happened to you.

    Literally it gives me pena; Spanish says it that way instead of I am.

  3. Justin admits he forgot to put the lid back on the tin.

    Se me olvidó por completo

    I completely forgot

    When to use it: Say this to admit that something slipped your mind entirely.

    Se me olvidó is the accidental I forgot; the preterite makes it a finished event.

    Say it: olvidó hits the last syllable: ol-vee-DOH.

  4. Amanda reaches over and kindly pats Yako's shoulder to reassure him.

    No te preocupes, a todos les pasa

    Don't worry, it happens to everyone

    When to use it: Say this to comfort someone who's embarrassed about a mistake.

    Preocupes is subjunctive because you're telling someone not to worry.

  5. Michael waves a hand casually, brushing the whole thing off as over and done.

    Ya pasó

    It's over

    When to use it: Say this to close an awkward moment and move on.

    Pasó is preterite: the thing already happened and it's done.

  6. Yako smiles gratefully at Justin, raising his cup slightly toward him.

    Gracias por no hacerla de tos

    Thanks for not botching it

    When to use it: Say this when someone did something smoothly and dodged a blunder.

    Hacerla de tos is Mexican slang for botching it or messing up; learn it as one piece.

Story — el elegido

Yako slides the cookie tin across the table, proud of his handwriting. Justin reads the note out loud, and the smudge does the rest.

The highlighted lines are the ones you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Yako opens the tin like it's a museum piece.
  2. YakoMira, Justin. Escribí el pedido de Michael en una nota.Look, Justin. I wrote Michael's order on a note.
  3. JustinA ver... Dice el elegido.Let me see... It says the chosen one.
  4. A drop of water smudged the d overnight, and now it really does look like a g.
  5. Yako¿El elegido? No, decía el pedido. Qué pena.The chosen one? No, it said the order. How embarrassing.
  6. JustinNo pasa nada. Se ve bonita la letra.It's fine. The handwriting looks nice.
  7. YakoMe da pena. Practiqué esa palabra como veinte veces.I'm embarrassed. I practiced that word like twenty times.
  8. JustinFue mi culpa. Se me olvidó por completo cerrar la lata.It was my fault. I completely forgot to close the tin.
  9. Michael arrives with two coffees and reads the note over their shoulders.
  10. Michael¿Qué pasó aquí?What happened here?
  11. YakoEl pedido de la casa ahora dice el elegido.The house order now says the chosen one.
  12. MichaelDéjame ver... Yo sé lo que pedí. Yo lo leo bien: el pedido.Let me see... I know what I ordered. I read it fine: the order.
  13. YakoGracias por no hacerla de tos.Thanks for not botching it.
  14. MichaelJaja. No te preocupes, a todos les pasa.Haha. Don't worry, it happens to everyone.
  15. YakoYa pasó. Mejor me tomo mi café.It's over. I'd better drink my coffee.
  16. JustinTodos cometemos errores, Yako.Everyone messes up, Yako.
  17. MichaelPues el elegido suena bien. Le voy a poner así al café del día.Well, the chosen one sounds good. I'll name today's coffee that.
  18. Yako studies his cup, but one ear betrays a small smile.

Practice — the embarrassing round

Ten quick exercises: listen, match, fill gaps, and build the slang line from scratch.

They start easy and get harder, exactly like a real embarrassing moment.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Me da penaDrop the English here
    Gracias por no hacerla de tosDrop the English here
    Todos cometemos erroresDrop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend reads your note out loud and it comes out wrong. React to the moment.

  4. Fill the gap

    I'm embarrassed

    Me da ____

  5. Pick the reply

    Yako says:

    Me da pena. Practiqué esa palabra veinte veces.

    I'm embarrassed. I practiced that word twenty times.

    And you reply with:

  6. What does it mean?

    No pasa nada

  7. Which one doesn’t belong?

  8. Swap the word

    It wasn't a small slip. You forgot every single bit of it.

    Se me olvidó ____

  9. True or false?

    This line means you forgot just a little.

  10. Build the line

    Thanks for not botching it

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — your turn to blush

Now the awkward minute is yours. Yako just found out the tin was left open, and you're the one who left it that way.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone. Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the model line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Yako¿Viste mi nota? La tinta se corrió y ahora dice el elegido.Did you see my note? The ink ran and now it says the chosen one.
  2. Justin (you)Admit you completely forgot to close the tin.

    Se me olvidó por completo

    I completely forgot

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Qué penaHow embarrassing
Me da penaI'm embarrassed
Se me olvidó por completoI completely forgot
No te preocupes, a todos les pasaDon't worry, it happens to everyone
Ya pasóIt's over
Gracias por no hacerla de tosThanks for not botching it
Next: lesson 169That annoys me

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these lines for your next awkward moment with the Yak Cards for this lesson.

A quick Yak Cards round each day keeps your embarrassment lines ready before you need them.

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