"tener pena" vs. "dar pena"
 

In one of my spanish books I am studying out of, it gives expressions used with "tener" and one of them is "tener pena" for "I am sad or embarrassed". From my experience, I have always heard "dar pena" for this expression. And the expression I've heard seems to be more associated with shame or embarrassment than sadness. Are they both correct?

Also, maybe someone could give me a few examples of both? Thanks so much!!

In Latin American Spanish: Me da pena means it embarrasses me.
Tengo pena means I'm embarrassed
You can always say: Me da vergüenza Tengo vergúenza

Siempre leo
me da pena
me ha dado pena
me vergüenza
me avergüenza
qué pena me da
:)

Not all LA expresses themselves like that.

Pena/tristeza= sadness

Shame=vergüenza

In Chile, tengo/me da vergüenza/pena/tristeza.

This confirms it:
vergüenza is the safest word for embarrassment.

As you can see pena meaning embarrassment is very regional.

Avergonzar is a verb, and I believe I have heard : siento avergonazado.

I'm sure it can be done, but I have never heard ther verb avergonzar conjugated in common speech (by this I mean :avergüezo, as , a).

Presta más atención, porque lo más seguro que si lo has hecho.

Te avergüenzo con esto?

Te avengonzé con esto?

;)

@Poli: "me siento avergonzado" (I feel ashamed)
"Avergonzar" is often heard conjugated.

- Me avergüenzan las cosas que hace mi padre. -> I'm ashamed for the things my father does.
- ¿No te avergüenza vestirte así? -> Aren't you ashamed to dress like that?
- Y ni siquiera se avergonzaron de lo que habían dicho. -> And they weren't even ashamed for what they had said.


@Hernán: "avergoncé" ;)


As everyone, has said, both are correct. I will just add some examples:


Tener una pena -> to be sad (here, pena = sorrow/sadness)
Tener pena/vergüenza -> to feel embarrassed or ashamed

- Tenemos una pena muy grande: mi padre murió ayer. -> We have a very deep sorrow: my father died yesterday.

- Tengo pena de pedirle ayuda. = Me da pena pedirle ayuda. = Me da vergüenza pedirle ayuda. -> I'm embarrased to ask him for help.


"Darle pena a alguien":

- Me da pena (me da vergüenza) que me veas así. -> I'm embarrased that you see me like this.
- Le dio pena (le dio vergüenza) no poder ayudarme y se fue. -> He was sorry that he couldn't help me and he left.
- El vagabundo me dio pena (me dio lástima) y le di una limosna. -> I took pity on the homless man and I gave him some money.
- Cuando murió el abuelo todos sentimos pena (sentimos lástima) por la abuela, que estaba tan triste. -> When grandfather died we all felt sorry for grandmother, who was so sad.

¿cómo se va el subjuntivo con avergonzar? Seguro que es lo mismo como otros verbos de animo. :thinking:

Me siento avergonzado de que yo me portara así :thinking:

Your sentence is not exactly wrong, but:

When the subject is the same, the second verb is not conjugated: Me siento avergonzado de haberme portado así.

When the subject is different, the second verb is conjugated in subjunctive:
- Me siento avergonzado de que mi hermano se portara así.
- Me avergüenza que mi hermano se haya portado así.
- Me siento avergonzado de que mi hermano se haya portado así.
- Me avergüenza que mi hermano se portara así.


:)

Duh. Claro. Es que me zentí ezpañol por un rato. :)