Which to use
“lástima” is a noun and “lastimar” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #3,571
- “lástima” frequency rank
- #14,390
- “lastimar” frequency rank
- 17961
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | lástima | lastimar |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Sentimiento doloroso que causan en el alma los padecimientos y desgracias de otros. | Causar daño físico. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set lástima and lastimar apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
These two trip readers on the page rather than in the ear: lástima is [ˈlast̪ima] while lastimar is [last̪iˈmaɾ]. Spoken aloud the problem disappears. In writing it persists, because they differ by 1 letter(s) in length, and the parts of speech differ too (noun vs verb), which is usually the fastest check. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 17961, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
lástima is recorded at frequency rank #3,571, classified as anoun, pronounced [ˈlast̪ima]. lastimar is at rank #14,390, tagged as averb, pronounced [last̪iˈmaɾ].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 17961, this pair ranks #269,922 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of lástima vs lastimar
Shared letters: ailmst. Private to "lástima": á. Private to "lastimar": r.
"lástima" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVCV · "lastimar" · 8 letters · shape CVCCVCVC
Known mistypes of this pair
- lastimar ← alstimar · lasitmar · lasstimar · lastiamr · lastimarr · lastimmar · lastimra · lastmiar
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "lástima" and "lastimar" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "lástima" or "lastimar"?
Remembering lástima vs lastimar
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “lástima”; for a verb, it's “lastimar”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “lástima” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable