valer la pena
Lemma Details
Translation: to be worth it; to be worthwhile; to be worth the effort
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This Spanish phrase combines 'valer' (to be worth) from Latin 'valere' (to be strong, to be worth) and 'la pena' (the pain, trouble, or effort). The expression literally means 'to be worth the pain/trouble' and has evolved to express that something justifies the effort or difficulty involved. The Latin root 'valere' is also the source of English words like 'value', 'valid', and 'valiant'.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El viaje fue difícil pero valió la pena.
The trip was difficult but it was worth it.
No vale la pena preocuparse por cosas que no puedes cambiar.
It's not worth worrying about things you can't change.
Estudiar español vale la pena.
Studying Spanish is worth it.
¿Crees que valdrá la pena el esfuerzo?
Do you think the effort will be worth it?
Mnemonics
- Think of 'value' (valer) and 'pain' (pena) - something that's valuable enough to endure pain for.
- Remember that if something 'vale la pena', it has enough 'value' to justify the 'penalty' of effort.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This expression is extremely common in Spanish-speaking cultures and is used to evaluate experiences, decisions, or actions. It reflects a cultural tendency to weigh effort against reward and is often used when discussing life choices or experiences.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'valer la pena' means something is worth the effort, 'dar pena' means to cause pity or sadness.
Notes: The word 'pena' appears in both expressions but with different meanings: effort/trouble in 'valer la pena' versus sadness/pity in 'dar pena'.
Mnemonic: 'Valer' connects to value (worth), while 'dar' means to give - giving pity is different from being worth the effort.
Explanation: 'Valer la pena' means something is worthwhile, while 'pagar la pena' means to pay the price or suffer the consequences.
This word:
El esfuerzo vale la pena cuando ves los resultados.
The effort is worth it when you see the results.
Confused word:
Tendrá que pagar la pena por sus acciones.
He will have to pay the price for his actions.
Notes: These phrases show how 'pena' can mean both 'effort/trouble' and 'punishment/penalty' depending on context.
Mnemonic: 'Valer' (to be worth) focuses on value, while 'pagar' (to pay) focuses on cost or punishment.