Definition
Deep regret and sorrow for wrongdoing; sincere remorse for sins or mistakes, often coupled with desire to make amends.
Etymology
From Latin 'paenitentia'—'paenitet' (it causes regret). The word entered English through Old French during the medieval period when Christian concepts dominated European thought, becoming closely associated with religious confession and atonement.
Kelly Says
Penitence appears in Christianity as a sacrament where confession and atonement are formalized, but psychologically it's much older—humans across all cultures seem to need ritual acknowledgment of wrongdoing to rebuild trust, which is why saying 'sorry' alone never feels quite enough.
Translations
ARالعربية
ندامة
na-da-mah
CACatalà
penitència
pe-ni-ten-thee-ah
DADansk
fortrydelse
for-try-de-lse
ELΕλληνικά
μετανόηση
me-ta-no-eh-see
ESEspañol
penitencia
pe-ni-ten-thee-ah
FAفارسی
پشیمانی
peesh-ee-ma-nee
FISuomi
parannus
pa-ran-nus
FRFrançais
repentance
re-pan-tance
GUGU
પેનિટેન્સ
pe-ni-ten-s
HAHA
penitence
pen-i-ten-ss
HIहिन्दी
पश्चाताप
paash-cha-taap
HUMagyar
bűntudat
boont-oo-dat
IDBahasa Indonesia
penyesalan
pe-ne-se-la-an
IGIG
penitence
pen-i-ten-ss
ITItaliano
penitenza
pe-ni-ten-tsa
KKKK
penitence
pen-i-ten-ss
MRMR
पश्चाताप
paash-cha-taap
MSBahasa Melayu
penyesalan
pe-ne-se-la-an
NLNederlands
berouw
ber-ouw
PAPA
ਪੇਨੀਟੈਂਸ
pe-ni-ten-s
PLPolski
żałoba
zhal-o-bah
PTPortuguês
penitência
pe-ni-ten-thee-sah
RORomână
pocăință
po-kay-n-tsa
RUРусский
покаяние
po-ka-y-e-nee-e
THไทย
ความสำนึกผิด
khwam-sam-neuk-pit
TLTL
paumanhin
pa-oo-man-hin
UKУкраїнська
покаяння
po-kay-annya
VITiếng Việt
hối hận
hoi han
YOYO
penitence
pen-i-ten-ss
ZUZU
penitence
pen-i-ten-ss