emotionsintermediateuniversal
Me da pena ajena
/meh dah PEH-nah ah-HEH-nah/
I feel secondhand embarrassment
Literal translation
It gives me shame of others
When to use it
A universal feeling when watching someone else embarrass themselves, often in a cringe-worthy way.
In conversation
Cuando se tropezó en público me dio pena ajena.
“When they tripped in public, I felt secondhand embarrassment.”