“Alas” expresses sadness or regret. Perhaps the nearest options in Spanish would be ¡qué pena! ¡qué lástima! or “desgraciadamente”.
Examine these:
- You are asked a question and respond: “alas, I do not know” (por desgracia no lo sé). A similar expression could be: “unfortunately, I do not know”.
- Would you like a glass of beer? Alas, no, I am trying to give it up (desgraciadamente, estoy tratando de dejarla).
- Are you swimming in money (nadando en dinero)? Alas, that is not the case (desgraciadamente…)
- Alas, life is full of fears about Covid (desgraciadamente…está llena de temores de Covid).
