Italian Phrase
La colpa può pesare molto.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘Guilt can weigh heavily.’ It is a figurative way to say that feeling responsible for something can be a heavy emotional burden.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about the emotional impact of guilt, remorse, or responsibility—whether in personal conversations, counseling contexts, or literary descriptions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lacolpapuòpesaremolto
Definite article + noun
‘La’ is the feminine singular definite article that agrees with the noun ‘colpa’ (guilt, blame).
Modal verb + infinitive
‘Può’ (can) is a modal verb that must be followed by an infinitive verb, here ‘pesare’.
Infinitive verb
‘Pesare’ means ‘to weigh’; in this figurative use it describes the weight of an emotion.
Adverb of degree
‘Molto’ modifies the verb phrase and means ‘a lot / heavily’. It follows the infinitive in Italian.
🗨In Conversation
La colpa può pesare molto.
Guilt can weigh heavily.
Sì, per questo è importante perdonarsi.
Yes, that’s why it’s important to forgive oneself.
✕Common Mistakes
La colpa può pesa molto.
After a modal verb you must keep the infinitive form; do not conjugate ‘pesare’ to ‘pesa’.
La colpa può pesare tanto.
‘Molto’ as an adverb follows the infinitive; using ‘tanto’ in this position sounds unnatural.
La colpa di lui può pesare molto.
If you want to refer to a specific act, you might need ‘la colpa di…’, but the generic phrase stays as ‘la colpa’.
↔Alternatives
Il senso di colpa può essere opprimente.
The sense of guilt can be oppressive.
La colpa può gravare molto.
The blame can burden a lot.
Portare la colpa è un peso enorme.
Carrying the guilt is a huge weight.
Cultural Tip
In Italian culture, openly discussing personal guilt is more common in close family or therapeutic settings than in casual small talk. The phrase carries a serious, reflective tone, so it’s best used in a sincere conversation rather than a joking one. In Southern Italy, you might hear the more colloquial ‘la colpa ti pesa’ (the guilt weighs on you).