erbärmlich
pitiful
Describes a condition that arouses pity because it is very bad, miserable, or wretched.
EXAMPLE
Die Tiere wurden unter erbärmlichen Bedingungen gehalten.
The animals were kept in pitiful conditions.
erbärmlich
pitiful / pathetic
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Meanings
erbärmlich
pathetic
Expresses a strongly negative judgment and means that something is of extremely poor quality, performance, or morality. It is often used disparagingly.
EXAMPLE
Das war eine wirklich erbärmliche Leistung der gesamten Mannschaft.
That was a truly pathetic performance by the entire team.
Usage tips
Word family
'Erbärmlich' comes from the verb 'sich erbarmen' (to have pity). Its original meaning is therefore 'arousing pity' or 'deserving pity'.
EXAMPLE
Der Anblick des verletzten Vogels war erbärmlich.
The sight of the injured bird was pitiful.
Use as an adverb
The word can also be used as an adverb to intensify a verb negatively. It then means something like 'in a miserable way' or 'pathetically'.
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft hat im Finale erbärmlich versagt.
The team failed pathetically in the final.
Context clue
When 'erbärmlich' (pitiful) describes a condition that evokes pity, it often refers to living conditions. When it evaluates a performance or action, it is a strongly disparaging judgment of its quality.
EXAMPLE
Die Flüchtlinge lebten in erbärmlichen Lagern.
The refugees lived in pitiful camps.
Strongly negative judgment
In the meaning 'very bad', 'erbärmlich' (pathetic) is a very strong and emotional word. It expresses not only poor quality, but often also contempt.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verhalten gegenüber den Kollegen war erbärmlich.
His behavior toward his colleagues was pathetic.
Compare with
erbärmlich vs Elend
misery
Elend refers to the painful state itself, such as circumstances marked by hardship and sorrow. Erbärmlich describes a very bad, wretched state and often adds a clearly negative judgment. Use Elend when the suffering is the focus, and erbärmlich when you are also strongly condemning the condition.
erbärmlich
Nach der Überschwemmung war der Zustand der betroffenen Häuser erbärmlich.
After the flood, the condition of the affected houses was pitiful.
Elend
Nach der Überschwemmung sahen die Helfer das Elend der betroffenen Familien.
After the flood, the relief workers saw the misery of the affected families.
In real life
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