01
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
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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 arm
poor
'arm' and 'erbärmlich' can both express pity. In this sense, 'arm' means that you feel sorry for someone; it usually sounds compassionate. 'erbärmlich' is much stronger and describes a very bad, miserable condition or judges something harshly and negatively. They can be confused because both fit sad or bad situations. But 'arm' is often meant kindly or sadly, while 'erbärmlich' can quickly sound disparaging. For a person you feel sorry for, 'arm' is usually more careful.
erbärmlich
Der Gast sah nach der kalten Nacht im Freien erbärmlich aus.
After the cold night outdoors, the guest looked pitiful.
arm
Das arme Kind musste wegen des Sturms lange am Bahnhof warten.
The poor child had to wait at the station for a long time because of the storm.
In real life
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