jämmerlich
pitiful
In a very bad, pitiable state; arousing pity or sadness.
EXAMPLE
Das verletzte Tier gab ein jämmerliches Wimmern von sich.
The injured animal let out a pitiful whimper.
jämmerlich
pitiful / pathetic
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Meanings
jämmerlich
pathetic
Of very poor quality or performance; miserably bad.
EXAMPLE
Er ist bei der Prüfung jämmerlich gescheitert.
He failed the exam pathetically.
jämmerlich
terribly
To a high degree, terribly. Used as an adverb to intensify a negative state or feeling.
EXAMPLE
Mir war auf der Bootsfahrt jämmerlich kalt.
I was terribly cold on the boat trip.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'jämmerlich' (pitiful/pathetic) is closely related to the noun 'der Jammer', which means 'great suffering' or 'misery'. Something that is 'jämmerlich' is therefore full of misery or arouses it.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Niederlage war der Jammer in der Mannschaft groß.
After the defeat, there was great misery in the team.
Use as an adverb
In this meaning, 'jämmerlich' (terribly) is used as an adverb to strongly emphasize a negative feeling or state. It then stands directly before the verb or adjective that it intensifies.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe nachts im Zelt jämmerlich gefroren.
I froze terribly in the tent at night.
Typical collocations
When it comes to poor performance, 'jämmerlich' (pathetic/pathetically) is often combined with the verb 'scheitern' (to fail). It then describes complete, total failure.
EXAMPLE
Sein Versuch, die Investoren zu überzeugen, ist jämmerlich gescheitert.
His attempt to convince the investors failed pathetically.
Typical collocations
To describe a pitiable state, 'jämmerlich' (pitiful) is often used with nouns such as 'Anblick' (sight), 'Zustand' (condition), or 'Geräusch' (sound).
EXAMPLE
Die verlassene Hütte bot einen jämmerlichen Anblick.
The abandoned hut was a pitiful sight.
Compare with
jämmerlich vs arm
poor
Arm and jämmerlich can both fit a bad situation that arouses pity. Arm directs the compassionate view more toward the person affected, while jämmerlich emphasizes the person’s very poor or miserable condition. Use arm to express pity for the person and jämmerlich for their appearance or condition.
jämmerlich
Das Kind sah nach der kalten Nacht in seinen nassen Kleidern jämmerlich aus.
After the cold night, the child looked pitiful in their wet clothes.
arm
Das Kind war ganz allein und tat mir sehr leid, das arme Kind.
The child was all alone, and I felt so sorry for them—the poor child.
In real life
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