misery / complaining
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misery
A state of great sorrow, misery, or suffering. It describes a deep feeling of sadness or a pitiable situation.
Nach der Flutkatastrophe war der Jammer in der betroffenen Region unermesslich.
After the flood disaster, the misery in the affected region was immeasurable.
complaining
Loud, ongoing complaining or lamenting about suffering or a grievance.
Ich kann seinen ewigen Jammer über die viele Arbeit nicht mehr hören.
I can't listen to his endless complaining about all the work anymore.
to be a pity
A fixed expression used to say that something is a great shame or regrettable.
Es ist ein Jammer, dass das alte Kino geschlossen wird.
It's a pity that the old cinema is closing.
'Der Jammer' (misery / complaining) is closely related to the verb 'jammern' (to complain, to lament). The noun describes either the state of sorrow or the act of complaining itself.
Sein lautes Jammern ging allen auf die Nerven.
His loud complaining got on everyone's nerves.
The word 'Jammer' (misery / complaining) is used almost exclusively in the singular. Even when talking about many problems or great suffering, you speak of 'großer Jammer' (great misery), not 'die Jammern'.
Der Jammer nach dem Hochwasser war unbeschreiblich.
The misery after the flood was indescribable.
A common fixed expression is 'ein Bild des Jammers bieten' (to present a picture of misery). This describes a sight that is very sad, miserable, or chaotic.
Nach der Party bot das Wohnzimmer ein Bild des Jammers.
After the party, the living room presented a picture of misery.
When 'Jammer' (complaining) has the meaning of 'Klagen' (complaints / lamenting), it often appears with a possessive pronoun such as 'sein' (his), 'ihr' (her), or 'dein' (your). This shows that it is about a person's personal complaining.
Ihr ständiger Jammer über das Wetter ist ermüdend.
Her constant complaining about the weather is tiring.
The expression 'ein Jammer sein' (to be a pity) is often used in the fixed structure 'Es ist ein Jammer, dass ...' (It's a pity that ...), followed by a subordinate clause, or with 'zu + Infinitiv' (to + infinitive).
Es ist ein Jammer, dass du nicht zur Feier kommen kannst.
It's a pity that you can't come to the celebration.
suffering
„Das Leid“ refers to severe physical or emotional suffering in a relatively neutral way. „Der Jammer“ presents a situation more strongly as pitiable or refers to the loud, ongoing complaints about it. „Leid“ is therefore usually more appropriate for a factual description of suffering.
Der Jammer des schwer verletzten Mannes war im ganzen Flur zu hören.
The severely injured man's cries of misery could be heard throughout the hallway.
Die schweren Verletzungen verursachten dem Mann großes Leid.
The serious injuries caused the man great suffering.
