pitié

pity, compassion

noun pee-TYEH Less Common

Usage Note

Pitié expresses compassion (avoir pitié de quelqu'un, to feel sorry for someone) and can also signal contempt (par pitié!, for pity's sake!). The exclamation pitié! alone is a plea for mercy. The related adjective pitoyable means 'pitiful' or 'woeful', and impitoyable means 'merciless' — a word often seen in film titles.

Examples

"Elle a eu pitié du petit chien perdu."

Natural Translation

She felt sorry for the little lost dog.

Literal Translation

She had pity of-the little dog lost

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