How Do You Spell PITIFUL?

Pronunciation: [pˈɪtifə͡l] (IPA)

The word "pitiful" is spelled with the letters P-I-T-I-F-U-L. In terms of its pronunciation, the first syllable is stressed, and the IPA transcription is /ˈpɪtɪfəl/. The "p" at the beginning of the word is pronounced with a brief puff of air, known as an aspirated stop. The second and third syllables are pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by a "t" sound. The final syllable contains a short "u" sound, an "f" sound, and a "l" sound.

PITIFUL Meaning and Definition

1. Pitiful is an adjective that describes something or someone as deserving of sympathy or compassion due to their unfortunate, distressing, or miserable state or condition. It is often used to express a feeling of sadness, pity, or disappointment towards someone or something.

   When referring to a person, pitiful suggests that the individual evokes a sense of pity due to their overall woeful or deplorable circumstances. It may relate to their physical appearance, mental or emotional state, or their inability to cope with a particular situation. For instance, a person with severe disabilities, enduring a state of extreme poverty, or facing an overwhelming personal tragedy could be described as pitiful.

   Pitiful can also describe something that is pathetic or lamentable in nature, generally eliciting feelings of sadness or disappointment. It may pertain to a miserable or pitiable object, situation, or event that falls below expectations or standards. For instance, a pitiful excuse, a pitiful attempt at cooking, or a pitiful display of talent are all expressions that portray a low quality or deficiency.

   Overall, pitiful conveys an awareness and understanding of suffering or misfortune, often evoking a sense of empathy or sympathy towards something or someone in distress.

2. In Scrip., tender; moving compassion; generally used in an ill sense, contemptible; paltry; insignificant.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PITIFUL *

• pittyful 15.3061224%
• pitifull 15.3061224%
• pitful 8.1632653%
• pittifull 6.1224489%
• pitafull 2.0408163%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PITIFUL

• pinful
• buitiful
• betiful
• pitaful
• riteful
• pitfal
• pitifiul
• paiful
• pititful
• piceful
• utiful
• paniful
• butiful
• pentiful
• pityfull
• pitidae
• pithfull
• litophyl
• Litofil
• Petifull
• Loviful
• Gyriful
• potifull
• Pidityl
• pitteful
• pittfal
• peciful
• spitifull

Etymology of PITIFUL

The word "pitiful" has its roots in Old English. It is derived from the combination of two Old English words: "pytt" meaning "pit" and "full" meaning "full". In Old English, "pyttfull" meant "full of pity or compassion". Over time, the word evolved and transformed into "pitiful", retaining its original meaning of something worthy of pity or compassion.

Similar spelling words for PITIFUL

• pitiably,
• pitiable,
• pitifully.