compadecer
“compadecer” means “to pity” in Spanish (to feel sadness for someone else's misfortune).
to pityAlso: to feel sorry for, to sympathize with
📝 In Action
Yo compadezco a las personas que no tienen un lugar donde vivir.
B1I pity people who do not have a place to live.
Es imposible no compadecerse de su triste situación.
B2It is impossible not to feel sorry for their sad situation.
No me compadezcas, solo ayúdame a solucionar el problema.
C1Don't pity me, just help me solve the problem.
Word Connections
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "compadecer" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: compadecer
Question 1 of 3
What is the correct 'yo' (I) form of compadecer in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
From the Latin 'compati', which literally means 'to suffer with' (com- meaning 'with' and 'pati' meaning 'to suffer').
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'compadecer' a negative word?
Not necessarily. While it involves sadness, it's often used to show deep empathy and shared feeling, though some people might find being 'pitied' (compadecido) a bit uncomfortable.
Can I use it for inanimate objects?
Usually, you compadecer people or animals, but you can compadecer a 'situation' or a 'state of being' metaphorically.
How do I pronounce the 'z' in 'compadezco'?
In Spain, it sounds like the 'th' in 'thin.' In Latin America, it sounds like a standard 's'.