lamentable
/lah-men-TAH-bleh/
regrettable
A regrettable situation, like dropping your ice cream, is 'lamentable'.
lamentable(adjective)
regrettable
?unfortunate situation
unfortunate
?sad event
,shameful
?disappointing behavior
📝 In Action
Es lamentable que hayamos perdido el partido.
B1It is regrettable that we lost the game.
Fue un error lamentable.
B1It was an unfortunate mistake.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for All
This word stays the same whether you are describing a masculine or feminine thing. For example, 'un error lamentable' and 'una noticia lamentable'.
Expressing Feelings
When you start a sentence with 'Es lamentable que...', the action that follows needs a special verb form (the subjunctive) because you are sharing an emotion about it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Trap
Mistake: "una situación lamentabla"
Correction: una situación lamentable. Even though 'situación' is feminine, words ending in -e usually don't change to -a.
⭐ Usage Tips
Stronger than Triste
Use this word when you want to sound more serious or formal than just saying 'triste' (sad).
The pitiful condition of a broken toy can be described as 'lamentable'.
lamentable(adjective)
pitiful
?very poor quality or condition
pathetic
?deserving contempt or pity
,deplorable
?shamefully bad
📝 In Action
La comida en ese restaurante era lamentable.
B2The food in that restaurant was pitiful.
El servicio al cliente es lamentable.
B2The customer service is pathetic.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Condition
When used with 'estar' (to be), it describes the current poor state of something, like an old house or a messy room.
⭐ Usage Tips
Criticizing politely
Using 'lamentable' sounds more sophisticated and slightly more formal than just saying something is 'muy malo' (very bad).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lamentable
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly describes a dirty, broken-down car?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'lamentable' the same as 'sad'?
Not exactly. While 'triste' is the general word for sad, 'lamentable' is closer to 'regrettable' or 'pitiful.' It suggests that something is so bad it's worth crying over or complaining about.
When should I use 'lamentablemente' instead?
Use 'lamentablemente' when you want to say 'Unfortunately' at the start of a sentence (e.g., 'Unfortunately, I can't go'). Use 'lamentable' to describe a person, thing, or situation.