Spanish word

pobrecillo

Pronunciation

IPA/poβɾeˈθiʝo/

Meaning

  • interjectionpoor thing

Example

¡Pobrecillo! ¿Qué te pasó?

Poor thing, what happened to you?

Illustration for pobrecillo (poor thing)

More examples

¡Ay, pobrecillo, se cayó de la bicicleta!

Oh, poor thing, they fell off the bicycle!

Core concept

Tender but belittling exclamation of pity.

Common phrases

  • ay pobrecillo

    oh poor thing

  • pobrecillo mío

    my poor thing

Similar words

pobrecito: Conveys caring, intimate pity directly to the person, sounding close and affectionate.
pobre: Conveys quick, impersonal sympathy on seeing someone's bad luck.
ay: Expresses a quick, involuntary sympathetic sound on seeing someone suffer.

Definition in Spanish

Se usa para manifestar pena o compasión por una persona o un animal, con un matiz que puede ser afectuoso o condescendiente según el tono.

Word origin

It is formed from pobre (Latin pauper) with the diminutive ending -cillo, originally 'little poor one,' so the diminutive both softens and slightly belittles the referent.

Usage tips

  • It appears chiefly in casual conversation for people or animals, and it can sound patronizing when directed at strangers or social superiors.

Other meanings

  • poor soulnoun

Opposites

  • enhorabuenacongratulationsinterjection
  • felicidadescongratulationsinterjection

Related words

Word lists with this word