French Conversation · Level 132
30 words
French word
lamentable
Pronunciation
IPA/lamɑ̃tabl/
Meaning
- adjectiveunfortunate
Example
C'est lamentable.
That's unfortunate.
More examples
La qualité du service était lamentable.
The quality of the service was deplorable.
Core concept
A situation or act viewed with sadness and strong disapproval.
Common phrases
une situation lamentable
a deplorable situation
une performance lamentable
a dismal performance
Similar words
regrettable: Causing regret or disappointment.
navrant: Deeply distressing and painful to experience.
pitoyable: So unfortunate that it inspires sympathy.
Definition in French
Qui est regrettable ou triste et s'emploie souvent pour critiquer une situation ou un comportement.
Word origin
French lamentable comes through Old French from Latin lamentabilis, formed from lamentari, 'to lament', with the suffix -abilis.
Usage tips
- Lamentable is stronger than ordinary regret and often openly criticizes conduct or circumstances, so English 'unfortunate' is not always an equivalent.
Other meanings
- deplorableadjective
- pitifuladjective
Related words
- lamenterlamentverb
- lamentationlamentationnoun
- lamentablementdeplorablyadverb