Pitty vs. Pity — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
Pitty is the incorrect spelling. Pity is the correct spelling and refers to compassion for suffering or misfortune.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Pitty or Pity
How to spell Pity?
Pitty
Incorrect Spelling
Pity
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of the word "pretty" which has two 't's, but "pity" only has one.
"Pity" sounds like "city," and both have one 't.'
Relate "pity" to "sympathy," where both have a single 't'.
Remember the phrase: "It's a 'pity' there isn't a 'twin T' in 'pity'."
Recall that "pity" is short and direct, like its meaning.
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How Do You Spell Pity Correctly?
Incorrect: They expressed their pitty for the victims of the disaster.
Correct: They expressed their pity for the victims of the disaster.
Incorrect: He showed no pitty towards his rival.
Correct: He showed no pity towards his rival.
Incorrect: It's a pitty you can't come to the party.
Correct: It's a pity you can't come to the party.
Incorrect: She felt pitty for the lost kitten.
Correct: She felt pity for the lost kitten.
Pity Definitions
Pity is a feeling of sorrow and compassion for someone's misfortune.
It's a pity she missed the concert.
Pity denotes a regrettable or unfortunate event.
What a pity that the weather turned bad.
Pity can refer to the feeling of being worthy of compassion or sympathy.
He was an object of pity after his downfall.
Pity is an expression used to convey sadness or disappointment about something.
Oh, what a pity! she exclaimed.
Pity is a sympathetic sorrow evoked by the suffering of others, and is used in a comparable sense to compassion, condolence or empathy - the word deriving from the Latin pietās (etymon also of piety). Self-pity is pity directed towards oneself.
Sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another.
A matter of regret
It's a pity she can't attend the reception.
To feel pity for or on account of
"No, he could not believe it a bad house.
Not such a house as a man was to be pitied for having" (Jane Austen). "An office worker pitied his confinement and slipped in to give him a loaf of bread" (Eric Scigliano).
To feel pity.
(uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
I can't feel any pity towards the gang, who got injured while attempting to break into a flat.
Take pity on someone
(countable) Something regrettable.
It's a pity you're feeling unwell because there's a party on tonight.
What a pity about the band breaking up. I loved them!
(obsolete) Piety.
(transitive) To feel pity for (someone or something).
You have got to pity the guy - he lost his wife, mother and job in the same month.
To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of.
Short form of what a pity.
Piety.
A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.
He . . . has no more pity in him than a dog.
A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted.
What pity is itThat we can die but once to serve our country!
To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
To move to pity; - used impersonally.
It pitieth them to see her in the dust.
To be compassionate; to show pity.
I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy.
A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others;
The blind are too often objects of pity
An unfortunate development;
It's a pity he couldn't do it
The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Share the suffering of
Pity can mean the capacity to feel compassion towards others.
It's hard for him to show any pity.
Pity Meaning in a Sentence
It's a pity that the old theater is being torn down.
The teacher took pity on the students and extended the deadline.
I have pity for anyone who has to work in such difficult conditions.
His story of struggle and perseverance moved her to pity.
It would be a pity to miss out on such an exciting opportunity.
She looked at him with pity in her eyes.
The novel explores the concept of pity from various angles.
They did not want their situation to be seen as a cause for pity.
Many people feel a deep sense of pity for abandoned animals.
He asked for no pity, only understanding.
Out of pity, she offered to help him find a job.
Showing pity can sometimes unintentionally belittle the person you're trying to help.
The villagers showed great pity and support for the flood victims.
Pity should not be the basis for a healthy relationship.
In his eyes, asking for pity was a sign of weakness.
They tried to evoke pity in their audience to gain support.
The story elicited a strong sense of pity and compassion.
The jury's decision was not influenced by pity, but by the facts.
She couldn't help but feel pity for her friend's predicament.
The charity event aimed to raise awareness and pity for the cause.
It's a pity that such talent is going unrecognized.
His appeal to her pity was unsuccessful.
The community's pity turned into action as they began to help rebuild the neighborhood.
It's important not to confuse pity with genuine empathy.
Pity Idioms & Phrases
Pity party
A self-indulgent behavior in which a person feels excessive, self-pitying sadness over their own troubles.
After the breakup, he threw himself a pity party rather than moving on.
Pity the fool
A phrase expressing a lack of sympathy for someone facing the consequences of their own foolish actions.
I pity the fool who tries to cheat in her class; she always catches them.
To take pity on
To show compassion and provide help to someone in distress.
The kind woman took pity on the stray dog and gave it a home.
An object of pity
A person or situation that arouses a feeling of sympathy or sadness.
The fallen athlete became an object of pity among his fans.
A cry for pity
A request for others to feel sorry for one's situation.
The speech was a cry for pity, hoping to draw attention to the injustice.
No pity
An assertion that sympathy or compassion is not deserved or will not be given.
There's no pity for those who don't put in the effort.
Without pity
Showing no sympathy or compassion whatsoever.
The villain in the story acted without pity, causing much suffering.
A plea for pity
A request for others to sympathize with one’s difficult situation.
Her speech was a heartfelt plea for pity from the jury.
To beg for pity
To ask others to feel sorry for oneself, often seen as undignified.
He was too proud to beg for pity, even in his darkest hour.
The depths of pity
An intense level of sympathy and compassion for someone or something.
The film plunged viewers into the depths of pity for its characters.
To have pity on oneself
To feel sorry for oneself, often excessively or unnecessarily.
Instead of having pity on himself, he took action to change his circumstances.
It's a pity
An expression of regret or disappointment over a situation.
It's a pity that the weather ruined our picnic plans.
Pity knows no laws
Suggests that compassion and sympathy can override rules and judgments.
When he saw the suffering caused by the earthquake, he felt that pity knows no laws.
The milk of human pity
The inherent compassion and empathy among humans.
The community's response to the disaster showed the milk of human pity.
Common Curiosities
What is the root word of Pity?
The root word is "pity."
Why is it called Pity?
It is called pity because it denotes a feeling of compassion or sympathy for someone's suffering or misfortune.
What is the verb form of Pity?
The verb form is "pity" (e.g., "I pity him").
Which vowel is used before Pity?
The vowel "i" is used before pity.
What is the singular form of Pity?
The singular form is "pity."
Which conjunction is used with Pity?
Any conjunction can be used with pity depending on the sentence context, such as "and" or "but."
What is the pronunciation of Pity?
It is pronounced as /ˈpɪti/.
Is Pity an abstract noun?
Yes, when referring to the feeling or emotion, it's an abstract noun.
What is the plural form of Pity?
The plural form is "pities."
Is Pity a noun or adjective?
Pity can be both a noun and a verb, but not an adjective.
Is Pity an adverb?
No, pity is not an adverb.
Is Pity a vowel or consonant?
Pity is a word, not a single letter. It contains both vowels and consonants.
Which preposition is used with Pity?
The preposition "for" is often used with pity (as in "pity for someone").
How many syllables are in Pity?
There are two syllables in pity.
How do we divide Pity into syllables?
It divides as pit-y.
What is the stressed syllable in Pity?
The first syllable, "pit," is stressed.
Is the word “Pity” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be either depending on the sentence structure.
Which article is used with Pity?
Both definite ("the") and indefinite ("a" or "an") articles can be used with pity depending on the context.
What is another term for Pity?
Compassion or sympathy.
Which determiner is used with Pity?
Any determiner like "this," "that," "my," or "a" can be used, depending on the context.
What is the third form of Pity?
The third form (past participle) of the verb "pity" is "pitied."
Is Pity a negative or positive word?
It is neutral in nature but can have negative connotations depending on context.
Is the Pity term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but it can be used metaphorically in some contexts.
What part of speech is Pity?
Pity can be both a noun and a verb.
Is Pity a countable noun?
It can be both countable (e.g., many pities) and uncountable (e.g., show some pity).
Is Pity a collective noun?
No, it's not a collective noun.
Is the word Pity imperative?
No, pity is not imperative.
Is the word Pity a gerund?
No, it's not a gerund.
What is the opposite of Pity?
Indifference or disdain.
What is the first form of Pity?
The first form (verb form) is "pity."
What is the second form of Pity?
The second form (past tense) of the verb "pity" is "pitied."
How is Pity used in a sentence?
"Many people felt pity for the abandoned animals."
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
