Cool MateIt's a pity vs Sadly vs Unfortunately
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
It's a pity
Top 2,000 (common)
Sadly
Top 2,000 (common)A2adverb
Unfortunately
Top 2,000 (common)A2adverb
| It's a pity | Sadly | Unfortunately | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪts ə ˈpɪti//🇺🇸 //ɪts ə ˈpɪti// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsædli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsædli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈfɔːtʃənətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənətli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It's sad or unfortunate. | unhappily | sadly or regrettably |
| Example | It's a pity we couldn't meet today. | ‘I'm so sorry,’ she said sadly. | Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the meeting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | what a pity, it's a pity that, it's a pity to lose | sadly accepted, sadly realized, sadly noted, sadly remarked, sadly looked | unfortunately, it seems, unfortunately, we have, unfortunately, there was |
| Antonyms | - | happily, joyfully | fortunately, luckily |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'it's a shame', Using in overly formal contexts, Misplacing apostrophe in 'its' | Using 'sadly' in a positive context., Confusing 'sadly' with 'suddenly'. | 'Unfortuately' is a common misspelling., Sometimes confused with 'unluckily', which has a similar meaning but is less formal., Used in positive contexts by mistake. |
| Usage notes | Use in situations expressing regret or disappointment. Not suitable for formal writing; better in conversations. | Use 'sadly' to show disappointment or regret. It's appropriate in both speaking and writing, but avoid it in very casual settings. | Use 'unfortunately' to express bad news or a negative outcome. Suitable for both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: It's a pity vs Sadly vs Unfortunately
What's the difference between It's a pity, Sadly, and Unfortunately?
It's a pity: It's sad or unfortunate. Sadly: unhappily Unfortunately: sadly or regrettably
Can you show an example of each?
It's a pity: It's a pity we couldn't meet today. Sadly: ‘I'm so sorry,’ she said sadly. Unfortunately: Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the meeting.
Can I use It's a pity, Sadly, and Unfortunately interchangeably?
Not always. It's a pity, Sadly, and Unfortunately are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.