It's a pity vs Unfortunately

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

It's a pity

Top 2,000 (common)

Unfortunately

Top 2,000 (common) A2 adverb

	It's a pity	Unfortunately
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪts ə ˈpɪti// 🇺🇸 //ɪts ə ˈpɪti//	🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈfɔːtʃənətli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənətli/"]/
Meaning	It's sad or unfortunate.	sadly or regrettably
Example	It's a pity we couldn't meet today.	Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the meeting.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	A2
Part of speech		adverb
Collocations	what a pity, it's a pity that, it's a pity to lose	unfortunately, it seems, unfortunately, we have, unfortunately, there was
Antonyms	-	fortunately, luckily
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'it's a shame', Using in overly formal contexts, Misplacing apostrophe in 'its'	'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 'unfortunately' to express bad news or a negative outcome. Suitable for both spoken and written English, but avoid in very casual contexts.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.

It's a pity

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

Unfortunately, one particular thought did not,

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

Unfortunately, our offices are being painted...

Agent Carter › S1 E1

- You work here? - Unfortunately, no.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

Unfortunately, one particular thought did not,

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

Unfortunately, our offices are being painted...

Unfortunately

Frequently asked questions: It's a pity vs Unfortunately

What's the difference between It's a pity and Unfortunately?

It's a pity: It's sad or unfortunate. Unfortunately: sadly or regrettably

Can you show an example of each?

It's a pity: It's a pity we couldn't meet today. Unfortunately: Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the meeting.

Can I use It's a pity and Unfortunately interchangeably?

Not always. It's a pity 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.