Cool MatePity vs Shame
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Pity
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Shame
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Shame
| Pity | Shame | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɪti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɪti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃeɪm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃeɪm/"]/ |
| Meaning | Feeling sorry for someone else's trouble or sadness. | A feeling of being embarrassed or guilty about something. |
| Example | It is a pity that you couldn't come to the party last night. | He felt a deep sense of shame after realizing his mistake. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | great, real, pity about, a bit of a pity, such a pity, what a pity, be filled with, be full of, feel, out of pity, without pity, pity for, a feeling of pity, a sense of pity, have pity on somebody | awful, great, real, shame about, a bit of a shame, rather a shame, such a shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame |
| Antonyms | indifference, apathy | pride, honor, confidence |
| Common mistakes | 'Pity' is often confused with 'sympathy' - they are not interchangeable., Learners often misuse 'pity' as a verb instead of a noun, e.g., saying 'I pity' instead of 'I feel pity for'., It's incorrect to say 'I have pity on' - the correct phrase is 'I have pity for'. | 'Shame' confused with 'guilt' - they're related but not the same., Using 'shame' inappropriately as an action verb, e.g., 'to shame someone' can be too strong in casual conversation., Mixing up 'shame' with 'shaming' – the former is a noun while the latter is a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'pity' in situations where you sympathize with someone's difficulties. It's neutral but may sound formal in casual conversations. | Use 'shame' when talking about feelings of guilt or embarrassment. It's appropriate in most contexts but can feel heavy or serious. Avoid in light-hearted conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Pity vs Shame
What's the difference between Pity and Shame?
Pity: Feeling sorry for someone else's trouble or sadness. Shame: A feeling of being embarrassed or guilty about something.
Which is more common: Pity and Shame?
Shame is the most common in everyday English.
Are Pity and Shame the same CEFR level?
Pity: B2, Shame: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Pity and Shame?
Pity: noun, Shame: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Pity: It is a pity that you couldn't come to the party last night. Shame: He felt a deep sense of shame after realizing his mistake.
Can I use Pity and Shame interchangeably?
Not always. Pity and Shame 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.