Cool MateThat is sad vs Unfortunate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That is sad
Top 1,000 (very common)
Unfortunate
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: That is sad
| That is sad | Unfortunate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæt ɪz sæd//🇺🇸 //ðæt ɪz sæd// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈfɔːtʃənət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈfɔːrtʃənət/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that makes you feel unhappy. | Something bad that happens. |
| Example | When I heard the news, I thought, 'That is sad.' | He was unfortunate to lose in the final round. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | feel sad, it's sad, sad news | be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, consider somebody/something, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | - | fortunate, lucky |
| Common mistakes | 'That is sad' used inappropriately in a humorous context., Overusing 'sad' when 'unfortunate' might be more suitable., Confusing 'that is sad' with 'I am sad' – the former describes a situation, the latter your feelings. | Confused with 'unfortunate' vs 'unfortunately' — remember one is an adjective and the other is an adverb., Using 'unfortunate' as a noun. It should only be an adjective., Forget to use it in the right contexts; use instead of just saying 'bad'. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to express sympathy or disappointment. It's appropriate in both casual and serious contexts. | Use 'unfortunate' to describe situations or events that have a negative outcome. It's neutral, but avoid it in very casual conversations where simpler terms like 'bad' might be more common. |
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Frequently asked questions: That is sad vs Unfortunate
What's the difference between That is sad and Unfortunate?
That is sad: Something that makes you feel unhappy. Unfortunate: Something bad that happens.
Which is more common: That is sad and Unfortunate?
That is sad is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
That is sad: When I heard the news, I thought, 'That is sad.' Unfortunate: He was unfortunate to lose in the final round.
Can I use That is sad and Unfortunate interchangeably?
Not always. That is sad and Unfortunate 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.