Polyglot Dictionary

erbarmen

/ɛɐ̯ˈbaʁmən/

verb C1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Academic Domain General Tone Neutral
reflexive

Forms

present
erbarmt sich
past
erbarmte sich
perfect
hat sich erbarmt

Meaning

  1. to take pity

    Built from er- ((intensifier)) + Arm (poor (old)).

    • Er erbarmte sich des Hundes.

      He took pity on the dog.

    • Der Mann erbarmte sich des hungrigen Hundes. Er gab ihm etwas zu essen.

      The man took pity on the hungry dog. He gave it something to eat.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Made of

  • er- (intensifier)
  • Arm poor (old)

Similar words

bemitleiden

bemitleiden and sich erbarmen are close synonyms for "to pity, to take pity"; erbarmen is slightly more religious or formal, like mercy.

Practice

1 What does erbarmen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Er ___ sich des Hundes.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches erbarmen?

verbinseparablereflexivecompound

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