Meaning
pity, mercy
- mercy, pity
- compassion
In a sentence
Per favore, abbi un po' di misericordia.
Please, have a little mercy.
Non ha mostrato misericordia verso il suo errore.
He showed no mercy toward his mistake.
Il prigioniero implorò la misericordia del re.
The prisoner begged for the king's mercy.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| misericordia | feminine · singular |
| misericordie | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Mostly used in religious, literary, or elevated contexts; in everyday speech, pietà or compassione is often more natural.
- Common with avere: avere misericordia di qualcuno. Also fixed in imperatives like Abbi misericordia! and formulas with Signore.
- Do not confuse with misericordioso, the adjective meaning merciful; misericordia is the noun.