Meaning
poor thing; poor guy
- an unfortunate, pitiable person
- a harmless or pathetic person
In a sentence
Poveretto, ha lavorato tutto il giorno senza sosta.
Poor guy, he worked all day without a break.
Guarda quel poveretto: ha perso l'ultimo treno per casa.
Look at that poor thing: he missed the last train home.
Non trattarlo come un poveretto, sa difendersi da solo.
Don't treat him like a pathetic case; he can defend himself.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| poveretto | masculine · singular |
| poveretti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Diminutive of povero, usually expressing sympathy or affectionate pity.
- Can also function as an adjective: un gatto poveretto.