жаль

Old Church Slavonic

Etymology

Cognates include Old Norse kvelja, Old English cwellan, Old High German quellan, Old Armenian կեղ (keł, “sore, ulcer”).

Noun

жаль (žalĭ) f

1. grave

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Russian

Etymology

Adverbial form made from жалость

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʐalʲ/

• Audio

  (file)

Predicative

жаль (žal’) (invariable, impersonal form)

1. it's a pity
2. (with the subject in the dative) pities, is sorry

   Ему́ жаль её – He pities her.

   Мне жаль смотре́ть на неё – It grieves me to look at her.

   Ему́ жаль куска́ хле́ба – He begrudges a crust of bread.

   о́чень жаль – more’s the pity.

   как жаль! – what a pity!

Verb

жаль (žal’)

1. Imperative of жалить: bite!, sting!