sorrowful
gb/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/ us/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
B2
Kiingereza
~ 26400
Maana
maana 0
adjective
literary
B2
property
1
feeling or showing deep sadness
Feeling very sad, and often showing it in your face, voice, or actions.
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] looks sorrowful about [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" in everyday, casual situations where native speakers would say "sad" (for example, "I am sorrowful because I lost my keys" sounds too strong and literary). Another common confusion is with "sorry": "sorrowful" means deeply sad, while "sorry" often means apologetic or mildly sad about something.
Visawe
sad (More common and neutral; can describe any level of unhappiness and is less intense than many uses of "sorrowful".)
|
mournful (Very similar, but especially suggests the grief that follows a loss or death.)
|
downcast (Focuses more on a person's lowered mood or spirits; slightly less intense and more casual than "sorrowful".)
Vinyume
cheerful (Describes someone who feels and shows happiness, the opposite emotional state of sorrowful.)
|
joyful (Emphasizes strong, positive happiness, directly contrasting with deep sadness.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
sorrowful eyes
|sorrowful expression
|sorrowful face
|looked sorrowful
|sorrowful voice
|sorrowful smile
Mada
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She gave him a sorrowful look as the train pulled away.
- His eyes were dark and sorrowful after the funeral.
- The children grew quiet and sorrowful when they heard the news.
- He walked home with a slow, sorrowful step.
- Her voice was low and sorrowful as she spoke about her father.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The girl looked sorrowful when her dog was sick.
- His sorrowful eyes made me want to help him.
- After the game, the players were silent and sorrowful.
- She sounded sorrowful on the phone.
- He sat alone, sorrowful and tired.
adjective
literary
B2
property
2
causing deep sadness or grief
Making people feel very sad, or full of very strong sadness.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a sorrowful [story/event/song]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" for small, everyday problems (for example, "a sorrowful bus delay"), which sounds too dramatic. In many casual contexts, "sad" or "unhappy" is more natural.
Visawe
sad (The basic, everyday word; "sorrowful" sounds more serious and literary.)
|
tragic (Suggests extreme or shocking sadness, often involving death or disaster; stronger than most uses of "sorrowful".)
|
poignant (Focuses on a deep, touching sadness that affects the feelings strongly; often used for art and stories.)
Vinyume
cheerful (Describes something that creates a happy feeling, the opposite of a sorrowful story or scene.)
|
uplifting (Describes something that makes people feel hopeful or inspired instead of sad.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
sorrowful story
|sorrowful song
|sorrowful scene
|sorrowful ending
|sorrowful news
Mada
emotions
|art
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- It was a sorrowful story about a family separated by war.
- A slow, sorrowful song played on the radio as the credits rolled.
- The film ends on a quiet, sorrowful note.
- They had to share the sorrowful news with the rest of the team.
- The book is full of sorrowful scenes of loss and loneliness.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- We watched a very sorrowful movie last night.
- She wrote a sorrowful poem about her childhood.
- The singer's sorrowful voice made the song stronger.
- The letter contained sorrowful news about his health.
- It was a long, sorrowful story about a broken family.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
deeply regretful and sad
Feeling very sad and sorry because you did something wrong.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a sorrowful [apology/admission/confession]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes use "sorrowful" directly with "for" in everyday apologies (for example, "I am sorrowful for being late"), which sounds unnatural or overly dramatic. In modern English, people usually say "I'm very sorry" or "I feel terrible" instead; "sorrowful" is mostly used in more literary or serious descriptions of regret.
Visawe
remorseful (Very close in meaning, but more common in modern formal English for strong regret and guilt.)
|
repentant (Often used in moral or religious contexts for someone who deeply regrets their sins or wrong actions.)
|
contrite (Formal literary word meaning deeply and sincerely sorry for wrongdoing; similar strength to "sorrowful" in this sense.)
Vinyume
unrepentant (Describes someone who does not feel or show regret for their actions, the opposite of feeling sorrowful for wrongdoing.)
|
defiant (Suggests a proud refusal to feel or show regret, contrasting strongly with a sorrowful, apologetic attitude.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
sorrowful apology
|sorrowful admission
|sorrowful confession
|sorrowful repentance
Mada
emotions
|morality
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- He wrote a long, sorrowful apology to the people he had hurt.
- Her sorrowful confession finally brought the truth into the open.
- With a sorrowful shake of his head, he admitted that he had lied.
- The letter had a sincere, sorrowful tone that showed he truly regretted his actions.
- They listened in silence to the man's sorrowful explanation of what he had done.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He sent a sorrowful email to say he was wrong.
- She gave a sorrowful apology to her friend.
- His sorrowful words showed he really felt bad.
- The boy made a sorrowful confession to his parents.
- Her face was sorrowful as she said, "I am sorry."
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
sorrowful
IPA
GB/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
US/sˈɑɹoʊfəl/
Silabi na mkazo
sor - row - ful (silabi 3)
Stress on 1st syllable (sor)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: sorrowful
Familia ya neno
Semi
Bado hakuna semi zilizounganishwa na ingizo hili.