Old Church Slavonic

Noun

жаль • ‎(žalĭ) f

1. grave

Russian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʐalʲ]

Etymology 1

Adverbial form made from жа́лость ‎(žálostʹ).

Predicative

жаль • ‎(žalʹ) (invariable, impersonal form)

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

   Ему́ жаль её.‎ ― Jemú žalʹ jejó. ― He pities her.

   Мне жаль смотре́ть на неё.‎ ― Mne žalʹ smotrétʹ na nejó. ― It grieves me to look at her.

   Ему́ жаль куска́ хле́ба.‎ ― Jemú žalʹ kuská xléba. ― He begrudges a crust of bread.

   о́чень жаль.‎ ― óčenʹ žalʹ. ― more's the pity.

   как жаль!‎ ― kak žalʹ! ― what a pity!

Etymology 2

Verb

жаль • ‎(žalʹ)

1. second-person singular imperative imperfective of жа́лить ‎(žálitʹ, “bite, sting”)

Ukrainian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈʒɑlʲ]

Noun

жаль • ‎(žalʹ) m inan ‎(genitive жа́лю, nominative plural жалі́)

1. regret, grief, sorrow, pity

Declension

References

• Bilodid I. K., editor (1970–1980), “жаль”, in Slovnyk ukrajinsʹkoji movy, Kiev: Naukova Dumka