Plaintive Meaning in English
word
ˈpɫeɪnɪv/, /ˈpɫeɪntɪv
PLAYN-tiv
plˈeɪntɪv
PLAYN-tiv
Definition
Sounding sad, mournful, or expressing sorrow. Commonly used to describe a voice, cry, or music that seems full of sadness.
Usage & Nuances
Mainly describes sounds that evoke sorrow—common with 'plaintive cry', 'plaintive melody', or 'plaintive voice'. Formal and literary; rarely used in casual speech. Not for describing happy or neutral noises.
Spanish: lastimero - melancólicoPortuguese (BR): lamentoso - queixosoPortuguese (PT): lamentoso - plangenteChinese (Simplified): 哀伤的 - 悲哀的Chinese (Traditional): 哀傷的 - 悲哀的Hindi: विलापपूर्ण - दुःखी स्वरArabic: حزين - شجيBengali: বেদনাময় - করুণRussian: жалобный - печальный (о звуке)Japanese: 哀愁を帯びた - 哀しい感じのVietnamese: não nề - ai oánKorean: 애절한 - 슬픈 느낌의Turkish: hazin - acıklı (ses için)Urdu: غمگین - پرسوز (آواز یا آواز کی صفت)Indonesian: sayu - sedih (untuk suara/melodi)
Example Sentences
The bird sang a plaintive song in the morning.
basic
She heard a plaintive cry coming from the alley.
basic
The violin played a plaintive melody.
basic
He gave a plaintive sigh as he looked out the window.
natural
There was a plaintive note in his voice when he spoke of his childhood.
natural
Her story had a plaintive quality that touched everyone in the room.
natural