pathetic ≠ pathetisch

Watch out! Pathetic and pathetisch are false friends. They just look the same but have different meanings.


pathetic    armselig, erbärmlich
The results are pathetic. Die Ergebnisse sind armselig.
Their support was pretty pathetic. Ihre Unterstützung war ziemlich erbärmlich.

pathetisch solemn, lofty, elevated
Der Vortrag der Sängerin war sehr pathetisch. The singer's recital was solemn (filled with pathos).
Er fand pathetische Worte. He found lofty words.