Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| mostrar misericordia | /mostɾaɾ miseɾikoɾdja/ (from spelling rules) |
| ser misericorde | /seɾ miseɾikoɾde/ (from spelling rules) |
The phrase is used to express the act of showing compassion or mercy. A very common synonym when asking for leniency or compassion is tener piedad. In urgent pleas for forgiveness, such as ¡Dios mío, ten piedad!, speakers frequently use tener piedad instead of mostrar misericordia.
Which one should you use?
mostrar misericordia literally means 'to show mercy'. In contrast, tener misericordia is a more common way to express the state of 'having' mercy, particularly within religious or formal contexts. Additionally, tener piedad serves as a common synonym for expressing the need for mercy or pity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some other Latin American countries, the single word ¡Misericordia! can be used to convey the exclamation 'Have mercy!'
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to use an adjective to describe someone as 'merciful', use the masculine form misericordioso or the feminine form misericordiosa.
How do you pronounce it?
/mostɾaɾ miseɾikoɾdja/
Did you know?
- While misericordia translates to 'mercy', its Latin roots describe a 'heart' cordis that is 'miserable' miser for another's suffering.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the word misericordia is used in a non-religious way to express total exhaustion or a plea for someone to stop an annoying behavior.
- The verb mostrar is a distant relative of the English word 'muster', as both trace back to the Latin 'monstrare', meaning 'to show' or 'to point out'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, ¡tengan piedad! Entiendan que cometí un error involuntario.Please, have mercy! Understand that I made an unintentional mistake.
- Debes mostrar misericordia con los que sufren.You must show mercy to those who suffer.
- El juez no quiso mostrar misericordia al acusado.The judge did not want to show mercy to the accused.
- Es importante mostrar misericordia en tiempos de guerra.It is important to show mercy in times of war.
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are discussing a strict judge.
- ElenaEl juez es muy severo con todos.The judge is very severe with everyone.
- DanielSí, pero él debe mostrar misericordia hoy.Yes, but he must show mercy today.
- ElenaNo creo que Daniel reciba clemencia.I don't think Daniel will receive clemency.
- DanielEsperemos que el juez cambie de opinión.Let's hope the judge changes his mind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “have mercy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries misericordia, mostrar, ser, CC BY-SA 4.0.
