German word

Sympathie

Pronunciation

IPA/zʏmpaˈtiː/

Meaning

  • feminine nounliking

Example

Ich habe Sympathien für ihn.

I like him.

Illustration for Sympathie (liking)

More examples

Seine offene Art erweckte sofort meine Sympathie.

His open manner immediately kindled my liking.

Core concept

A person creates an immediate warm inclination toward someone, making that person seem naturally pleasant and likable.

Common phrases

  • Sympathie für

    liking for ___

  • Sympathie erwecken

    kindle liking

  • große Sympathie

    a strong liking

Similar words

Zuneigung: A steady fondness and affection that grows through familiarity over time.
Empathie: The ability to understand and inwardly share another person's feelings.
Anziehung: A strong physical or emotional pull toward someone.
Mitgefühl: Concern for another person's suffering, with a wish to help.

Definition in German

Sympathie bezeichnet eine oft sofort auftretende positive Neigung, jemanden gernhaben zu wollen.

Word origin

Sympathie comes through Latin and French from Greek sympatheia, meaning a fellow feeling or shared experience.

Usage tips

  • German Sympathie usually means personal liking or goodwill, whereas English sympathy more often means compassion for someone else's difficulty.

Other meanings

  • affectionnoun
  • goodwillnoun

Opposites

  • Antipathieantipathynoun
  • Abneigungdislikenoun

Related words

  • sympathischlikableadjective
  • sympathisierensympathizeverb
  • Sympathisantsupporternoun

Word lists with this word