French word

sympa

Pronunciation

IPA/sɛ̃pa/

Meaning

  • adjectivenice

Example

Elle est très sympa.

She is very nice.

Illustration for sympa (nice)

More examples

C'est vraiment sympa de ta part.

That's really kind of you.

Core concept

A relaxed, open person or thing that makes interaction feel easy.

Common phrases

  • être sympa

    to be nice

  • très sympa

    very nice

  • C'est sympa

    That's kind

Similar words

sympathique: Pleasant and approachable, with a friendly manner that feels easy to engage with.
aimable: Courteous and kind in dealing with others, showing goodwill and consideration.
gentil: Kind and considerate, with a gentle nature or manner.
agréable: Pleasant to be around, creating comfort and a positive feeling.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour dire qu'on trouve quelqu'un ou quelque chose plaisant, accueillant ou aimable.

Word origin

Sympa is a shortened form of sympathique, which comes through Latin sympathicus from Greek sumpathes, meaning sharing feelings.

Usage tips

  • Sympa is informal, so sympathique or aimable fits better in formal writing and careful speech.

Other meanings

  • friendlyadjective
  • kindadjective
  • greatadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word