What it's NOT
sympathetic does NOT translate to simpático.
To say "simpático" in English, use nice / friendly.
ESEN
False cognate · False friend
sympathetic
Does NOT mean simpático
It means understanding / compassionate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
sympathetic means understanding / compassionate.
Why it's confused
Spanish "simpático" is someone pleasant, nice to talk to. English "sympathetic" is someone who shows understanding and compassion toward another's suffering. Spanish "simpático" in English is "likeable" or "nice."
How it's pronounced
sympatheticsim-pa-ZÉ-tik
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Examples of correct use
English
She was very sympathetic when I lost my job.
Spanish
Fue muy comprensiva cuando perdí mi trabajo.
English
A sympathetic doctor listens to patients.
Spanish
Un doctor compasivo escucha a los pacientes.
A trick to remember it
Sympathetic = understanding/compassionate (feels what you feel). Pleasant/nice (Spanish "simpático") = nice/friendly.
Mini quiz
"He was sympathetic" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does "sympathetic" mean in English?
"Sympathetic" means "understanding / compassionate". It looks a lot like "simpático", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "simpático" in English?
To say "simpático" in English, use "nice / friendly". If you use "sympathetic" instead, you would actually be saying "understanding / compassionate".
Do "sympathetic" and "simpático" mean the same thing?
Spanish "simpático" is someone pleasant, nice to talk to. English "sympathetic" is someone who shows understanding and compassion toward another's suffering. Spanish "simpático" in English is "likeable" or "nice."
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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