sympathisch

Sympathisch is a German adjective meaning likeable, pleasant, or friendly. It is typically used to describe people, and to some extent atmospheres or impressions that evoke goodwill. In English, the closest equivalents are “likeable” or “pleasant.” It is not usually used to express pity or deep empathy, which would be conveyed by mitfühlend or empathisch.

The word derives from the noun Sympathie, which in turn comes from French sympathie, Latin sympathia, and ultimately from Greek sympathia (from syn- “with” + pathos “feeling”). The German suffix -isch forms adjectives meaning “characteristic of” or “having the quality of,” so sympathisch literally means “having sympathy” in the sense of forming a positive, agreeable impression.

Usage notes and common expressions: Sympathisch is widely used to comment on a person’s demeanor, e.g., Er wirkt sympathisch (He comes across as likeable), Sie ist sehr sympathisch (She is very likeable). The verb phrase jdn. sympathisch finden means to find someone likeable. Collocations include sympathische Ausstrahlung (likeable aura) or eine sympathische Persönlichkeit. While related to the noun Sympathie, the adjective sympathisch emphasizes personal appeal rather than an abstract feeling of solidarity.

Regional and stylistic considerations: Sympathisch is standard German across dialects and registers, though in very formal or written contexts one may opt for alternatives such as angenehm or freundlich depending on nuance. In cross-linguistic translation, English “sympathetic” can mislead; in German, sympathisch primarily signals personal charm rather than empathetic concern.