"nice, friendly (person)" in seven languages
Meaningnice, friendly (person)
Spanish
simpático
/simˈpatiko/
learned
French
sympathique
/sɛ̃patik/
learned
Usually shortened to sympa.
Italian
simpatico
/simˈpatiko/
learned
Portuguese
simpático
/sĩˈpatʃiku/
learned
Romanian
simpatic
/simˈpatik/
borrowed · French sympathique
Catalan
simpàtic
/simˈpatik/
learned
English
nice
/naɪs/
other source · Old French nice 'silly', from Latin NESCIUM 'ignorant'
It meant 'foolish' in Chaucer's day.
English → Italiannice, friendly (person)simpaticoNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: sympathy, sympathetic.What English and Italian share
The Latin ancestor
SYMPATHĪAM‘fellow feeling (from Greek sympátheia)’
All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.
The story
False friend: English sympathetic means compassionate, while simpático / sympa / simpatico just mean pleasant to be around.
English relatives: sympathy, sympathetic
Learn it
In a sentence
- esTu hermano es muy simpático.
- frTon frère est très sympathique.
- itTuo fratello è molto simpatico.
- ptSeu irmão é muito simpático.
- roFratele tău e foarte simpatic.
- caEl teu germà és molt simpàtic.
- enYour brother is very nice.
More in Describing words
- internationalinternacionalinternationalinternazionaleinternacionalinternaționalinternacional
- possibleposiblepossiblepossibilepossívelposibilpossible
- humanhumanohumainumanohumanoumanhumà
- specialespecialspécialspecialeespecialspecialespecial
- fun, entertainingdivertidoamusantdivertentedivertidodistractivdivertit
- greater, majormayormajeurmaggioremaiormai maremajor