die
Sympathie
🧐 What does "die Sympathie" mean?
Die Sympathie (noun, feminine) describes a feeling of emotional or mental harmony, goodwill, and affection towards a person, thing, or idea. It's a spontaneous, positive feeling, often based on first impressions or shared interests.
It expresses that you 'like' someone or something or find them 'nice'. In English, it translates closely to liking, affinity, or sometimes sympathy in a broader sense (though not usually pity).
- Gefühl der Verbundenheit: A feeling of connection.
- Wohlwollen: Goodwill or a friendly disposition.
⚠️ Important: Sympathie is not the same as Empathie (empathy) or Mitleid (pity).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ie → almost always feminine.
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📝 Grammar of Sympathie in Detail
The word "Sympathie" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
It is mostly used in the singular. The plural ("die Sympathien") is grammatically correct but used less frequently, often referring to expressions of sympathy or affections from multiple sources or for multiple things.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun | English Meaning of Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sympathie | Who/What? (Subject) |
| Genitive | der | Sympathie | Whose? (Possession) |
| Dative | der | Sympathie | To/For whom? (Indirect Object) |
| Accusative | die | Sympathie | Whom/What? (Direct Object) |
Example Sentences
- Ich empfinde große Sympathie für meine neue Kollegin.
(I feel great liking/sympathy for my new colleague.) - Seine offene Art brachte ihm sofort die Sympathie der Gruppe ein.
(His open manner immediately earned him the group's liking/sympathy.) - Zwischen den beiden herrschte von Anfang an eine spürbare Sympathie.
(There was a noticeable affinity/liking between the two right from the start.) - Er äußerte seine Sympathie für das Projekt.
(He expressed his support/sympathy for the project.)
💡 How to Use "die Sympathie"?
"Sympathie" is mainly used to express personal feelings of liking or affection.
- Towards People: Most commonly, it describes feelings towards other people. (Example: Ich habe sofort Sympathie für ihn empfunden. - I immediately felt a liking for him.)
- Towards Situations/Ideas: You can also have Sympathie for an idea, a project, or a cause. (Example: Ihre Sympathie für die Umweltbewegung ist bekannt. - Her sympathy for the environmental movement is well-known.)
- Expressions: You can haben (have), empfinden (feel), fühlen (feel), zeigen (show), gewinnen (win/gain), or bekunden (express) Sympathie.
Context: It's often a rather spontaneous feeling but can also develop over time. It doesn't necessarily imply deep friendship, but rather a positive basic attitude.
Differentiation:
- Empathie: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another (empathy). You can have Empathie for someone without feeling Sympathie (e.g., understanding the suffering of someone you dislike).
- Mitleid: The feeling of sorrow or compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others (pity). This is often more passive than Empathie and can sometimes feel condescending.
🧠 Mnemonics for Sympathie
Article Mnemonic (die)
Think of words ending in '-ie' in German, which are often feminine: die Magie (magic), die Theorie (theory), die Partie (party/game). So, it's die Sympathie. Imagine sympathy as a gentle, feminine quality.
Meaning Mnemonic
Sympathie sounds very much like the English word sympathy. While English 'sympathy' can mean pity, it also carries the meaning of affinity, understanding, or support, which aligns well with the German Sympathie (liking, affinity). Think of a 'sympathetic' character – one you like and feel positive towards.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Zuneigung: Affection, fondness. A warm feeling of connection.
- Wohlwollen: Goodwill, benevolence. A friendly, positive attitude.
- Anklang: Appeal, resonance. Used when a person or idea is positively received (etwas findet Anklang - something meets with approval).
- Affinität: Affinity. A natural attraction or similarity.
- Gunst: Favor. A benevolent attitude, often from someone in a higher position.
Related but Different Terms ⚠️
- Empathie: Empathy. The ability to understand and share feelings.
- Mitleid: Pity, compassion. Feeling sorry for someone's suffering.
- Freundschaft: Friendship. A deeper, reciprocal relationship.
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie Sympathie für Überstunden?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Sympathie ja, aber eine engere Beziehung möchte ich damit nicht eingehen!"
Translation:
The boss asks the new employee: "Do you have sympathy for overtime?"
The employee replies: "Sympathy, yes, but I don't want to enter into a closer relationship with it!"
✍️ Poem about Sympathie
Ein Blick, ein Wort, ein Lächeln nur,
so weckt sie auf die sanfte Spur.
Ein warmes Band, das still entsteht,
die Sympathie, die mit uns geht.
Kein Zwang, kein Muss, ein leises Ja,
ein Gefühl, das einfach da.
Translation:
A glance, a word, just a smile,
awakens it on a gentle trial.
A warm bond that quietly grows,
the sympathy (liking) that with us goes.
No force, no must, a quiet 'yes',
a feeling simply there, no less.
🕵️♀️ Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Gefühl, ganz ohne Zwang,
entstehe oft beim ersten Klang.
Ich bin die Schwester der Empathie,
doch nicht dasselbe, glaube mir!
Ich wohne gern im ersten Blick,
bin positives Gegenstück
zur Antipathie. Sag, wer bin ich?
Translation:
I am a feeling, without any force,
Often arising at the first discourse.
I am the sister of empathy,
But not the same, believe you me!
I like to dwell in the first glance,
Am the positive counterbalance
To antipathy. Now tell me, who am I?
Solution: die Sympathie (liking/affinity)
🤓 Additional Information
Etymology: The German word "Sympathie" comes from the Greek word sympátheia (συμπάθεια), which meant "fellow feeling" or "compassion". It is composed of syn (σύν) meaning "with, together" and páthos (πάθος) meaning "suffering, feeling, experience". The modern German meaning has slightly shifted towards affection and goodwill (Zuneigung, Wohlwollen), while the original sense of "suffering with" is now more commonly expressed by Mitleid (pity) or Empathie (empathy).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sympathie?
The German word Sympathie is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Sympathie.