Inklingo

How to Say "sympathetic" in Spanish

The Spanish word forsympatheticis comprensivoB1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishB1
adjectiveB1
showing empathy toward someone's situation
A kind adult placing a hand on a sad child's shoulder to offer comfort.

Examples

Mi madre es una persona muy comprensiva.

My mother is a very understanding person.

Gracias por ser tan comprensivo conmigo mientras estaba enfermo.

Thank you for being so understanding with me while I was sick.

Necesitamos un jefe más comprensivo que sepa escuchar.

We need a more understanding boss who knows how to listen.

Matching the Ending

Since this is a word describing a person, the ending must change to match who you are talking about. Use 'comprensivo' for men and 'comprensiva' for women.

Placement with 'Ser'

We usually use this word with 'ser' because we are describing someone's personality or a lasting trait, not just a temporary mood.

Understanding vs. Understandable

Mistake:Using 'comprensivo' to mean 'easy to understand'.

Correction: Use 'comprensible' for things that are easy to understand (like a book) and 'comprensivo' for people who have a kind heart.

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