alguien es simpático
/alɡjen es simpatiko/from spelling rules
To say someone is nice in Spanish, you say alguien es simpático.
The phrase is used to describe someone with a pleasant, likable or friendly personality. You can also use the alternative alguien es buena persona to say someone is a nice or good person.
Which one should you use?
While alguien es simpático implies a person has a pleasant and friendly personality, the phrase alguien es amable is used when someone is specifically kind, polite or helpful.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use the colloquial phrase Es majísimo/a to mean someone is super nice or Es un encanto de persona to say someone is a charming person. In Latin America, Es una persona chevere is used to describe a cool person. Specifically in Colombia and Ecuador, Es una persona bacana is used to say someone is a cool person.
Did you know?
- The word simpático has a completely different nuance than its English cognate 'sympathetic'. While in English 'sympathetic' refers to feeling pity or compassion, in Spanish it describes someone who is charming or pleasant.
- The word simpático comes from simpatía, which historically referred to a natural attraction or a 'sympathy' between things, rather than just a friendly personality.
- The word alguien is believed to have evolved from alguno through a blending process with the word quien, which means 'who'.
Examples in context
- La Sra. Rodríguez es muy amable.Mrs. Rodríguez is very kind.
- ¡Ella es un amor de persona, siempre ayudando a los demás!She is a lovely person, always helping others!
- Son personas genialesThey are great people.
- A veces alguien es simpático sin motivo.Sometimes someone is nice for no reason.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about a new coworker.
- AlejandroEl nuevo colega me cae muy bien.I really like the new colleague.
- SofíaSí, es verdad que alguien es simpático.Yes, it is true that someone is nice.
- AlejandroÉl siempre ayuda a todos en la oficina.He always helps everyone in the office.
- SofíaEso es muy importante para el equipo.That is very important for the team.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alguien, es, simpático, CC BY-SA 4.0.
