متعاطف
muta'āṭif
The English word 'sympathetic' is translated into Arabic as متعاطف (muta'āṭif).
The adjective describes someone who is showing, related to or characterized by sympathy.
Meaning: of, related to, showing, or characterized by sympathy (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word muta'āṭif is an active participle derived from a root meaning 'to suffer with' or 'to feel with'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to express that you are sympathetic 'with' someone, the adjective is typically followed by the preposition مع (ma'a).
How do you pronounce it?
muta'āṭif
Did you know?
- The root of متعاطف is shared with the word for 'folding' or 'bending'. This suggests that being sympathetic is viewed as 'bending' one's heart or will toward another person.
- In Arabic, the same root used for متعاطف is used to describe a 'sympathetic' attraction in physics or magnetism, where two things are drawn together.
- While متعاطف is the standard adjective for 'sympathetic', if you want to describe a person as being 'compassionate' in a more spiritual or deep sense, you might use رحيم, which is one of the names of God in Islam.
Examples in context
- أنا أشعر أنك متعاطف مع حزني.Ana ash'ur annaka mita'atif ma' huzni.I feel that you are sympathetic to my sadness.
- كان المدير متعاطفاً مع الموظف المريض.Kana al-mudir mita'atifan ma' al-muwazzaf al-marid.The manager was sympathetic toward the sick employee.
Example conversation
Ziad and Layla are discussing a friend who is going through a hard time.
- زياد Ziadليلى، هل سمعتِ عن مشكلة سامر؟Layla, hal sami'ti 'an mushkilat Samer?Layla, did you hear about Samer's problem?
- ليلى Laylaنعم، أنا متعاطفة جداً معه.na'am, ana muta'atifa jiddan ma'ahu.Yes, I am very sympathetic toward him.
- زياد Ziadهو يحتاج إلى دعمنا الآن.huwa yahtaj ila da'mina al-an.He needs our support now.
- ليلى Laylaسأقوم بزيارته غداً.sa'aqum biziyaratihi ghadan.I will visit him tomorrow.
