mitfühlend
The English word sympathetic translates to German as mitfühlend.
mitfühlend is used to describe someone who is showing empathy or compassion for another's suffering.
Meaning: of, related to, showing, or characterized by sympathy (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the preposition mit (with) and the verb fühlen (to feel), literally meaning 'feeling with' someone.
Which one should you use?
In English, 'sympathetic' often means showing compassion. You should use mitfühlend for this meaning. Be careful with the German word sympathisch. Although it looks similar, it is a false friend that usually means someone is likable or pleasant rather than compassionate.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form mitfühlend can also function as an adverb to describe how an action is performed, such as mitfühlend zuhören (to listen sympathetically).
Did you know?
- To describe a 'sympathetic' ear, Germans don't usually use mitfühlend. Instead, they use ein offenes Ohr haben, which literally means 'to have an open ear'.
- The root verb fühlen in mitfühlend is related to the English word 'feel'. They both derive from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to touch' or 'to handle'.
- The prefix mit- in mitfühlend is a common building block for social virtues in German, appearing in Mitmensch (fellow human) and Mitleid (pity or compassion).
Examples in context
- Es ist wichtig, einfühlsam zu sein.It is important to be sympathetic.
- Ich bin verständnisvoll und stehe hinter dir.I am sympathetic and stand behind you.
- Sei nicht zu hart zu dir selbst, sei einfühlsam.Don't be too hard on yourself, be sympathetic.
- Es tut mir leid, dass du durch diese schwierige Zeit gehst.I'm sorry you're going through this tough time.
- Ich verstehe, wie du dich fühlst, und bin für dich da.I understand how you feel and I'm here for you.
- Sie ist eine sehr mitfühlende Frau.She is a very sympathetic woman.
- Er war in dieser Situation sehr mitfühlend.He was very sympathetic in this situation.
- Wir brauchen mitfühlende Menschen in der Welt.We need sympathetic people in the world.
Example conversation
Laura tells Felix about a problem a friend is having.
- LauraMeine Freundin braucht gerade jemanden, der mitfühlend ist.My friend needs someone who is sympathetic right now.
- FelixDas verstehe ich. Was ist passiert?I understand that. What happened?
- LauraSie hat ihren Job verloren.She lost her job.
- FelixIch werde versuchen, sehr mitfühlend zu ihr zu sein.I will try to be very sympathetic toward her.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sympathetic” translations and entries mitfühlend, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
