Simpatico is a word we use all the time in Italian. It sounds like the English word “sympathetic,” right? If only it were that simple!
In Italian, simpatico describes someone who is genuinely likable and fun to be around. Think of it as a mix of friendliness, warmth, charm, and a great sense of humor, all in one adjective.
The problem? There’s no single word in English that fully captures all these qualities at once. So, let’s take a closer look at the nuances of simpatico and explore all the ways it’s used in Italian.
simpatico (masc. sing.)
simpatica (fem. sing.)
simpatici (masc./mix plur.)
simpatiche (fem. plur.)
Using simpatico to describe people
The most basic way to use this word is to talk about a person, typically with the verb essere (to be):
Tuo fratello è proprio simpatico!
Your brother is so likable/fun to be around!
But there are other verbs to express being simpatico, many of which use the noun simpatia (likability). Here are some examples:
- Riuscire simpatico (literally, “to turn out likable“): While essere simpatico is a permanent trait, riuscire simpatico focuses on the impression someone leaves after an interaction.
All’inizio sembra un po’ arrogante, ma alla fine riesce sempre simpatico.
At first he seems a bit arrogant, but in the end, he always manages to come across as likable.
- Ispirare simpatia (literally, “to inspire likability”): This expression describes that immediate, instinctive feeling that someone is a nice, pleasant person. In other words, it’s a positive prima impressione (first impression) based purely on their face or vibe, even before we’ve had a proper conversation with them.
Mi piace il nuovo commesso, ha un viso che ispira simpatia.
I like the new sales assistant, his face just gives off a friendly vibe.
- Fare simpatia (literally, “to make likability”): This is an informal, very common way to say that someone inspires a positive connection. We often use it for people (or even pets!) whose quirky, funny, or endearing qualities make us smile.
Il loro cane fa troppa simpatia con quelle orecchie!
Their dog is just so funny with those ears!
- Suscitare simpatia (literally, “to arouse likability“): This is similar to fare simpatia, just a bit more formal. You’ll mostly see it in journalism, books or film reviews to describe how a public figure or character is perceived.
Il protagonista del film suscita immediatamente simpatia nel pubblico.
The film’s protagonist immediately wins the audience’s affection.
The subtle nuance of simpatico in romantic contexts
So far, we’ve seen that simpatico is a great compliment for someone’s personality. However, it can also have a slightly cheeky, strategic use, especially when the conversation turns to romance.
Imagine you’re out with friends and you’re talking about potential dates. If someone asks what you think of a person you don’t find particularly attractive, simpatico becomes a safe answer. Take a look at this example:
Allora, che ne pensi di Mauro? – Sì, dai… è simpatico!
So, what do you think of Mauro? – Yeah, I mean… he’s nice/fun!
In this exchange, the hesitation Sì, dai (Yeah, well…) combined with simpatico makes it clear that Mauro is a great guy to hang out with, but there’s no way you are romantically interested in him. It’s a polite way to make that clear without saying it directly.
Using simpatico to describe places and things
Although simpatico is most commonly used to talk about people, sometimes we also use it for places, situations and things. In these cases, though, the meaning shifts from “likable” to something closer to “pleasant,” “charming,” or “inviting.”
So, if you find yourself in a spot that feels just right, or you’ve had an evening that left you all smiling, you can use simpatico to capture that vibe. Here are some examples:
- È stata una cena simpatica (It was a pleasant dinner): This suggests a dinner spent in good company, with relaxed conversation and an easy, enjoyable atmosphere.
- Che posto simpatico! (What a charming/cozy place!): You can use this for a little neighborhood trattoria, a quirky café, or any place with a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere.
- Ha un modo di fare proprio simpatico (He/She has really pleasant/engaging manners): This refers to someone’s way of behaving, showing that friendly, approachable attitude that immediately puts others at ease.
- Che simpatica questa tazza, mi piace un sacco! (This mug is so cute/charming, I love it!): This is the kind of thing we say when we find something cute, cheerful, or clever.
Quick note: The word simpatico also appears in scientific language: il sistema nervoso simpatico, meaning the “sympathetic nervous system.” This is a completely different, technical use of the word.
Using simpatico in the negative form: Non è simpatico
While non è simpatico can be used to describe a person who is not nice, we frequently use it also as a way to complain about small annoyances, minor breaches of social etiquette, or situations that just feel frustrating.
When we say that something non è simpatico, we are essentially saying that a situation lacks simpatia. It works much like the English expressions “It’s not cool,” “It’s not very nice,” or “It’s a bit unpleasant.”
Non è simpatico interrompere qualcuno mentre parla.
It’s not cool to interrupt someone while they’re speaking.
Non è simpatico lavorare con questo caldo.
It’s not pleasant to work in this heat.
If you want to sound more serious or formal, you can replace it with phrases like:
- È maleducato (it’s rude)
- È fastidioso (it’s annoying)
- È inaccettabile (it’s unacceptable)
Going big: Simpaticone
By adding the augmentative suffix -one/-ona, simpatico/a becomes simpaticone/a, which means the person is a true charmer, full of personality.
This form is almost always used as a noun and is typical of informal conversation. We generally use it with people we know very well, like friends, family members, or that one legendary colleague everyone loves.
Marco è un gran simpaticone: fa ridere tutti in ufficio.
Marco is such a charmer: he makes everyone at the office laugh.
Non ti preoccupare, Laura è una simpaticona, li farà sentire subito a loro agio.
Don’t worry, Laura is such a friendly, charming person; she’ll make them feel at ease immediately.
Expressing extreme likability: Simpaticissimo
To emphasize even more how fun and likable a person is, you can use simpaticissimo/a, which is the superlative form of simpatico/a, and works well in both formal and informal situations.
Hai conosciuto le zie di Cinzia? Sono simpaticissime!
Have you met Cinzia’s aunts? They’re super likable!
Fabio è simpaticissimo, ha sempre una storia divertente da raccontare.
Fabio is incredibly fun, he always has a funny story to tell.
When simpatico means the opposite
You know how much we like to be playful and use irony, and simpatico works perfectly for this. Sometimes we use it to mean the exact opposite of its standard meaning: that someone is being annoying, unfunny, or a bit too cheeky.
In these cases, the word acts as a sarcastic retort to a joke or a comment that feel a bit inappropriate. Naturally, tone and body language are everything: the words are technically positive, and it’s our voice and expression that show our true feelings.
Imagine you are wearing a pair of jeans with a couple of fashionable rips, and a friend asks if you need a loan to buy a new pair. You might respond with:
Ma che simpaticone che sei!
Oh, you’re just hilarious!
Or, when a friend plays a prank that you don’t find amusing at all, you might roll your eyes and say:
Oh, ma sei simpatica!
Oh, you’re so funny!
The contrary of simpatico
What do you say when you meet someone who is the complete opposite of simpatico? For that, you’ll need the adjective antipatico.
- antipatico (masc. sing.)
- antipatica (fem. sing.)
- antipatici (masc./mix plur.)
- antipatiche (fem. plur.)
Like simpatico, there isn’t a perfect single-word equivalent in English. Antipatico describes someone who is unpleasant, cold, unfriendly, or just plain disagreeable. We use it to describe a person, someone’s behavior, or an awkward or unpleasant situation.
Quel Sergio è proprio un tipo antipatico.
That Sergio is a really unpleasant/disagreeable guy.
Dai, smettila di fare l’antipatica!
Come on, stop being so unfriendly!
Trovarsi in mezzo a due amici che discutono è sempre una situazione antipatica.
Being caught between two friends who are arguing is always an unpleasant situation.
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
