Etymology Map
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Sympathy

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

Where does the word "sympathy" come from? It comes from Greek sympatheia, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1570s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
sympatheia
Greek · ancient
"fellow feeling"
'syn', together, plus 'pathos', feeling; Stoics used it for the cosmic interconnectedness of things
2
Stage 2 of 3
sympathia
Late Latin · ancient
"affinity"
an affinity between things
3
Stage 3 of 3
sympathy
English · 1570s
"compassion"
first a natural affinity, then compassion for suffering
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Read the full story

Sympathy’s story begins in Greek: sympatheia meant “fellow feeling.” 'syn', together, plus 'pathos', feeling; Stoics used it for the cosmic interconnectedness of things. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as sympathia. An affinity between things. It reached English by 1570s as sympathy. First a natural affinity, then compassion for suffering. Today, sympathy means feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.