Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Empathy in Spanish: Empatía
Empatía · noun · em-pah-TEE-ah
Empatía is the direct Spanish equivalent of empathy, referring to the capacity to perceive and share the emotions of another person. While comprensión stresses intellectual understanding and compasión highlights the desire to alleviate suffering, empatía captures the emotional connection itself.
em-pah-TEE-ah
La empatía nos permite entender lo que sienten los demás.
Empathy allows us to understand what others feel.
Empathy in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for empathy, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| empatía | empathy | em-pah-TEE-ah | Default, widely understood |
| comprensión | empathy | used when emphasizing understanding rather than emotional resonance | |
| compasión | empathy | related but distinct — compassion involves wanting to help, not just feeling with |
How Native Speakers Use Empatía
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Workplace feedback
Un buen líder demuestra empatía con su equipo.
A good leader shows empathy with their team.
Discussing leadership qualities in a professional setting
Parenting advice
Es importante enseñarles empatía a los niños desde pequeños.
It is important to teach children empathy from a young age.
Conversation about child development
Therapeutic context
El terapeuta escuchó con empatía antes de responder.
The therapist listened with empathy before responding.
Describing a counseling session
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Empatía
Confusing empatía with simpatía
Incorrect: Siento mucha empatía por él, me cae muy bien.
Correct: Siento mucha simpatía por él, me cae muy bien.
Simpatía means liking someone or finding them pleasant. Empatía means understanding their feelings. Liking someone is simpatía, not empatía.
Using the wrong gender
Incorrect: El empatía es fundamental en las relaciones.
Correct: La empatía es fundamental en las relaciones.
Empatía is a feminine noun, so it takes the article 'la,' not 'el.'
Lock in Empathy Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Empatía used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using empatía in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La empatía nos permite entender lo que sienten los demás. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Empathy in Spanish
- Is empatía feminine or masculine?
- Empatía is feminine. Say 'la empatía' and use feminine adjectives: 'La empatía genuina marca la diferencia' (Genuine empathy makes a difference).
- What is the adjective form of empatía?
- The adjective is empático (masculine) or empática (feminine). For example: 'Ella es una persona muy empática' (She is a very empathetic person).
- How is empatía different from compasión?
- Empatía is feeling what someone else feels — stepping into their emotional shoes. Compasión goes a step further: it adds the motivation to help relieve the other person's suffering.