Dictionary

simpatico en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /sɪmˈpa.tɪ.kəʊ/ (UK)
• /sɪmˈpɑ.tə.koʊ/ (US)
• /sɪmˈpæ.tə.koʊ/ (US)

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian simpatico or Spanish simpático (“nice, likeable”), ultimately from Ancient Greek σῠμπᾰ́θειᾰ (sŭmpắtheiă, “sympathy”, literally “suffering together”).

Meanings

1. (of a person) Having a compatible temperament or pleasing qualities.
   • Colombia is a red herring, however. The songs that became Madame X actually came together during Madonna’s two years in Portugal, where she decamped in 2017 when her son David enrolled in Benfica’s football academy. Madonna absorbed the local sounds with more of a mature, simpatico rather than asset-stripping eye. 2019 June 8, Kitty Empire, “Madonna: Madame X review – a splendidly bizarre return to form”, in The Guardian:
   • At first, I figured he was pretending to like things that women like to seem simpatico, a feminist hustle. But no, this guy really wanted to read “Northanger Abbey.” 2025 August 2, Maureen Dowd, “Attention, Men: Books Are Sexy!”, in The New York Times:
2. Compatible (with a person, thing, etc).
   • "Basically, right now, you and math are just not...simpatico." 2017 May 8, Cindi Madsen, Confessions of a Former Puck Bunny, Entangled: Embrace, →ISBN:
   • 'You're my boss, and perhaps it's a good thing we're not simpático. In fact, I think it's probably for the best if we keep a certain distance between us.' To her surprise, he nodded. 'At work, yes—you are quite right.' 2015, Joanna Neil, Temptation in Paradise, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 97:
   • This meant that one morning Hildon would wake up and realize that he and Lucy were not simpatico. She was afraid because this happened so often—she dreaded it—but the truth was that she did not fear men individually. 2011 April 6, Ann Beattie, Love Always, Vintage, →ISBN:

Forms