sympathize
verb
sympathize is spelled S-Y-M-P-A-T-H-I-Z-E: 10 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 1.1 times per million words in written English, the 26,776th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). People search “empathize vs sympathize” about 350 times a month (Bing, United States). As a verb, sympathize means “To have, show or express sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in sympathize?
| Letters | 10: S-Y-M-P-A-T-H-I-Z-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.1 times per million words; the 26,776th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Pairs people search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); Bing searches in the United States: the average month from September 2025 to August 2026 (Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, read September 30, 2026).
How common is sympathize?
Sympathize appears 1.1 times per million words in written English, the 26,776th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce sympathize?
Sympathize has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-sympathize.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with sympathize
Word pairs people search, with the monthly searches for “a vs b” (G: Google, B: Bing, United States).
Also written: sympathise.
Sources: Google and Bing searches (September 2025 to August 2026, through DataForSEO); English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of sympathize
- sympathizes present, singular, he/she/it
- sympathizing participle, present
- sympathized participle, past
- sympathise UK
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does sympathize mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
CanadaUSTo have, show or express sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected; to feel for.
- 2
CanadaUSTo support, favour, have sympathy (with a political cause or movement, a side in a conflict / in an action).
- 3
CanadaUSTo say in an expression of sympathy.
- 4
CanadaUSTo have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
- 5
CanadaUSobsoleteTo share (a feeling or experience).
- 6
CanadaUSTo agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Sympathize in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to show sympathy:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | compatir, s'apitoyer |
| German | mitfühlen |
| Portuguese | simpatizar, solidarizar-se |
| Spanish | simpatizar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does sympathize come from?
Borrowed from French sympathiser. By surface analysis, sympathy + -ize. Displaced native Old English efnþrōwian (literally “to suffer with or together”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).