I Swear English › Vocabulary A–Z › Empathy
What does ‘Empathy’ mean?
Being in tune with the feelings of other people. The ability to understand other peoples' points of view.
“Empathy helps you understand how other people will act”.
Watch: ‘Empathy’ explained
Video transcript
E is for empathy.
Empathy vs sympathy — and words that mean ‘empathy’
Empathy is the ability to feel with another person — to imagine what they are going through as if it were happening to you. It is subtly different from sympathy, which is feeling for someone (pity or sorrow from the outside).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Empathy | Sharing and understanding another's feelings from the inside. |
| Sympathy | Feeling sorry for someone; compassion from a distance. |
| Compassion | Empathy plus a wish to help. |
Related words: understanding, compassion, fellow-feeling, sensitivity. The adjective is empathetic (or empathic) and the verb is to empathise (“I really empathise with you.”).
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