Gentil or sympa: how to say someone is nice in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose gentil for kindness and sympa for friendly company. Compare thank-yous, learn gentille and sympas, then test the words in short exchanges.

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In short

Gentil often highlights kindness; sympa means nice, friendly or pleasant in everyday conversation. Thank someone with C’est gentil de m’aider. Describe good company with Elle est sympa. Both can fit a thoughtful gesture.

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A friend kindly helping another carry a heavy plain shopping bag on a quiet French street.
C’est gentil de m’aider thanks someone for kindness. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between gentil and sympa?

gentil / gentillekind, nice

Focus: considerate behaviour

être gentil avec quelqu’un

Ma collègue est gentille avec moi.
My colleague is kind to me.

C’est gentil de venir.
It’s kind of you to come.

sympanice, friendly

Focus: a positive, conversational impression

être sympa

Ton nouveau collègue est sympa.
Your new colleague is nice.

Merci, c’est sympa !
Thanks, that’s nice of you!

A colleague offers to help

Un coup de main
  1. Nora

    Tu veux que je porte ton sac ?

    Would you like me to carry your bag?

  2. Paul

    Oui, merci, c’est gentil de m’aider.

    Yes, thanks, it’s kind of you to help.

  3. Nora

    Avec plaisir !

    You’re welcome!

  4. Paul

    Mes nouveaux collègues sont vraiment sympas.

    My new colleagues are really nice.

  5. Nora

    Tu te sens bien dans l’équipe ?

    Do you feel comfortable in the team?

  6. Paul

    Oui, tout le monde prend le temps de m’expliquer les choses.

    Yes, everyone takes the time to explain things to me.

Paul thanks Nora for one action with gentil, then describes the team with sympas. He could also say C’est sympa de m’aider in this friendly exchange. The words overlap; the example shows a useful difference in focus.

Study first: spelling and agreement
Who?KindNice / friendly
One manIl est gentil.Il est sympa.
One womanElle est gentille.Elle est sympa.
Several men or a mixed groupIls sont gentils.Ils sont sympas.
Several womenElles sont gentilles.Elles sont sympas.

Write a double l in gentille and gentilles. Sympa has the same masculine and feminine form, with -s in the plural. Its full form is sympathique: une collègue sympathique. English “sympathetic”, meaning understanding, is usually compréhensif or compréhensive.

Elle est très compréhensive quand je fais une erreur.

She is very understanding when I make a mistake.

Question 1No account needed
Complete the description of two women.Mes voisines sont très ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

gentilles. Voisines is feminine plural, so the adjective is gentilles.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence thanks someone for waiting?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

C’est gentil de m’attendre.. C’est gentil de m’attendre thanks the other person for waiting for you.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the written plural.Ces collègues sont ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

sympas. The everyday adjective takes a written plural -s: des collègues sympas.

Question 4No account needed
What does une personne sympathique mean?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A nice, likeable person.. Sympathique describes someone nice or likeable. For understanding, use compréhensif or compréhensive.

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