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In America, one can get by mastering only ten adjectives. 
In Paris, one is enough.
Sympa that is. Sympa is the most useful adjective in Paris. Initially, sympa is short for sympathique. Is sympa something that is nice. People, places, moments, activities can all be sympa. Being fantastically non-committing, ‘sympa‘ grew to become tremendously popular an adjective. Non only can most things be sympa, they usually are. In Paris, there is really only one answer to the question “C’était comment ?”
Sympa!
Using it extensively, Parisians managed to empty the word of its very substance: the way it is said gives it its actual meaning. To decipher what a Parisian really thinks of something or someone, it is key to be attentive to the tone of the ‘sympa‘ he will most likely come up with as an answer. Tone and facial expression. Only then will you know a bit more about what the Parisian really thinks.
If sympa became such a popular adjective in Paris, it is because it sends out messages the Parisian is happy to convey about himself. Being short for something, sympa is vaguely colloquial. Making the Parisian seem vaguely laid back when using it. On top of this, sympa is a fantastic buffer against any form of enthusiasm. Sympa is nice but it is still very far from excellent, génial, exceptionnel, formidable or fantastique. It is just sympa. By saying something or someone is sympa, the Parisian gives it a good point. But not too good of a point either.
Thank God.
Parisians could not invent a better word even if they looked for it. Sympa is about the object. It is not about the person who says it. The object exhales. The Parisian is weirdly passive in judging something or someone as sympa. He becomes a mere receptacle for the world he lives in. This posture of passive humility is yet another reason for the popularity of the term. I judge without judging. Whatever I say, it is not my fault. Parisians these days love this tepid feeling of social innocence. Flamboyance gone.
Making sympa such a close companion, Parisians mechanically diminished the strength of its original meaning. Thus making phrases like ‘hyper sympa’ or ‘super sympa’ major hits. Amongst younger Parisians, the word sympa is so prevailing that its use deprived of hyper, super, vraiment or carrément is suspicious.
If a young Parisian tells you that a place was sympa, he probably actually didn’t think much of it. With nothing but positive words, Parisian youth downgrades reality.
Paris lovers: rest assured: Parisianity shall never die…
Useful tip: There is no connection whatsoever between sympathique in French and sympathetic in English. Faux amis!
Sound like a Parisian: “C’était sympa, mais je suis rentrée tôt, j’étais crevée”
Tags: communication, french, judging, language, Paris, sympa, word, Words
Ah yes…an old friend, sympa. Glad to know its popularity has not waned. But…”carrément sympa?” Vraiment?
so true..
c’est comme adjective polonais “fajny” qu’on conjuge quand meme..
Flartus… Popularity is peaking. Sympa is the Edward Norton of adjectives: everybody loves him. And, oh yes… carrément sympa: for sure!
JB… I’ll keep that in mind next time I head to Poland. Polska ja fajny?!
Sympa, ce blog…
So it’s just like “nice” in English. It’s amusing how a word with the same definition, but different etymologies, in two languages have the same colloquial use.
Wow. I think I get it. Parisians are beginning to sound more and more like Southern Californians, particularly those in Orange County, where a bland “Interesting–” covers angst, anger and the fact the sun hasn’t come out yet this month.
AccidentalParisian… Thank God for the smiley!
Ruth… SoCal… 9 adjectives probably do the trick. I’d vote for : interesting, nice, awesome, hilarious, intense, amazing, insane, cool, great, and fun! Ever noticed how in California, people say ‘that’s hilarious’ but don’t laugh?!
Constance… Global dumbing down process maybe?
Olivier, I wondered what you’d write on this topic when I saw the title, but this may be one of the best entries you’ve wrote so far.
There seems to be a “leitmotiv” running through this and your last blog entry ie restraint to the point of being anally retentive perhaps? C’est vachement sympa ce petit mot, non?
Picture #1 is the best. /applause
David… Well, thank you!! I did wonder at first too!!
PeterNL… I’m not quite sure what exactly ‘anally retentive’ means. Can you éclairer ma lanterne?
Ingo… Yeah, it’s funny. I think number 2 is pretty spot on too. Any Parisian who ran into that sign probably thought “ah bah c’est sympa”!
presque bien.. On dit ‘Polska jest fajna’ parce que c’est feminin;)
I definitely use “amazing” way, way too much. Please don’t judge me
“Fantastically non-committing” certainly describes the behavior of at least one Parisian I know…ce n’est pas très sympa!
Oooh-la-la!! You have just expanded my vocabulary. Who cares if no one in LA will know what the hell I am talking about? It will replace my much overused “Wow!”.
Oooof….just came back from Paris and I think I’ve heard enough “sympa” to last me a lifetime….and I thought it was overused in Quebec!!
JB… j’ai fait de mon mieux!
Barbra… You’re American. You only have 10 adjectives available. Makes it hard not to use amazing a lot!!
La Belette Rouge… I love it when Americans go “wow”. Priceless!! I’d stick to it!! Especially in LA!
Anait… That is an unexpesnive souvenir to bring back home at least.
You’re always teaching me something new!
Next time I’m with you in a bar surrounded by very handsome, young rugby players, I will be sure to use my new vocabulary.
Loulou… Paris lingo!! Problem is… most of my rugby friends are actually not from Paris!! But they all speak the lingo… so your newly acquired knowledge will prove useful!!
Maybe this is why I love the French language so much – not just the sound of it, but its neverending complexities.
Cheryl… It is a very lovable language indeed!
Sympa ce post. Vraiment
“Oui, c’était cool” is also very useful to sound like a Parisian. It is slightly more committing than “sympa” though
Dear Olivier,
Please post more often! As an American who lives in Paris, I enjoy your observations on my adopted city.
Olivier
I just discovered that someone is actually doing like you in the women magazine DS. My wife bought this a few days ago – the classic I don’t know what to buy but need some fashion, it works for men with cars or sports in train stations – and we saw a nice paper about french and parisian speaking at the end…
To be fair you are “bien plus sympa” than the other, that is close to “bof” or “mouais”…
Stephan
Véronique… Thx for your committed comment!!
John Agee… Thank you – will try. Always busy with O Chateau!
Stephan… Quick, my lawyer! Thx – will look it up!
Interesting, thank you!
Looks as if Parisians and Italians use the sympathique in the same way: Simpatico can mean anything and nothing. At best a beginning, at worst a simple “simpatico” is already the end, simpatico, but o so boring, whatever.
[...] (Public Ennemies), moi, pour ma part, personnellement, j’ai trouvé qu’il était très sympa. J’ai un peu de mal avec les films tournés en DV, mais après une petite heure [...]
Where were you when I was going to university in Paris? Had I access to your unveiling of Parisian speak and behavior then…well, I can’t imagine where I’d be today. What a treat to have found your musings.
Merisi… I love how Italians use “Bello” a lot too!
Frenchee Le Trip… Thank you. I was probably around. This blog en revanche…
Hah, just came across the blog today… Fantastic on a day you have nothing special to do at the office !
This one opened my eyes. “Sympa” leaves all doors open, partial or full acknowledgement by others (but careful there, if it’s “sympa” for a start, it can’t decently turn to a very radical stance like “énorme”, would be almost contradictory – a parisian wouldn’t get that enthousiastic about anything anyway, esp. if surrounded by non-parisians), light or heavy criticism from the others without it being taken personally, even the possibility to change topics because you don’t really care anyway.
Any prefix gets it very committing, really distorting the depth and emptiness of the original word “sympa” in its Parisian meaning.
One wouldn’t call something or someone “vraiment sympa” in front of strangers, as this gets personal.
I’m still try to think of another adjective to use in place of “sympa”.
English speakers have “cool”, but cool ain’t as mildly flavoured and fluffy as “sympa”. It may surpass it in terms of emptiness though.
Italians, no clue. I can’t imagine Italian snobbery being comparable to the Parisian one though, for some reason. No offence…
Frogeater… Italians love their “bello” and their “simpatico” – but they mean it much more than we do. As Cocteau put it: “Les Italiens sont des Francais de bonne humeur”!
Heavens forbid if Parisiens use any adjectives that truly express enthusiasm and excitement! That would just be so un-chic !
Zut! I never answered your question Olivier. I do hope you haven’t been kept in the dark for the last three and a half years as the term is oh so useful, especially in Paris… Rather than even attempt to give you a comprehensive answer I point you here http://french.stackexchange.com/questions/542/comment-traduire-anal-retentive which seems as good as any.