'empathy' originates from the Greek word 'empatheia,' where 'em-' meant 'in' and 'pathos' meant 'feeling.'

'empatheia' transformed into the German word 'Einfühlung,' and eventually became the modern English word 'empathy' through the early 20th century.

Initially, it meant 'physical affection or passion,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'understanding and sharing the feelings of another.'