French word

génial

Pronunciation

IPA/ʒenjal/

Meaning

  • adjectiveawesome

Example

C'est génial.

It's awesome.

Illustration for génial (awesome)

More examples

J'ai eu une idée géniale.

I had a great idea.

Core concept

A burst of admiration when a clever idea, discovery, or impressive action suddenly stands out.

Common phrases

  • une idée géniale

    a great idea

  • un film génial

    a great movie

  • trop génial

    so great

Similar words

super: A casual expression of enthusiasm for something very good.
formidable: Describing something strikingly powerful and impressively excellent.
fantastique: An exclamation of wonder at something fantastically wonderful.
chouette: A friendly, casual way to praise something as good or appealing.

Definition in French

Marque l'enthousiasme ou l'étonnement positif face à une découverte, une action ou une idée.

Word origin

French génial is formed from génie with the adjective suffix -al, while génie ultimately comes from Latin genius, associated with innate talent.

Usage tips

  • French génial means excellent or amazing, whereas English genial usually means friendly and pleasant, so the two adjectives are false friends.

Other meanings

  • brilliantadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • génialementbrilliantlyadverb
  • génialitébrilliancenoun

Word lists with this word