brillant
/bʁɪlˈjant/
The English phrase "brilliant" can be translated into German as brillant.
The word brillant is used as an adjective to describe something or someone that is highly intelligent.
Meaning: highly intelligent (adj)
Which one should you use?
When you use the word as an adjective meaning highly intelligent or excellent, note that the German spelling is brillant with only one 'l', whereas the English spelling uses two.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, brillant changes its ending based on the gender of the noun it describes in the nominative case: use brillante for feminine singular nouns, brillanter for masculine singular nouns and brillantes for neuter singular nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/bʁɪlˈjant/
Did you know?
- If you use brilliant to describe a diamond in a German jewelry shop, you are actually referring to a 'brilliant cut', which is a specific mathematical way of cutting a stone.
- The word brillant is borrowed from the French word brillant.
- While English speakers use 'brilliant' as a common exclamation of agreement, a German speaker would more likely say genau or super in that context.
Examples in context
- Toms Idee ist brillant.Tom's idea is brilliant.This sentence shows how to describe an idea.Tatoeba #8797748 by Melang, translation #5155143 by CK
- Er ist ein brillanter Künstler.He's a brilliant artist.This sentence shows how to describe a person.Tatoeba #3536917 by JWeighardt, translation #3536363 by Hybrid
- Sie sind beide wirklich brillant.Both of them are very brilliant.This sentence shows how to describe two people.Tatoeba #6036503 by Zaghawa, translation #317723 by CM
- Das Konzept für das neue Produkt ist einfach genial.The concept for the new product is simply brilliant.
- Ihre Präsentation war hervorragend!Your presentation was brilliant!
- Das Essen hier ist spitze!The food here is brilliant!
- Der Film gestern Abend war einfach toll!The movie last night was simply brilliant!
- Der Oktoberfestumzug war einfach prächtig!The Oktoberfest parade was simply brilliant!
- Die Aufführung gestern war einfach großartig!The performance yesterday was simply brilliant!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Laura and Lukas are discussing a classmate's performance in a math competition.
- LauraHast du die Lösung von Lukas gesehen?Did you see Lukas's solution?
- LukasJa, er ist wirklich brillant in Mathematik.Yes, he is truly brilliant at mathematics.
- LauraIch verstehe die Logik dahinter gar nicht.I don't understand the logic behind it at all.
- LukasDas liegt daran, dass er so brillant denkt.That's because he thinks so brilliantly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brilliant” translations and entries brillant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries brillant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
