genial
/xeˈnjal/
In Spanish, the English phrase 'cool' can be translated as genial.
Meaning: having a slightly low temperature (adj)
Which one should you use?
While genial means 'great' or 'wonderful', the word fresco should be used to describe a slightly low temperature.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, particularly in the southern region, the word guay is used to mean 'cool'. Chévere is a slang term for "cool" used primarily in Latin America.
How do you pronounce it?
/xeˈnjal/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use genial to mean 'cool' in terms of temperature, but genial actually means 'great' or 'wonderful'.
Did you know?
- The word fresco is used for a 'cool' temperature, but in some contexts, calling a person fresco can imply they are 'cheeky' or 'shameless'.
- Because genial is so closely tied to the Latin concept of a 'guardian spirit', its original meaning was actually related to marriage and festivities rather than just being 'great'.
- The Spanish language has a vast array of regional words for 'cool', such as bacán in Chile and Colombia, meaning genial or chévere are not the only options.
Examples in context
- Esto es muy genial.This is very cool.This sentence is useful for expressing that something is very cool using genial.Tatoeba #4329362 by pchamorro, translation #2869070 by Hybrid
- Este lugar es genial.This place is cool.This sentence is useful for describing a place as cool using genial.Tatoeba #4329399 by pchamorro, translation #3424120 by CK
- Esa es una idea genial.That's a very cool idea.This sentence is useful for describing an idea as a cool idea using genial.Tatoeba #10097496 by manufrutos, translation #10095621 by CK
- ¡Esa fiesta estuvo genial!That party was cool!
- ¡Qué chévere es tu nuevo coche!Your new car is so cool!
- ¡Ese concierto estuvo bacán!That concert was cool!
- El nuevo bar es guay.The new bar is cool.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing the temperature of the water in a pool.
- JavierEl agua está genial para nadar.The water is cool for swimming.
- LucíaSí, no está demasiado fría.Yes, it is not too cold.
- JavierMe gusta que se sienta genial.I like that it feels cool.
- LucíaYo también, vamos a entrar.Me too, let's go in.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry genial, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries genial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
