créatif
/kʁe.a.tif/
The English word creative is translated into French as créatif.
créatif is used to describe someone or something that is original, expressive and imaginative. While it is primarily an adjective, it can also function as a noun to refer to a person directly involved in a creative marketing process, such as in advertising.
Meaning: original, expressive, and imaginative (adj)
Which one should you use?
As an adjective, créatif and créative are used to describe qualities. When used as a noun, the terms refer to a person working in a creative field like marketing. For emphasizing innovation and inventiveness, you might use inventif or inventive instead. To describe a person by their creative profession or vocation, you would use the nouns créateur or créatrice.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the gender and number of the subject. The masculine singular form is créatif and the feminine singular form is créative. For plural subjects, use créatifs for masculine plural and créatives for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /kʁe.a.tif/.
Did you know?
- The French word créativité is a relatively recent arrival, as older texts often used the word imagination to cover what we now call creativity.
- While créatif describes the spirit of invention, the word créateur is often used specifically for high-fashion designers, such as un créateur de mode.
- Using créatif to describe a work of art can sometimes sound like a critique of its novelty rather than a compliment on its beauty.
Examples in context
- Je ne suis pas créatif.I'm not creative.This sentence is useful for expressing a lack of creativity using créatif.Tatoeba #6484426 by GB3, translation #3330599 by CK
- Je pense que tu es créatif.I think you're creative.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone else is creative using créatif.Tatoeba #8376167 by Bafy78, translation #7110612 by CM
- Carlos est intelligent et créatif.Carlos is intelligent and creative.This sentence is useful for describing someone as both intelligent and creative using créatif.Tatoeba #728436 by U2FS, translation #434440 by lukaszpp
- Mon collègue est très créatif dans la conception des projets.My colleague is very creative in project design.
- L'équipe marketing a proposé une stratégie inventive pour atteindre nos objectifs.The marketing team proposed an inventive strategy to achieve our goals.
- Tes dessins sont vraiment créatifs, j'admire ton talent !Your drawings are truly creative, I admire your talent!
- C'est incroyable comment tu es toujours plein(e) d'imagination pour trouver de nouvelles idées.It's incredible how you are always full of imagination in finding new ideas.
- Exprimer ta créativitéExpress your creativity
- Développer sa créativitéDevelop one's creativity
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are discussing a project for school.
- LucasTon idée pour le projet est très créatif.Your idea for the project is very creative.
- ChloéMerci Lucas, j'ai essayé d'être originale.Thank you Lucas, I tried to be original.
- LucasC'est vraiment un travail créatif et moderne.It is truly a creative and modern piece of work.
- ChloéJe suis contente que tu aimes ça, Chloé.I am glad you like it, Chloé.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “creative” translations and entries créatif, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
