génie
/ʒe.ni/masculine
The English word 'genius' is translated into French as génie.
génie is a masculine noun used to describe someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill. In literary or mythological contexts, it can also refer to a spirit or a guiding force.
Meaning: someone possessing extraordinary intelligence or skill (noun)
Which one should you use?
While génie is the standard term, you might encounter other words depending on the nuance: prodige refers to a prodigy and savant is used for someone with advanced knowledge and expertise. In informal settings, you might hear un as to mean an ace or un crack to describe a highly talented individual.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word génie is a noun. If you wish to use an adjective to describe someone as brilliant or awesome, use génial (masculine) or géniale (feminine).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒe.ni/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using génie as an adjective. English speakers often mistakenly say un homme génie to mean a genius man. Instead, you must use the adjective génial to describe the person.
Did you know?
- In a military context, le génie refers to the army's corps of engineers, the branch responsible for building bridges and fortifications.
- While an English speaker might call a person 'a genius', saying C'est un génie in French can also be used sarcastically to describe someone who has just made a very silly mistake.
- The English word 'genius' and the French génie both trace back to the Latin 'genius', which originally referred to a tutelary spirit assigned to a person at birth.
Examples in context
- Tu es un génie.You are a genius.This sentence is useful for telling someone they are a genius using génie.Tatoeba #4626920 by sacredceltic, translation #1895825 by CK
- Tom est un génie.Tom is a genius.This sentence shows how to identify a third person as a genius using génie.Tatoeba #5461562 by Aiji, translation #2272804 by CK
- Je suis un génie.I'm a genius.This sentence demonstrates how to refer to oneself as a genius using génie.Tatoeba #6210405 by Aiji, translation #2247891 by CK
- Albert Einstein était un génie dans le domaine de la physique.Albert Einstein was a genius in the field of physics.
- Mozart était un prodige de la musique.Mozart was a prodigy in music.
- François est vraiment un as en mathématiques.François is really a genius in mathematics.
- Elle est considérée comme un véritable crack dans son domaine.She is considered a real genius in her field.
- Alain est vraiment un génie en informatique.Alain is truly a genius in computer science.
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing a famous scientist.
- GabrielTu as lu la biographie de ce génie ?Have you read the biography of this genius?
- EmmaOui, Gabriel, il était vraiment impressionnant.Yes, Gabriel, he was truly impressive.
- GabrielC'est un génie qui a changé le monde.He is a genius who changed the world.
- EmmaC'est tout à fait vrai.That is completely true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “genius” translations and entries génie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries génie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
