gentil
/ʒɑ̃.ti/
The English word "kind" can be translated into French as gentil.
gentil is an adjective used to describe someone who is benevolent, courteous, friendly or generous.
Meaning: benevolent, courteous, friendly, generous (adj)
Which one should you use?
While gentil means kind or nice, it is distinct from aimable, which specifically emphasizes being pleasant or amiable in social interactions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes its form based on the gender and number of the noun it accompanies. The masculine singular is gentil, the feminine singular is gentille, the masculine plural is gentils and the feminine plural is gentilles.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒɑ̃.ti/
Did you know?
- Calling a romantic partner trop gentil often implies they are 'too nice' to the point of being boring or lacking charisma.
- The word gentil shares its roots with the English word 'gentle', both originating from the Latin 'gentilis', meaning 'belonging to a clan' or 'of the same stock'.
- Calling a child gentil in France is common, but using it for an adult in a formal setting might sometimes sound slightly patronizing or overly simplistic.
Examples in context
- Il a l'air gentil.He seems kind.Tatoeba #132692 by Julien_PDC, translation #300013 by CK
- Tom est-il gentil ?Is Tom kind?Tatoeba #11899764 by zogwarg, translation #11899751 by CK
- Ils sont très gentils.They are very kind.Tatoeba #3652312 by sacredceltic, translation #305945 by CK
- Pauline est très gentille avec tout le monde.Pauline is very kind to everyone.
- Jean-Luc est toujours aimable avec ses collègues.Jean-Luc is always kind to his colleagues.
- Mon voisin est vraiment sympa, il m'aide toujours quand j'en ai besoin.My neighbor is really kind, he always helps me when I need it.
- Catherine est vraiment généreuse, elle donne toujours de son temps pour aider les autres.Catherine is really kind, she always gives her time to help others.
- Ce garçon est gentil.This boy is kind.
- Cette fille est gentille.This girl is kind.
- Marie est une personne très aimable et douce.Marie is a very kind and gentle person.
- Pierre est généreux et donne toujours aux personnes dans le besoin.Pierre is kind and always gives to those in need.
- L'infirmière était sympathique et réconfortante lors de ma visite à l'hôpital.The nurse was kind and comforting during my hospital visit.
- 220 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about a new neighbor.
- LéaLe nouveau voisin est vraiment gentil.The new neighbor is really kind.
- LucasC'est vrai, il m'a aidé hier.That's true, he helped me yesterday.
- LéaC'est gentil de sa part.That is kind of him.
- LucasOui, il a l'air très sympa.Yes, he seems very nice.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry gentil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gentil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
