genre
/ʒɑ̃ʁ/
In French, 'kinda' can be expressed as genre.
The word genre is used as an informal filler to mean 'kinda' or 'like'. It is typical of spoken French when someone is describing something in a vague or approximate way.
Which one should you use?
While genre is used as a vague filler, the informal phrase un peu comme specifically means 'kinda like' or 'sorta like'. For more formal situations, you should use quelque peu to mean 'somewhat' or 'to some extent' or en quelque sorte to mean 'in a way' or 'in some sort of way'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
genre is characteristic of informal, spoken French. For formal contexts, use quelque peu or en quelque sorte.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒɑ̃ʁ/
Did you know?
- The English word 'gender' is a direct relative of the French genre. While they share an ancestor, the French filler usage is a much more modern development in speech patterns.
- While genre is used by young people as a filler meaning 'kinda', it is also the standard word for 'kind' or 'type' in a formal setting. Using it as a filler can make you sound much more casual than you might intend.
- In some French-speaking regions, particularly in parts of Africa, the word genre might be used with different nuances than the 'filler' usage popular in Parisian youth slang.
Examples in context
- Je suis un peu fatigué aujourd'hui.I'm kinda tired today.
- Cela semble un peu compliqué, mais je vais essayer.It seems kinda complicated, but I'll give it a try.
- Je suis quelque peu préoccupé par cette question.I'm kinda worried about this matter.
- Il est quelque peu justifié dans son raisonnement.He's kinda justified in his reasoning.
- J'ai genre une idée pour le projet.I have, like, an idea for the project.
- Genre, c'est un peu difficile à comprendre.It's kinda, like, difficult to understand.
- C'est un peu comme dans le film.It's kinda like in the movie.
- Il est un peu comme un clown.He's kinda like a clown.
- Je suis plus ou moins d'accord avec toi.I kinda agree with you, more or less.
- C'est plus ou moins ce à quoi je m'attendais.It's kinda what I was expecting, more or less.
- C'est genre un peu bizarre, non ?It's kinda weird, right?
- Il est genre fatigué aujourd'hui.He's kinda tired today.
- Je suis genre perdue dans ce quartier.I'm kinda lost in this neighborhood.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing a new movie they watched.
- NathanTu as aimé le film ?Did you like the movie?
- ChloéC'était genre pas mal, mais trop long.It was kinda okay, but too long.
- NathanMoi, je l'ai trouvé genre ennuyeux.Me, I found it kinda boring.
- ChloéAh bon ? Je ne suis pas d'accord.Oh really? I don't agree.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry genre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
