esprit
/ɛs.pʁi/masculine
In French, the word for mind (referring to the ability for rational thought) is esprit. Wiktionary also lists raison.
Meaning: ability for rational thought (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esprit | /ɛs.pʁi/ | masculine |
| raison | /ʁɛ.zɔ̃/ /ʁe.zɔ̃/ |
feminine |
The term esprit is used to refer to the intellect, wit or the spiritual essence of a person. It is also used in several common expressions, such as avoir l'esprit ouvert (to have an open mind) and se creuser la tête (to rack one's mind).
Which one should you use?
While esprit refers to the intellect or spirit, raison refers specifically to the capacity for logical reasoning or the state of being sane (reason/logic).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
esprit is a masculine noun. raison is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of esprit is /ɛs.pʁi/ and it has two syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using cerveau when you mean the faculty of thought or the mind. cerveau refers specifically to the physical organ, the brain.
Did you know?
- The term esprit can refer to a ghost or a supernatural entity. This allows a single word to encompass the human intellect, the soul and a phantom.
- The word esprit is a direct descendant of the Latin 'spiritus', which originally referred to a 'breath'. This connects the concept of the mind to the very act of breathing.
- The word raison is used in the phrase avoir raison to mean 'to be right'. While an English speaker says 'I am right', a French speaker says they 'have reason'.
Examples in context
- Il a l'esprit agile.He has a nimble mind.This sentence is useful for describing someone with a nimble mind using esprit.Tatoeba #1273570 by sacredceltic, translation #301998 by CM
- Qu'as-tu à l'esprit ?What do you have in mind?This sentence is useful for asking what someone has in mind using esprit.Tatoeba #1600718 by sacredceltic, translation #1556111 by Spamster
- As-tu perdu l'esprit ?Have you lost your mind?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has lost their mind using esprit.Tatoeba #1460577 by sacredceltic, translation #707277 by papabear
- Il a un esprit vif et créatif.He has a sharp and creative mind.
- Sa passion pour les sciences développe son intellect.His passion for science develops his mind.
- Ses pensées profondes dévoilent son esprit critique.His deep thoughts reveal his critical mind.
- Je me casse la tête avec ce problème.I'm racking my mind over this problem.
- Il est tombé sur la tête, ce garçon!This guy has lost his mind!
- 212 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are discussing a complex puzzle.
- EmmaC'est un vrai défi pour l'esprit.It is a real challenge for the mind.
- NathanOui, cela demande beaucoup de concentration.Yes, it requires a lot of concentration.
- EmmaTu as un esprit très analytique, Nathan.You have a very analytical mind, Nathan.
- NathanMerci, je m'entraîne souvent.Thank you, I practice often.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mind” translations and entries esprit, raison, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esprit, raison, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
