intello
/ɛ̃.tɛ.lo/
The English phrase "nerdy" can be translated into French as intello.
intello is used to describe someone who is nerdy, often implying they are studious or highly intellectual. Depending on the context, it can be used affectionately to describe a smart person or pejoratively to suggest someone is socially awkward or excessively academic.
Meaning: Of or like a nerd (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
intello is a colloquial shortening of the French word intellectuel.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
intello is an informal and colloquial term used in casual conversation. If you need to describe someone as being passionate about technology in a more formal setting, you might use the phrase Passionné(e) d'informatique (passionate about computer science). For an informal way to describe someone as an enthusiast for a specific subject, you can use Mordu(e).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /ɛ̃.tɛ.lo/.
Did you know?
- If you want to describe a 'nerdy' person who is purely obsessed with a subject, you can use mordu, which literally translates to 'bitten'.
- While intello focuses on academic intelligence, the French term geek has been adopted from English to describe someone specifically obsessed with pop culture, gaming, or technology.
- The suffix '-o' in intello is a common way in French slang to create short, punchy nouns, similar to how English speakers might shorten words to create nicknames.
Examples in context
- Sarah est vraiment une geek. Elle adore les jeux vidéo et la science-fiction.Sarah is a true geek. She loves video games and science fiction.
- Il est un peu intello, mais très gentil.He is a bit nerdy, but very kind.
- Je trouve ce film un peu trop intello.I find this movie a bit too nerdy.
- Elle a un look très intello avec ses lunettes.She has a very nerdy look with her glasses.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are discussing a friend's new hobby.
- LucasTu savais que Marc aimait les jeux de stratégie ?Did you know that Marc likes strategy games?
- EmmaOui, c'est un vrai intello des jeux de société.Yes, he is a real board game nerd.
- LucasC'est drôle, il est passionné par ça.It's funny, he is passionate about that.
- EmmaC'est son côté intello, mais c'est sympa.It's his nerdy side, but it's nice.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry intello, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries intello, CC BY-SA 4.0.
