genial
/xeˈnjal/
The Spanish phrase for really great is genial.
Genial is a popular term used among friends to describe something as "really great." You may also encounter other words like increíble to express amazement or astonishment in informal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Depending on where you are, different regional variations for really great are used. In Mexico, people frequently use chido informally, while in Central America and parts of South America, the term chévere is common.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of genial is geniales.
How do you pronounce it?
/xeˈnjal/
Did you know?
- While genial means 'really great' today, its Latin ancestor geniālis originally described things related to marriage or festive celebrations. It was also used to describe a 'guardian spirit' or 'genius' that protected a person.
- While the word genial is common today, it is closely linked to the concept of genio, which can mean both 'genius' and 'temper' in Spanish.
- If you call a person genial in Spanish, you are not just saying they are 'great', but rather that they have a friendly, warm, and pleasant disposition. It describes their character rather than just their skill or a specific achievement.
Examples in context
- ¡Eso es realmente genial!That's really great!This sentence shows how to use genial to describe a specific thing.Tatoeba #1005312 by hayastan, translation #273617 by CK
- La fiesta fue realmente genial.The party was really great.This sentence shows how to use genial to describe an event.Tatoeba #4600206 by DarkHollow, translation #4494107 by CK
- Tu idea es genial.Your idea is really great.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are discussing a new project at work.
- Alejandro¿Qué te parece el nuevo plan?What do you think of the new plan?
- LucíaMe parece genial.I think it is really great.
- Alejandro¡Qué bueno que te guste!I'm glad you like it!
- LucíaEs un plan excelente.It is an excellent plan.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry genial, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries genial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
