spirituel
/spi.ʁi.tɥɛl/
The English word witty is translated into French as spirituel.
spirituel is used to describe someone or something that is clever, amusingly ingenious.
Meaning: clever, amusingly ingenious (adj)
Which one should you use?
In French, spirituel can mean both 'witty' and 'spiritual', though the context usually distinguishes the two.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of spirituel is spirituelle.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables and is pronounced /spi.ʁi.tɥɛl/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use drôle to mean witty, but drôle implies being funny or silly, whereas spirituel implies a clever, sharp intelligence.
Did you know?
- In French literature and salons of the 18th century, l'esprit was considered a social art form. Being spirituel was not just about being funny but was a rigorous intellectual skill used to navigate high society.
- The word spirituel stems from the Latin 'spiritus', meaning 'breath', 'air', or 'spirit'.
- While an English speaker calls someone 'witty', a French person might describe that person as having 'de l'esprit', literally meaning 'to have some spirit'.
Examples in context
- Il n'est plus aussi spirituel qu'il l'était.He isn't as witty as he used to be.This sentence shows how to use the masculine form spirituel to describe a person's wit in the past.Tatoeba #8922641 by lbdx, translation #7393440 by CH
- Elle était extraordinairement spirituelle et charmante.She was uncommonly witty and charming.This sentence uses the feminine form spirituelle to describe a woman's charm and wit.Tatoeba #8922634 by lbdx, translation #718101 by papabear
- Mon père trouve toujours quelque chose de spirituel à dire.My father always comes up with something witty to say.This sentence demonstrates using spirituel to describe something a person says.Tatoeba #8922640 by lbdx, translation #3058789 by OJR1
- Juliette est une personne très spirituelle. Elle a toujours une réponse intelligente à tout.Juliette is a very witty person, she always has a smart response to everything.
- L'écrivain français est réputé pour être plein d'esprit dans ses œuvres.The French writer is renowned for being witty in his works.
- Marc est vraiment drôle, il a toujours des remarques pleines d'esprit.Marc is really witty, he always has clever remarks.
- En regardant des sketchs de comédiens français, j'ai appris à être plus spirituel(le) dans mes répliques.By watching French comedians' sketches, I have learned to be wittier in my comebacks.
- Les Français adorent les jeux de mots. Faites preuve de créativité et laissez parler votre esprit vif !The French love wordplay. Be creative and let your wit shine through!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are discussing a comedian they saw on TV.
- NathanTu as trouvé ce comédien vraiment spirituel ?Did you find that comedian really witty?
- LéaOui, il est très spirituel et drôle.Yes, he is very witty and funny.
- NathanSes répliques sont toujours très spirituelles.His comebacks are always very witty.
- LéaC'est vrai, il a beaucoup d'esprit.It's true, he has a lot of wit.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry spirituel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries spirituel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
