Word
genial
Phoneticsge·nial, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdʒinjəɫ/
UK/dʒˈiːnɪəl/
Definition
adj. friendly and pleasant in a way that makes people feel comfortable. You use this to describe someone who is warm and easy to talk to.
adj. friendly, pleasant, and good-natured. Often used to describe a person's disposition or a social atmosphere.
Examples
“The host was very genial and made everyone feel welcome.”
“Despite the long hours and difficult tasks, the manager maintained a genial attitude that kept the team motivated.”
“The retired professor was known for his genial nature, often spending his evenings in the library chatting with students about literature and philosophy.”
Examples
simple
“The host was very genial and made everyone feel welcome.”
contextual
“Despite the long hours and difficult tasks, the manager maintained a genial attitude that kept the team motivated.”
complex
“The retired professor was known for his genial nature, often spending his evenings in the library chatting with students about literature and philosophy.”
Real-World Examples
“The usually genial country has been bitterly divided over a vote this weekend on whether to enter membership talks with the European Union.” “In conversation, the genial Healy then volunteers a droll story of teenage infidelity, a drunken tryst with a girl from another part of Glasgow, which he wrongly thinks will insulate him from discovery.” Etymology
From Middle French génial, from Latin geniālis (“of or pertaining to marriage; festive, genial”), from genius (“guardian spirit”) + -ālis.
From Ancient Greek γένειον (géneion, “chin”) + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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