How to pronounce genial
Say it like JEE-nyul. Genial has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce genial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JEE
- nyul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Genial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nyulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of genial
American and British speakers say genial in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒinjəl/ in the US and /ˈdʒiːnɪəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: JEE-neerl.
What does genial mean?
- Friendly and cheerful; enlivening.“a genial glow”
- Pleasantly mild and warm.“genial warmth”
- Marked by genius.
- Relating to the chin; genian.
Where does genial come from?
Borrowed from Middle French génial, borrowed from Latin geniālis (“of or pertaining to marriage; festive”), from genius (“guardian spirit”) + -ālis.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying genial
How do you pronounce genial?
Say JEE-nyul. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒinjəl/. In British English it is /ˈdʒiːnɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in genial?
Genial has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEE). Broken into parts: JEE · nyul.
Do Americans and Brits say genial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒinjəl/ and the British form is /ˈdʒiːnɪəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.