How to pronounce genius
Say it like JEE-nyus. Genius 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 genius. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JEE
- nyus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Genius 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.
- nyusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of genius
American and British speakers say genius in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒinjəs/ in the US and /ˈdʒiːnjəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: JEE-nyus.
What does genius mean?
- someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality“Mozart was a child genius”“he's smart but he's no Einstein”
- unusual mental ability
- someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
Where does genius come from?
From Latin genius (“inborn nature; a tutelary deity of a person or place; wit, brilliance”), from gignō (“to beget, produce”), Old Latin genō, from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵenh₁-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- mastermind
- brain
- brainiac
- einstein
Words that rhyme with genius
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of genius.
Questions about saying genius
How do you pronounce genius?
Say JEE-nyus. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒinjəs/. In British English it is /ˈdʒiːnjəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in genius?
Genius has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEE). Broken into parts: JEE · nyus.
Do Americans and Brits say genius the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒinjəs/ and the British form is /ˈdʒiːnjəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.