At the A1 level, 'intelligent' is one of the first adjectives you learn to describe people. You use it in very simple sentences like 'Il est intelligent' or 'Elle est intelligente'. The focus is on basic subject-verb-adjective structure. You learn that it means 'smart' and that you must add an 'e' for women. It's a high-frequency word because it's a 'cognate' (looks like English), making it easy to remember. You might use it to describe a friend, a family member, or a famous person. At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex synonyms, just the basic agreement and the fact that it usually comes after the noun if you use it with one (e.g., 'un ami intelligent').
At the A2 level, you start to use 'intelligent' to make comparisons and describe things in more detail. You can say 'Il est plus intelligent que son frère' (He is smarter than his brother) or 'C'est la solution la plus intelligente' (It's the smartest solution). You also begin to apply the word to non-human subjects, like 'un chien intelligent' or 'un téléphone intelligent'. You are expected to consistently get the gender and number agreement right (intelligents, intelligentes). You might also start to see the adverbial form 'intelligemment' in simple texts. You understand that 'intelligent' is a positive trait and can use it to justify why you like someone or something.
At the B1 level, you use 'intelligent' to express opinions and engage in discussions. You can talk about 'l'intelligence artificielle' or 'la gestion intelligente des ressources'. You start to distinguish between 'intelligent' and its synonyms like 'malin' or 'sage' depending on the context. You can use the word in more complex grammatical structures, such as with the subjunctive: 'Je ne pense pas qu'il soit très intelligent'. You use it to describe abstract concepts, like an 'analyse intelligente' or a 'débat intelligent'. Your vocabulary is expanding to include related nouns like 'l'intelligence' and you can discuss the importance of being intelligent in different professional or social situations.
At the B2 level, you use 'intelligent' with nuance and precision. You can argue about different types of intelligence (emotional, mathematical, etc.). You use the word in formal writing to describe 'une approche intelligente' to a complex problem. You are comfortable with the register of the word and know when to use more sophisticated alternatives like 'perspicace' or 'ingénieux'. You can understand idiomatic expressions or metaphors involving intelligence. You might analyze a text where the author uses 'intelligent' ironically. Your use of the word is fluid, and you can easily switch between the adjective, the noun (l'intelligence), and the adverb (intelligemment) to vary your expression.
At the C1 level, 'intelligent' is part of a very broad and nuanced vocabulary. You can use it to discuss philosophical concepts or complex academic theories. You might explore the 'intelligence collective' in sociology or 'l'intelligence économique' in business. You understand the subtle connotations the word carries in different historical or literary contexts. You can use it to critique a work of art or a political move with high precision. You are aware of the stylistic effects of placing the adjective before the noun (though rare, it can happen in poetry or highly rhetorical prose for emphasis). You can participate in high-level debates where the definition of 'intelligence' itself is being questioned.
At the C2 level, you have a total mastery of 'intelligent' and its entire lexical field. You can use it with absolute precision in any context, from a scientific dissertation to a subtle piece of creative writing. You understand the deepest etymological roots and how they influence modern usage. You can play with the word, using it in puns, complex metaphors, or highly formal oratory. You can distinguish between the 'intelligence' of a machine, an animal, and a human with philosophical depth. You are capable of translating the word into English (or other languages) while capturing every subtle shade of meaning, recognizing that 'intelligent' in French might sometimes be better translated as 'clever', 'wise', or 'sharp' depending on the specific sentence.

intelligent 30 सेकंड में

  • Intelligent means smart or clever in French.
  • It must agree in gender and number: intelligent(e)(s).
  • It usually follows the noun it describes.
  • It is used for people, animals, and modern technology.

The French word intelligent is a cornerstone of describing cognitive ability and discernment. Rooted in the Latin intelligere (to understand), it encompasses more than just raw IQ; it suggests a capacity for logic, problem-solving, and adaptability. In French culture, being 'intelligent' is highly valued, often associated with the Cartesian tradition of clear and distinct reasoning. Unlike some English nuances where 'smart' might imply 'street smarts,' the French intelligent often leans towards analytical and academic prowess, though it is versatile enough for everyday use.

Etymological Root
From Latin 'inter' (between) and 'legere' (to choose/read), implying the ability to choose between options or read between the lines.
Cultural Weight
Reflects the French emphasis on 'l'esprit' (the mind/spirit) and intellectual rigor.
Grammatical Gender
Masculine: intelligent | Feminine: intelligente.

"C'est un enfant très intelligent qui comprend tout tout de suite."

— Example of academic/natural aptitude

When we talk about intelligence in French, we often distinguish between 'l'intelligence du cœur' (emotional intelligence) and 'l'intelligence pure' (logic). The word is an adjective, meaning it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, 'une solution intelligente' or 'des hommes intelligents'. It is a 'true friend' (vrai ami) to English speakers, as the meaning is almost identical, making it an easy win for A2 learners.

"Elle a pris une décision intelligente pour sa carrière."

Beyond humans, the word is increasingly used in technology. 'L'intelligence artificielle' (AI) is a ubiquitous term. We also speak of 'objets intelligents' (smart objects/IoT). This shows the word's evolution from purely human cognition to mechanical and digital processing power. In a social context, calling someone 'intelligent' is a high compliment, suggesting they possess 'de la jugeote' (common sense) as well as 'du savoir' (knowledge).

"Le système de chauffage intelligent permet d'économiser de l'énergie."

"Il n'est pas seulement intelligent, il est aussi très sage."

"C'est une analyse très intelligente de la situation actuelle."

Synonym Nuance
'Malin' is more 'cunning/sly', while 'Intelligent' is more 'intellectual'.
Opposite
'Bête' or 'Stupide' are the direct antonyms.

Using 'intelligent' correctly involves mastering adjective agreement and placement. In French, adjectives are the 'chameleons' of the sentence—they change their ending to match the noun they describe. For 'intelligent', you have four possible forms: intelligent (masculine singular), intelligente (feminine singular), intelligents (masculine plural), and intelligentes (feminine plural). This is a fundamental rule that separates beginners from intermediate speakers.

Placement
Usually follows the noun: 'Un chien intelligent'.
Adverbial Form
'Intelligemment' (intelligently).
Comparatives
'Plus intelligent que...' (Smarter than...).

When describing a person's character, 'intelligent' is often paired with intensifiers. You might say someone is 'extrêmement intelligent' or 'brillamment intelligent'. In professional settings, it is common to describe a 'travail intelligent' (smart work) or a 'stratégie intelligente'. Note that 'intelligent' can also describe an action or a choice, not just a person. For example, 'C'est intelligent de faire ça' (It's smart to do that).

"Ces filles sont très intelligentes et travaillent dur."

In the context of the CEFR A2 level, you should focus on simple subject-verb-adjective structures. 'Il est intelligent' or 'Ma sœur est intelligente'. As you progress to B1 and B2, you will start using it in more complex clauses: 'Bien qu'il soit intelligent, il a échoué à l'examen' (Although he is smart, he failed the exam). The word also appears in many compound nouns in modern French, particularly in tech and urban planning, such as 'la ville intelligente' (smart city).

"Nous devons trouver une façon intelligente de gérer nos déchets."

You will encounter 'intelligent' in a wide variety of contexts, from the classroom to the boardroom. In French schools, teachers might use it to praise a student's reasoning: 'C'est une réponse très intelligente'. In the workplace, it's used to describe efficient processes or clever colleagues. Interestingly, French media uses it frequently when discussing social issues or political strategies, often debating whether a policy is 'intelligente' or simply 'populiste'.

Media & News
Discussions on 'L'intelligence artificielle' (AI) are daily occurrences.
Pop Culture
Movies often feature 'le génie intelligent' or the 'méchant intelligent'.
Daily Life
Complimenting friends or discussing the 'smart' features of a new phone.

"Le film propose une réflexion intelligente sur la solitude."

In casual conversation, you might hear the slang 'fûté' or 'débrouillard', but 'intelligent' remains the standard, respectful term. On French TV talk shows (which are very popular), pundits often use 'intelligent' to validate an opponent's point before countering it: 'C'est un argument intelligent, mais...' (That's a smart argument, but...). This demonstrates the word's role in the 'joute oratoire' (verbal fencing) that is so central to French public life.

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is forgetting the gender agreement. Because 'intelligent' looks exactly like the English word, learners often treat it as invariable. Remember: La femme est intelligente (add the 'e'!). Another mistake is the pronunciation of the masculine form. Many learners want to pronounce the 't' at the end of 'intelligent' because they do so in English. In French, the final 't' is silent unless followed by a vowel or in the feminine form.

Agreement Error
Saying 'Elle est intelligent' instead of 'Elle est intelligente'.
Pronunciation Error
Pronouncing the 't' in 'Un garçon intelligent'.
False Friend Confusion
Confusing 'intelligent' with 'spirituel' (which means witty, not just smart).

"Attention : on ne dit pas 'une intelligent idée', mais 'une idée intelligente'."

Another nuance is the difference between 'intelligent' and 'instruit' (educated). Someone can be highly 'intelligent' without being 'instruit', and vice versa. Using 'intelligent' to mean 'polite' or 'well-behaved' (as in some archaic English uses) is also incorrect in French; for that, use 'sage'. Finally, avoid overusing 'intelligent' when 'malin' (clever/tricky) or 'astucieux' (resourceful) might be more precise for the situation.

French has a rich vocabulary for the mind. While 'intelligent' is the general term, other words offer specific shades of meaning. Brillant suggests a high level of intelligence that stands out. Sage often implies wisdom or being well-behaved. Malin is used for someone who is clever in a practical, sometimes slightly mischievous way. Astucieux is perfect for someone who finds clever solutions to technical or practical problems.

Brillant
Excellence, often academic or professional.
Malin
Cunning, street-smart, or 'crafty'.
Cultivé
Well-read, knowledgeable about culture.

"Il est très astucieux ; il a réparé la machine avec un simple trombone."

For more formal contexts, you might use perspicace (perceptive) or lucide (clear-sighted). If you want to describe someone who is very quick-witted, vif (literally 'alive' or 'quick') is a great choice. In contrast, ingénieux is used for someone who is inventive. Understanding these synonyms helps you avoid repeating 'intelligent' and makes your French sound more natural and sophisticated.

How Formal Is It?

कठिनाई स्तर

ज़रूरी व्याकरण

Adjective agreement

Adjective placement

Comparatives and Superlatives

Adverb formation (-ment)

Liaison with silent consonants

स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण

1

Il est très intelligent.

He is very smart.

Masculine singular.

2

Elle est intelligente.

She is smart.

Feminine singular (add -e).

3

Tu es intelligent !

You are smart!

Informal 'tu'.

4

C'est un chat intelligent.

It's a smart cat.

Adjective after the noun.

5

Ils sont intelligents.

They are smart.

Masculine plural (add -s).

6

Elles sont intelligentes.

They (f) are smart.

Feminine plural (add -es).

7

Mon ami est intelligent.

My friend is smart.

Possessive 'mon' + masculine noun.

8

C'est intelligent.

That's smart.

Using 'C'est' for a general idea.

1

Il est plus intelligent que moi.

He is smarter than me.

Comparative 'plus... que'.

2

C'est une fille très intelligente.

She is a very smart girl.

Adjective agreement with 'fille'.

3

J'ai un téléphone intelligent.

I have a smartphone.

Literal translation of smartphone.

4

C'est une décision intelligente.

It's a smart decision.

Abstract noun agreement.

5

Elle n'est pas très intelligente.

She is not very smart.

Negation 'ne... pas'.

6

Nous sommes tous intelligents.

We are all smart.

Plural agreement.

7

C'est l'élève le plus intelligent.

He is the smartest student.

Superlative 'le plus'.

8

Elle travaille de façon intelligente.

She works in a smart way.

Using 'de façon' + adjective.

1

L'intelligence artificielle change le monde.

Artificial intelligence is changing the world.

Noun form 'intelligence'.

2

Il a répondu très intelligemment.

He answered very intelligently.

Adverbial form.

3

Je cherche une solution intelligente à ce problème.

I am looking for a smart solution to this problem.

Agreement with 'solution'.

4

C'est un homme brillant et intelligent.

He is a brilliant and smart man.

Using multiple adjectives.

5

Elle est assez intelligente pour comprendre.

She is smart enough to understand.

Structure 'assez... pour'.

6

Il est moins intelligent qu'il n'en a l'air.

He is less smart than he looks.

Comparative 'moins... que'.

7

C'est une utilisation intelligente de l'espace.

It's a smart use of space.

Noun phrase.

8

Il faut être intelligent pour réussir ici.

One must be smart to succeed here.

Impersonal 'il faut'.

1

Son analyse est particulièrement intelligente.

His/her analysis is particularly intelligent.

Adverb 'particulièrement' modifying the adjective.

2

Elle a su gérer la crise de manière intelligente.

She knew how to manage the crisis in a smart way.

Phrase 'de manière intelligente'.

3

C'est un débat intelligent sur l'avenir.

It's an intelligent debate about the future.

Describing an abstract event.

4

Il est d'une intelligence rare.

He possesses a rare intelligence.

Using the noun with a prepositional phrase.

5

L'investissement intelligent rapporte toujours.

Smart investment always pays off.

Financial context.

6

Elle est trop intelligente pour se faire piéger.

She is too smart to be tricked.

Structure 'trop... pour'.

7

C'est une remarque très intelligente de ta part.

That's a very smart remark on your part.

Phrase 'de ta part'.

8

Le design intelligent allie forme et fonction.

Intelligent design combines form and function.

Design/Art context.

1

Sa prose est fine et intelligente.

His/her prose is subtle and intelligent.

Literary description.

2

L'intelligence émotionnelle est cruciale en entreprise.

Emotional intelligence is crucial in business.

Specific psychological term.

3

Il a agi avec une intelligence remarquable.

He acted with remarkable intelligence.

Noun + adjective.

4

C'est un film qui traite le spectateur comme un être intelligent.

It's a film that treats the viewer as an intelligent being.

Complex sentence structure.

5

L'intelligence collective permet de résoudre des problèmes complexes.

Collective intelligence allows for solving complex problems.

Sociological term.

6

Il est doté d'un esprit vif et intelligent.

He is endowed with a quick and intelligent mind.

Formal expression 'doté de'.

7

Une gestion intelligente de la ville réduit la pollution.

Smart city management reduces pollution.

Urban planning context.

8

Son discours était à la fois intelligent et émouvant.

His/her speech was both intelligent and moving.

Correlative 'à la fois... et'.

1

L'intelligence n'est pas une donnée brute, mais un processus.

Intelligence is not a raw datum, but a process.

Philosophical statement.

2

Elle manie l'ironie avec une intelligence redoutable.

She wields irony with formidable intelligence.

Advanced vocabulary 'redoutable'.

3

L'œuvre témoigne d'une intelligence compositionnelle hors pair.

The work bears witness to unparalleled compositional intelligence.

Formal/Academic register.

4

Il serait peu intelligent de négliger ces facteurs.

It would be unwise (lit. little intelligent) to neglect these factors.

Litotes/Understatement.

5

L'intelligence des situations lui permet de s'adapter partout.

His/her situational intelligence allows him/her to adapt everywhere.

Nuanced noun usage.

6

C'est un texte dense, intelligent, qui demande plusieurs lectures.

It's a dense, intelligent text that requires several readings.

Descriptive list of adjectives.

7

L'intelligence artificielle forte reste un horizon lointain.

Strong AI remains a distant horizon.

Technical/Scientific nuance.

8

Par une manœuvre intelligente, il a évité le conflit.

Through a smart maneuver, he avoided the conflict.

Prepositional phrase 'par une...'

सामान्य शब्द संयोजन

un enfant intelligent
une solution intelligente
l'intelligence artificielle
un choix intelligent
très intelligent
assez intelligent
brillamment intelligent
un système intelligent
une réponse intelligente
un regard intelligent

अक्सर इससे भ्रम होता है

intelligent vs spirituel

intelligent vs sage

intelligent vs instruit

आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले

intelligent vs

intelligent vs

intelligent vs

intelligent vs

intelligent vs

वाक्य संरचनाएँ

इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें

nuance

Intelligent is more formal than 'malin'.

social

Highly valued in French intellectual circles.

technology

Used for 'smart' devices.

सामान्य गलतियाँ
  • Forgetting the 'e' in 'Elle est intelligente'.
  • Pronouncing the 't' in 'Il est intelligent'.
  • Placing it before the noun: 'Un intelligent homme' (Wrong).
  • Using 'intelligent' when you mean 'well-behaved' (Use 'sage').
  • Forgetting the 's' in the plural: 'Ils sont intelligent' (Wrong).

सुझाव

Agreement

Always check the noun's gender before writing 'intelligent' or 'intelligente'.

Silent T

Keep the 't' silent for men, say it for women. This is a common mistake.

Synonyms

Use 'malin' for street smarts and 'intelligent' for book smarts.

Compliments

Calling a French person 'intelligent' is often better than calling them 'beau/belle'.

Tech

Use it for 'smart' devices to sound modern and natural.

Adverbs

Use 'intelligemment' to vary your sentence structure in essays.

Liaison

Listen for 'Il est_intelligent' where the 't' of 'est' links to the 'i'.

Emphasis

Add 'très' before it to sound more enthusiastic.

Cognate

Leverage the fact that it's the same word as in English to build confidence.

Variety

Don't use it every time; try 'brillant' or 'perspicace' for variety.

याद करें

शब्द की उत्पत्ति

Latin

सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ

The 'Baccalauréat' exam tests this quality.

The 'French Tech' movement and smart cities.

Descartes and the emphasis on logic.

असल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें

वास्तविक संदर्भ

बातचीत की शुरुआत

"Est-ce que tu penses que les animaux sont intelligents ?"

"Qui est la personne la plus intelligente que tu connaisses ?"

"Est-ce que l'intelligence artificielle te fait peur ?"

"Est-ce qu'il est plus important d'être intelligent ou travailleur ?"

"Quel est le choix le plus intelligent que tu as fait ?"

डायरी विषय

Décris une personne intelligente que tu admires.

Qu'est-ce que l'intelligence pour toi ?

Raconte une fois où tu as pris une décision intelligente.

Est-ce que les notes à l'école montrent si on est intelligent ?

Imagine une ville intelligente du futur.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Yes, they are cognates and share the same basic meaning of having mental capacity. However, French requires gender agreement.

Only in the feminine form (intelligente) or if there is a liaison with a following vowel.

It almost always goes after the noun: 'un enfant intelligent'.

It is 'intelligente'. You add an 'e' to the end.

The adverb is 'intelligemment'.

Yes, it is very common to describe pets or wild animals as intelligent.

Yes, it is a very high compliment in French culture.

The most common opposites are 'bête' or 'stupide'.

Use 'plus intelligent que'.

Yes, like 'un téléphone intelligent' or 'l'intelligence artificielle'.

खुद को परखो 180 सवाल

/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

संबंधित सामग्री

यह शब्द अन्य भाषाओं में

क्या यह मददगार था?
अभी तक कोई टिप्पणी नहीं। अपने विचार साझा करने वाले पहले व्यक्ति बनें!