Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

genteel

/d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.64 in modern English

Syllables: gen-teel
IPA: /d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/

8

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.

adj

Polite and well-mannered.

adj

Stylish or elegant.

adj

Example Sentences

"Genteel America was handicapped by meagerness of soul, thinness of temper, paucity of talent."
"Indeed I would advise every ſingle lady, if poſſible, to attend her inamorato, pretty frequently at the card table; and however genteel and agreeable his behaviour should be to herſelf, if he is haſty or pettiſh with any one else in company, she may depend on the ſame fate when once the knot is tied."

Etymology

Borrowed from French gentil (“gentile”), from Latin gentīlis (“of or belonging to the same people or nation”), from gēns (“clan; tribe; people, family”) + adjective suffix -īlis (“-ile”). Doublet of gentle, gentile, and jaunty. See also gens, gender, genus, and generation.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: *ǵenh₁-, gentil, gentilis

Inflected Forms

more genteel (comparative) most genteel (superlative)

Derived Forms

genteelish genteelism genteelize genteelly genteelness pseudogenteel ultragenteel ungenteel

Phrases

genteel business genteel lady shabby-genteel

Frequently Paired Words

gentleman

Synonyms

civilized civilised cultivated cultured polite

Rhymes With

feel real deal we'll steel appeal wheel meal ideal reveal steal seal

Questions

How do you pronounce genteel?: The recorded pronunciation is /d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/.
What does genteel mean?: Affectedly proper or refined; somewhat prudish refinement; excessively polite.
Where does genteel come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce genteel

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “genteel”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/d͡ʒɛnˈtiːl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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