Gentil (or its feminine form, gentille) is the most common way to say "kind" in French. But there are several other options.

As you learn French, you'll want to express different shades of meaning, and knowing these alternatives for "kind" will certainly help!

Let's look at 9 common and sometimes less common ways to say "kind" in French!

The standard 'kind' or 'nice' – gentil/gentille

The standard 'kind' or 'nice' – gentil/gentille

Gentil(le) is the most common and versatile adjective in French to describe someone or something as 'kind' or 'nice'.

Like many French adjectives, gentil(le) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Here are its forms: gentil - masculine singular (e.g., un homme gentil); gentille - feminine singular (e.g., une femme gentille); gentils - masculine plural (e.g., des hommes gentils); gentilles - feminine plural (e.g., des femmes gentilles).

This adjective is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a safe and appropriate choice for almost any situation when you want to express kindness or pleasantness.

While primarily meaning 'kind' or 'nice', gentil(le) can also convey other related ideas depending on the context, such as 'well-behaved' (especially for children or animals) or 'gentle'.

For example, if you say Il est gentil avec les enfants, it means 'He is kind with children'. But Ce chien est très gentil could mean 'This dog is very well-behaved' or 'This dog is gentle'.

One of the most common ways you'll hear gentil(le) is in the expression C'est gentil de ta part or C'est gentil de votre part, which translates to 'That's kind of you' or 'It's nice of you'.

Gentil(le) typically precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., une gentille fille - a nice girl), which is less common for French adjectives that usually follow the noun. However, it can also follow, especially in predicative use (e.g., Elle est gentille - She is kind).

While gentil(le) is standard, another common word for 'nice' or 'friendly' is sympa (short for sympathique). Sympa is generally more informal and often implies a 'cool' or 'pleasant' personality, whereas gentil(le) focuses more on inherent kindness.

Being described as gentil(le) is generally a positive attribute in French culture, signifying someone who is considerate, pleasant, and good-natured. It's a fundamental compliment.

💡 * Elle est très gentille avec tout le monde. (She is very kind with everyone.)

• C'est un gentil garçon. (He is a nice boy.)
• Les enfants sont très gentils aujourd'hui. (The children are very well-behaved today.)
• C'est gentil de m'avoir aidé. (It's kind of you to have helped me.)
• J'ai rencontré une gentille dame. (I met a kind lady.)

The 'pleasant' or 'likeable' – aimable

The “pleasant” or “likeable” – aimable

When you want to describe someone as pleasant, kind, or likeable in French, the adjective aimable is your go-to word. It's a versatile term that captures a generally agreeable disposition.

Unlike ami(e) which focuses on friendship, aimable describes a quality. It can apply to both people and, less commonly, to things or situations that are agreeable, though its primary use is for character.

The core meaning of aimable suggests someone who is easy to get along with, gentle, and generally pleasant in their interactions. It implies a certain warmth and approachability.

You'll often hear it used in phrases like une personne aimable (a pleasant person) or un sourire aimable (a kind smile). It's perfect for complimenting someone's demeanor without implying deep affection.

It's important to note that while aimable shares a root with the verb aimer (to love/like), it doesn't carry the strong romantic or deep affectionate sense of aimer. Instead, it's about being generally agreeable and easy to be fond of.

Being described as aimable in French society is a positive attribute, indicating good manners and a welcoming personality that makes social interactions smoother and more enjoyable.

💡 * C'est une personne très aimable. (She is a very pleasant person.)

• Il a toujours un mot aimable pour tout le monde. (He always has a kind word for everyone.)
• Votre accueil a été très aimable. (Your welcome was very kind/pleasant.)
• Elle est aimable, mais je ne la connais pas bien. (She is likeable, but I don't know her well.)
• Le service client était aimable et efficace. (The customer service was pleasant and efficient.)

The 'benevolent' or 'well-meaning' – bienveillant/bienveillante

The French adjective bienveillant (masculine) or bienveillante (feminine) translates to 'benevolent,' 'well-meaning,' 'kind,' or 'caring.' It describes a person or an action driven by good intentions and a desire to do good.

This word is a beautiful compound of bien (well, good) and veillant (watching, caring), literally meaning 'well-watching' or 'well-caring,' which perfectly encapsulates its meaning of active goodwill.

Bienveillant describes someone who has good intentions, shows kindness, and genuinely wishes well for others. It can refer to a person's character, an attitude, a gaze, or even a gesture.

Like most French adjectives, bienveillant must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: un homme bienveillant (a benevolent man), une femme bienveillante (a benevolent woman), des amis bienveillants (benevolent friends - masculine plural or mixed group), des amies bienveillantes (benevolent friends - feminine plural).

You'll often hear it used to describe a regard bienveillant (a benevolent or kind gaze), une attitude bienveillante (a caring or kind attitude), or un geste bienveillant (a kind gesture).

While similar to gentil (nice) or aimable (friendly), bienveillant carries a deeper sense of active good will, empathy, and genuine concern for others' well-being, often implying a protective or supportive quality.

💡 *Il a toujours eu un regard bienveillant envers ses élèves. (He always had a benevolent gaze towards his students.)
*Elle est connue pour son attitude bienveillante. (She is known for her caring attitude.)
*Le médecin a donné des conseils bienveillants. (The doctor gave well-meaning advice.)
*Nous avons besoin de leaders bienveillants pour notre communauté. (We need benevolent leaders for our community.)
*Son sourire bienveillant m'a rassuré. (Her kind smile reassured me.)

The 'warm' or 'friendly' – chaleureux/chaleureuse

The adjectives chaleureux (masculine singular) and chaleureuse (feminine singular) directly translate to 'warm' or 'friendly' in English. They are used to describe something or someone that evokes a feeling of warmth, comfort, and kindness.

Like all French adjectives, chaleureux/chaleureuse must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. The masculine plural is chaleureux (no change), and the feminine plural is chaleureuses (adding an 's').

These adjectives are frequently used to describe people, places, or atmospheres. A 'personne chaleureuse' is a warm and welcoming individual, while an 'ambiance chaleureuse' refers to a cozy and friendly atmosphere. It can also describe a warm welcome ('un accueil chaleureux').

💡 * Il est très chaleureux avec tout le monde. (He is very warm/friendly with everyone.)

• Nous avons reçu un accueil chaleureux à notre arrivée. (We received a warm welcome upon our arrival.)
• C'est une maison très chaleureuse et accueillante. (It's a very warm and welcoming house.)
• Elle a une personnalité chaleureuse. (She has a warm personality.)
• L'ambiance de la soirée était très chaleureuse. (The atmosphere of the evening was very friendly/warm.)

The 'compassionate' – compatissant/compatissante

The “compassionate” – compatissant/compatissante

Compatissant (masculine) and compatissante (feminine) are French adjectives meaning “compassionate,” “sympathetic,” or “pitying.”

Like many French adjectives, compatissant must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The feminine form adds an 'e' at the end, and both forms can be pluralized by adding 's' (compatissants, compatissantes).

This adjective describes someone who shows compassion or sympathy towards others, particularly those suffering or in distress. It often implies a deep understanding and a desire to alleviate suffering.

It's frequently used in contexts describing emotional responses or character traits. For example, 'être compatissant envers quelqu'un' means 'to be compassionate towards someone.'

While not overly formal, compatissant is a standard, respectful term. It's appropriate for describing a genuine human quality in most situations, conveying empathy and understanding.

💡 * Elle est très compatissante envers les animaux maltraités. (She is very compassionate towards mistreated animals.)

• Un regard compatissant peut apporter beaucoup de réconfort. (A compassionate look can bring a lot of comfort.)
• Il a toujours été compatissant avec ses employés. (He has always been compassionate with his employees.)
• Soyons compatissants les uns envers les autres. (Let's be compassionate towards one another.)

The 'humane' – humain/humaine

In French, humain (masculine singular) and humaine (feminine singular) are versatile words that can function as both an adjective meaning 'humane' or 'human,' and a noun meaning 'human being.'

When used as an adjective, humain/humaine often translates to 'humane' or 'human.' It describes qualities associated with kindness, compassion, and the fundamental nature of people. For instance, un traitement humain means 'humane treatment,' emphasizing ethical conduct.

As a noun, un humain (a human male) or une humaine (a human female) directly refers to a 'human being' or 'person.' This usage is common when discussing the species or individuals within it, such as in philosophical or scientific contexts.

Beyond individual usage, humain/humaine is central to expressions like les droits humains ('human rights') or la condition humaine ('the human condition'). Remember that, as with all French adjectives and nouns, humain must agree in gender and number with the word it modifies.

💡 * Il faut être plus humain envers les animaux. (One must be more humane towards animals.)

• Chaque être humain a droit au respect. (Every human being has a right to respect.)
• C'est une décision très humaine. (It's a very humane decision.)
• Nous sommes tous des humains. (We are all humans.)
• La nature humaine est complexe. (Human nature is complex.)

The 'gentle' – doux/douce

The adjective doux (masculine) and douce (feminine) generally translates to 'gentle' or 'soft' in English. It's a versatile word used to describe a wide range of qualities, from physical sensations to personalities.

Like most French adjectives, doux/douce agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The masculine singular form is doux, the feminine singular is douce. For plural forms, you'll use doux (masculine plural) and douces (feminine plural).

While 'gentle' and 'soft' are primary meanings, doux/douce can also mean 'sweet' (for flavors, sounds, or temperament), 'mild' (for weather), or even 'smooth' (for textures). Its exact meaning often depends on the context.

💡 * Il a une voix douce. (He has a gentle/soft voice.)

• Cette couverture est très douce. (This blanket is very soft.)
• C'est un homme doux et patient. (He is a gentle and patient man.)
• Le temps est doux aujourd'hui. (The weather is mild today.)
• Elle aime les desserts doux. (She likes sweet desserts.)

The 'generous' – généreux/généreuse

The 'generous' – généreux/généreuse

As an adjective, généreux (masculine singular) or généreuse (feminine singular) means 'generous'. It describes someone who is willing to give or share freely, or something given in ample quantity.

Like many French adjectives, généreux changes its ending to agree with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. The masculine plural is généreux, and the feminine plural is généreuses.

The corresponding noun for 'generosity' is la générosité. This term is often used to describe the quality or act of being generous.

💡 * Il est très généreux avec son argent et son temps. (He is very generous with his money and his time.)

• Elle est une personne généreuse et toujours prête à aider. (She is a generous person and always ready to help.)
• Nous avons reçu des dons très généreux pour l'association. (We received very generous donations for the association.)
• Mes grands-parents sont des gens généreux. (My grandparents are generous people.)
• Sa générosité est admirable. (His/Her generosity is admirable.)

The 'considerate' – prévenant/prévenante

The French adjective for 'considerate' or 'thoughtful' is prévenant (masculine singular) or prévenante (feminine singular). It describes someone who is kind, attentive, and anticipates the needs of others.

Like most French adjectives, prévenant agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll use prévenant for masculine singular nouns, prévenante for feminine singular, prévenants for masculine plural, and prévenantes for feminine plural.

Beyond a simple translation of 'considerate,' prévenant/prévenante implies someone who is attentive, kind, and anticipates the needs of others. It describes a person who goes out of their way to make things easier or more pleasant for someone else, often showing foresight and care.

This adjective is frequently used to describe a person's character or a specific action. For instance, a 'prévenant' host would make sure all guests are comfortable, or a 'prévenant' gesture would involve an act of kindness without being asked, highlighting thoughtfulness.

💡 *Il est très prévenant avec sa grand-mère. (He is very considerate with his grandmother.)
*Elle a toujours été une amie prévenante. (She has always been a thoughtful friend.)
*C'est un geste très prévenant de sa part. (That's a very considerate gesture on his/her part.)
*Mes voisins sont toujours prévenants et m'aident quand j'en ai besoin. (My neighbors are always considerate and help me when I need it.)
*Merci pour votre appel prévenant. (Thank you for your thoughtful call.)

Are there other ways to say 'kind' in French?

Are there other ways to say “kind” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to express “kind” or “kindness” in French. But the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, from formal expressions to regional idioms and modern slang that convey different shades of 'kindness'.

To explore further, you can do an online search for 'comment dire gentil en ___' or 'synonymes de gentillesse' followed by a specific Francophone country or region to uncover local expressions.

You might discover interesting synonyms for gentil or various phrases that express kindness. Always make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover subtle and beautiful different ways to talk about kindness and compassionate behavior.

And if you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of how to express different facets of kindness or related concepts in French, the WordReference entry for gentil or gentillesse is an excellent starting point!

I hope you found this article helpful in understanding the nuances of expressing 'kindness' in French. Here’s a beautiful thought to conclude, courtesy of André Frossard: La gentillesse est la noblesse de l'intelligence. (Kindness is the nobility of intelligence.)