bénin

benign

adjective beh-NAN Rare

Origin: Latin benignus (well-born, kind)

Also means

mild

Usage Note

Bénin (feminine bénigne) describes something harmless or mild — a tumeur bénigne (benign tumour) or a rhume bénin (mild cold). Note the irregular feminine: the g resurfaces in bénigne, making it one of the few adjectives where masculine and feminine sound quite different. Do not confuse with the West African country le Bénin.

Examples

"Le médecin a confirmé que la tumeur était bénigne."

Natural Translation

The doctor confirmed that the tumour was benign.

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