intellect
intellect, mind
noun an-tel-EKT Rare
Origin: Latin intellectus, understanding
Usage Note
Intellect refers to the faculty of reasoning and understanding, and tends to feel more formal or philosophical than intelligence. You might encounter it in academic or literary contexts. The derived adjective intellectuel (intellectual) is far more frequent in everyday speech and can also function as a noun for an intellectual person.
Examples
"Il possède un intellect remarquable."
Natural Translation
He possesses a remarkable intellect.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic