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intello

intellectual (person)

noun an-tel-LOH Rare
People & Society Professions

Also means

nerd

Usage Note

Intello is an informal, mildly pejorative clipping of intellectuel used especially among young speakers — c'est un vrai intello means 'he's a total nerd/intellectual'. It can be affectionate or dismissive depending on tone. The full form intellectuel/intellectuelle is used in serious contexts. Gender agreement follows the person: une intello for a woman.

Examples

"À l'école, on le traitait d'intello."

Natural Translation

At school, they called him a nerd.

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