Skip to content

magnétisme

magnetism

noun man-yeh-TEEZ-muh Rare

Origin: From Greek 'Magnesia', a region of Thessaly known for lodestone.

Also means

personal charisma

Usage Note

Magnétisme covers both the physical phenomenon (attraction between magnetic poles) and the figurative sense of a compelling personal presence. Magnétisme animal was the term used by Franz Mesmer for what we now call mesmerism or hypnosis — an important moment in French cultural history. The adjective is magnétique.

Examples

"Son magnétisme naturel attire tout le monde."

Natural Translation

His natural magnetism attracts everyone.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic