generic

\dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\

/\dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\/ adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“generic” is an uncommon French word, ranked #63,787 in French word frequency and used as an adjective.

#63,787
frequency rank, French
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Générique.

Key facts for generic
PropertyValue
Headwordgeneric
LanguageFrench
Part of speechAdjective
IPA\dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\
Letters7
Frequency rank#63,787
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “generic” sits in French frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). generic lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The French entry for generic is 7 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\. Corpus data places it at rank #63,787 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for generic in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable French rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct French form is generic, spelled G-E-N-E-R-I-C.

Definition

  1. 1
    Générique.
  2. 2
    Générique, sans marque.
  3. 3
    Générique, typé à la compilation.
  4. 4
    Relatif à un gène.

Antonyms

specific

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "generic"?
"generic" is spelled G-E-N-E-R-I-C. The IPA pronunciation is \dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\.
What does "generic" mean?
As an adjective, "generic" means: Générique.
How do you pronounce "generic"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "generic" is \dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "generic" come from?
"generic" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “generic”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct French spelling is G-E-N-E-R-I-C - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \dʒɪˈnɛɹ.ɪk\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list