esprituel

Esprituel is a French adjective meaning witty, clever, and urbane in manner, often with a subtle or elegant line of humor. The noun esprit means mind or wit, and esprituel derives from this root plus the adjectival suffix -uel; the feminine form is esprituelle. In standard French, esprituel describes humor or discourse marked by refined intelligence and quick wordplay, frequently in literary, salon, or rhetorical contexts.

In English-language contexts, esprituel is borrowed to convey a similar sense of sophisticated wit, though it remains rare and primarily of interest to scholars of French literature or translation. When used in English, it typically characterizes dialogue, prose, or satire that exhibits polished irony, clever turns of phrase, or a light, humane intelligence rather than broad slapstick humor.

The term sits alongside related notions such as urbane wit, drollery, or esprit. It is distinct from the broader sense of whimsy or humor and from the everyday use of wit; it emphasizes cultivated cleverness. The feminine form is esprituelle in French.

See also: esprit, esprit de l'escalier.