geni

Geni is a term that can refer to multiple things. In internet culture, it is best known as the name of Geni.com, a genealogy website that focuses on collaborative family trees. In linguistics and folklore, gen(i/e) has related forms; the plural of the word 'genie' in English is usually 'genies,' while some traditions use 'genii' (a Latin plural). In Italian, 'geni' is the plural of 'genio' (genius). Because of these different uses, 'geni' can be encountered in varied contexts.

Geni.com, the genealogy platform, was launched in the mid-2000s to enable users to build a shared World Family Tree and invite relatives to contribute. It emphasizes collaboration, profile pages for ancestors, media attachments, and connections to broader genealogical tools. In 2012, Geni was acquired by MyHeritage, and its capabilities were integrated into the MyHeritage ecosystem, complementing their DNA testing and family-tree features. The standalone Geni site remains accessible, with a focus on collaborative tree-building, while the broader MyHeritage network provides additional genealogy tools, global search, and DNA matching.

Other uses and notes: The term 'geni' has varied meanings depending on language and discipline. In folklore and popular culture, related words like 'genie' or 'jinni' refer to supernatural beings, with English plurals 'genies' or Latin-derived 'genii.' In Italian, 'geni' simply denotes the plural of 'genio' (genius). When encountered, the intended meaning typically depends on context, such as whether the discussion concerns web services, linguistics, or mythology.