genie

Genie is a supernatural being from Middle Eastern folklore, usually considered a jinn. The English term genie comes from the French génie, which traces back to Latin genius, and in popular culture refers to a jinn that is confined in a lamp or bottle and released to grant wishes.

In Islamic theology, jinn are created by God from smokeless fire and possess free will, meaning they can choose good or evil. They inhabit a parallel realm alongside humans and angels, and they may interact with people in various ways—as helpers, tricksters, or threats.

In classic Arabian Nights writings, genies are powerful beings that may grant wishes, sometimes under strict conditions. They include subtypes such as the Ifrit and the Marid and appear in stories where cleverness or caution is tested. The motif centers on desire, power, and moral consequence.

In modern popular culture, genies often appear in novels, films, and games, with a wide range of interpretations. Disney's portrayal of the Genie's character in Aladdin (1992) helped standardize a witty, benevolent yet formidable figure, while other works present more dangerous or morally ambiguous genies.

See also jinn and djinn; Ifrit; Marid. The term genie is used variably, but in outline they remain part of a broad tradition of supernatural beings linked to questions of power, fate, and human desire.