genien

Genien is the plural form of the German noun Genie. The word encompasses two principal senses that are distinguished by context: a genie, meaning a supernatural being from folklore and myth, and a genius, meaning an exceptionally talented person. In German, both senses use the same singular Genie, with Genien as the standard plural. The term traces to the French génie and ultimately to Latin genius, reflecting the shift from a divine or magical being to a person of extraordinary intellect in modern usage.

In folklore and literary contexts, Genien refers to multiple magical djinns or spirits. In everyday language, the sense intended is usually clear from context; the word is capitalized as a noun, per German orthography. For the sense of talent, Genie denotes a person with extraordinary intellectual or creative gifts; the plural Genien can be used when speaking of several such individuals, though Genies is also attested as a loanword plural in contemporary German writing.

Dictionaries generally list Genien as the standard plural for Genie; Genies is seen mainly in more recent or informal uses influenced by English. The dual meaning means the word appears in discussions of folklore, literature, science, and popular culture.

See also: Genie (mythology); Genie (talent).