intéressant

Intéressant is a French adjective used to describe something that arouses interest or is worthy of attention. It covers a broad range of subjects, including books, films, ideas, people, and events, and signals that they have intellectual or practical value rather than being merely entertaining. The word agrees with the noun it modifies: intéressant (masc. sg.), intéressante (fem. sg.), intéressants (masc. pl.), intéressantes (fem. pl.).

Etymology and forms: Intéressant derives from the verb intéresser, meaning “to interest.” This verb comes from Old French interessier and ultimately from Latin interesse, meaning “to be between, to concern,” from inter- “between” + esse “to be.” The -ant suffix converts the verb into an adjective (present participle). The related noun is intérêt, meaning “interest” (in the sense of concern or financial interest).

Usage notes: In ordinary speech, intéressant is typically neutral, conveying genuine appraisal of value or relevance. It can appear as part of a longer assessment, e.g., “un sujet intéressant mais complexe.” While generally positive, it can be used ironically in some contexts. The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes (intéressant, intéressante, intéressants, intéressantes).

Examples:

- Ce livre est intéressant. (This book is interesting.)

- Le conférencier a présenté des idées intéressantes. (The speaker presented interesting ideas.)

- Il est intéressant de noter ces résultats. (It is interesting to note these results.)

Related terms include captivant, fascinant, and notable, which emphasize stronger or different nuances of appeal. In translation, intÉressant commonly maps to English “interesting,” while cognates exist in other languages (e.g., interessant in German, interesante in Spanish).