spirituelle

Spirituelle is the feminine singular form of the French adjective spirituel. It is used to describe things related to spirit, soul, or religious and spiritual life, and it can also convey wit or esprit when referring to a person or remark. The masculine form is spirituel, and spirituelle agrees with the noun it modifies, for example: une vie spirituelle, une pratique spirituelle, une musique spirituelle, une remarque spirituelle.

Etymology and usage: spirituelle derives from the Latin spiritus through Old French and the noun esprit (spirit). In everyday French, spirituel and spirituelle cover both religious or spiritual contexts as well as more secular senses of liveliness, cleverness, or intellectual vitality. The distinction between spiritual and witty senses is usually clear from context, though the latter is less common than the religious or existential sense.

Contexts: in religion and philosophy, spirituelle frequently describes practices, doctrines, or experiences pertaining to the inner life or transcendence, such as vie spirituelle (spiritual life) or doctrine spirituelle. In culture and literature, it may denote themes of contemplation, sacredness, or inner reflection; in a lighter tone, it can describe witty or clever remarks, especially in phrases like une remarque spirituelle.

See also: spirituel (masculine form), esprit, spiritualité.