Make Your Point: CONGENIAL

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pronounce CONGENIAL:

kun JEE nee ull

connect this word to others:

As we check out the happy word congenial, let's recall two closely related terms:

1. Someone or something kind, warm, friendly, and cheerful is gen__l.

2. A guiding spirit that watches over a particular place, or more loosely, the general spirit of a place, is a gen__s l__i (two words).

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)

definition:

"Congenial" has Latin bits that literally mean "[having been] born together," in the sense of "close and similar, like family members."

In English, "congenial" first meant "kindred, sympathetic;" we'd talk about people being congenial souls, or having congenial tastes, meaning they're very similar and get along easily.

Over time, the meaning of "congenial" shifted just a little, and today, congenial things and people are the kind that suit you and make you happy, because they're perfect for your own specific needs or tastes.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Adjective: "his congenial roommates;" "We moved to a place more congenial to us."

Other forms:

The noun is "congeniality," and the adverb is "congenially."

how to use it:

Pick the common, positive, formal word "congenial" to describe places, settings, schedules, weather, and even companions that suit you perfectly and make you feel happy and harmonious.

You could describe something in your surroundings as congenial: "The congenial sound of the rain on the tin roof lulled us to sleep;" "I like silence, but I find rain even more congenial."

Or you could say something is congenial to you: "The sound of rain is congenial to me."

examples:

"Mr. Maccioni envisioned a bistro elevated to haute cuisine standards, with a relaxed Italian style more congenial to the up and comers of his own generation."
— William Grimes, New York Times, 28 April 2020

"[Uber's] business model is far more convenient and congenial to consumers than that of the taxi companies."
— Will Oremus, Slate, 8 January 2016

has this page helped you understand "congenial"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "congenial" without saying "ideal" or "enjoyable."

try it out:

In Maryrose Wood's novel The Unseen Guest, the characters have gathered in a cozy, comfortable cave, where "the congenial thumping of the wolf's tail against the stone floor echoed in hidden caverns far below." That sound might be unsettling to us, but to the characters, it's congenial: pleasant, pleasing, preferred, even comforting and familiar.

Similarly, I find the steady thrum and occasional pock-pock-pock of my ice maker congenial. It might get on your nerves, but I find it soothing, and I associate it with peaceful productivity and delicious sodas.

With these examples in mind, talk about a sound (or a sight, smell, taste, or feel) that's congenial to you, but not to everyone. What good feelings or memories does it evoke?

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is Slide Into The Title: Elton John Edition!

Have you noticed how pop songs tend to use rhyme, rhythm, and semantics to guide you straight into singing the correct title, even if you’ve never heard it before? I love that, how the title clicks into place. See if you can slide into a complete title, given a snippet of lyrics.

You can check out some examples here.

Try this one today:

"I ain't gonna die, I ain't gonna cry,
I won't wear my heart out on my sleeve.
You can take the car, but you won't break my heart,
Oh and darlin', turn the lights out when ___ _____."

To see the answer, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. The opposite of CONGENIAL is UNCONGENIAL, which means

A. REVERENT or just POLITE.
B. BELLIGERENT or just RUDE.
C. ABHORRENT or just UNPLEASANT.

2. The biologist E. O. Wilson called for humanity to turn half the planet into a nature preserve, and he expressed optimism about our ability to do it. "High tech is producing new products and ways of living that are congenial _____ setting aside more space for the rest of life," he told the New York Times.

A. of
B. to
C. from

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
On vocabulary...
  36 ways to study words.
  Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
  How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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