Usage Note
Henyo is borrowed from Spanish 'genio' and is used both sincerely to describe someone of exceptional intellectual ability and casually as lighthearted praise or sarcasm. It is also the name of the popular Filipino guessing game broadcast on television, giving the word strong cultural recognition beyond its dictionary meaning.
Examples
" Henyo talaga ang kapatid ko. "
Natural Translation
My sibling is really a genius.
Literal Translation
Genius really the sibling my.
" Kilala siya bilang henyo. "
Natural Translation
He/She is known as a genius.
Literal Translation
Known he/she as genius.
" Itinuturing siyang henyo sa matematika, pero umaamin siyang nahihirapan pa rin sa simpleng pagluluto. "
Natural Translation
He is considered a genius in mathematics, but he admits he still struggles with simple cooking.
Literal Translation
Considered he genius in mathematics, but admits he struggling still in simple cooking.
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