en flammes
The English phrase ablaze can be translated into French as en flammes.
en flammes is used as an adjective to describe something that is on fire.
Meaning: on fire (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en flammes is a prepositional phrase where en means in and flammes means flames.
Which one should you use?
While en flammes is the standard way to describe something currently burning, embrasé is more literary and can also describe a sky or a landscape glowing with light or color.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase en flammes is invariable. It does not change its form to agree with the gender or number of the noun it describes.
Did you know?
- The word flamme is often used as a poetic synonym for a lover, such as in the phrase ma flamme meaning 'my flame'.
- The word embrasé comes from the noun braise, referring to glowing embers or coals.
- In French, the expression être en flammes can be used metaphorically to describe someone consumed by intense passion or desire.
Examples in context
- La maison était en flammes quand le camion de pompiers est arrivé.The house was ablaze when the fire engine arrived.This sentence shows how to use en flammes to describe a house during a fire arrival.Tatoeba #12437766 by lbdx, translation #268168 by sundown
- La maison était en flammes.The house was ablaze.This sentence is a simple way to state that a house was en flammes.Tatoeba #744372 by Christiane, translation #49333 by CM
- La forêt est en flammesThe forest is ablaze
- La maison est en feuThe house is ablaze
- Les papiers étaient en train de brûler dans la cheminéeThe papers were ablaze in the fireplace
- Le parc était en plein incendieThe park was ablaze
- La cité était en flammes, une image de destruction et de chaosThe city was ablaze, an image of destruction and chaos
- Tu ne devineras jamais, cet immeuble était en feu hier soirYou won't believe it, that building was ablaze last night
- J'étais en train de cuisiner quand la poêle a soudainement pris feuI was cooking when the pan suddenly caught fire
- Le vieux hangar est en flammes.The old warehouse is on fire.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are looking at a building from a distance.
- NathanRegarde, le bâtiment est en flammes !Look, the building is on fire!
- LéaOh non, c'est terrible.Oh no, that is terrible.
- NathanIl faut appeler les pompiers.We must call the firefighters.
- LéaJe m'en occupe tout de suite.I'll take care of it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ablaze” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
