fleurir
/flœ.ʁiʁ/
In French, 'blossom' is translated as fleurir.
The verb fleurir is used to describe the biological process of a plant or tree producing flowers. If you want to talk about the noun 'flower' itself, you should use fleur.
Meaning: flowers on trees (noun)
Which one should you use?
While fleurir refers specifically to the biological process of a plant producing flowers, s'épanouir is used metaphorically for a person reaching their potential or a business flourishing. If you are referring to the act of blossoming or a blossomed state in a more formal context, you can use the noun éclosion.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb fleurir conjugates in the present indicative as fleurit for the third-person singular and fleurissent for the third-person plural. The present participle is fleurissant. As a noun, fleur is feminine, appearing as la fleur for 'the flower'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of fleurir is /flœ.ʁiʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the term éclosion is used for the 'blossoming' of a flower, but it is also the technical word for a chick 'hatching' from an egg.
- The French word fleur is the root of the English word 'flourish'. Both words trace their origins back to the Latin word for a flower, linking the idea of blooming with the idea of thriving.
- French uses the verb fleurir to describe things that are not plants, such as a city where a particular art form or a specific type of business has started to 'blossom' and spread.
Examples in context
- Elle a regardé les pommiers fleurir.She watched the apple trees burst into blossom.This sentence shows the use of fleurir regarding fruit trees.Tatoeba #1122934 by zimbadoo, translation #312425 by sundown
- Les fleurs fleurissent au printempsThe flowers bloom in spring
- L'éclosion des fleurs est un spectacle magnifiqueThe blossoming of the flowers is a magnificent spectacle
- Les belles fleurs éclosentThe beautiful flowers are blossoming
- J'adore voir les arbres en fleursI love seeing the trees in bloom
- Cette plante ne cesse de fleurirThis plant keeps on blooming
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are walking in a park during spring.
- HugoRegarde Emma, les arbres vont fleurir !Look Emma, the trees are going to blossom!
- EmmaC'est vrai, c'est magnifique.It's true, it's magnificent.
- HugoJ'adore quand tout commence à fleurir.I love it when everything starts to blossom.
- EmmaMoi aussi, Hugo.Me too, Hugo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fleurir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
