brûlant
/bʁy.lɑ̃/
The English phrase "burning" (as an adjective) is translated into French as brûlant.
brûlant is used to describe something that is physically hot or on fire. It is also used metaphorically to describe intense emotions or a high fever.
Meaning: on fire (adj)
Which one should you use?
While brûlant describes something that is physically hot or on fire, it is also used metaphorically to describe intense emotions or fever.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use the feminine form brûlante for feminine nouns, the masculine plural form brûlants for masculine plural nouns and the feminine plural form brûlantes for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/bʁy.lɑ̃/
Did you know?
- In French literature, a 'burning' sun is often described as un soleil de plomb, which literally translates to a 'sun of lead' to describe its heavy, oppressive heat.
- The expression brûler les étapes means to skip steps or rush through a process, which is quite different from the English 'burning a bridge'.
- While 'burning' in English often describes a 'burning desire', French speakers might instead use un désir ardent, where ardent implies a more poetic, glowing heat.
Examples in context
- Le sable est brûlant.The sand is burning hot.This sentence shows how to describe sand that is burning hot using brûlant.Tatoeba #11082102 by Aiji, translation #3692934 by andrewgtreantos
- J'ai le cœur brûlant.I've got a burning heart.This sentence uses brûlant to describe a heart filled with intense emotion.Tatoeba #13414343 by sacredceltic, translation #13414342 by sacredceltic
- Il était brûlant de fièvre.He was burning with fever.This sentence illustrates the use of brûlant to describe someone burning with fever.Tatoeba #11513988 by Aiji, translation #287078 by CM
- Les manifestations ont enflammé la villeThe protests have set the city on fire
- Les charbons incandescents brillaient dans la nuitThe incandescent coals were glowing in the night
- Son amour ardent pour la musique se ressent dans chaque noteHis burning love for music is felt in every note
- La combustion complète du bois le carboniseThe complete combustion of wood carbonizes it
- Il bouillait de colère devant tant d'injusticeHe was burning with anger in the face of such injustice
- Je brûle d'envie de partir en vacancesI am burning with desire to go on vacation
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are in the kitchen with a hot pot.
- NathanAttention, le plat est encore brûlant !Careful, the dish is still burning hot!
- LéaMerci Nathan, je vais utiliser des gants.Thanks Nathan, I'll use gloves.
- NathanC'est mieux, car c'est vraiment brûlant.That's better, because it's really burning.
- LéaC'est bon, Léa a maintenant le plat.It's okay, Léa has the dish now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry brûlant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
