s'enfuir
/s‿ɑ̃.fɥiʁ/
To run away in French is s'enfuir.
The verb s'enfuir is used when someone flees by running, specifically to escape from a person or a situation. It is distinct from the verb courir, which only describes the physical act of running.
Meaning: to flee by running (verb)
Which one should you use?
While courir means the physical act of running, s'enfuir specifically implies running away to flee or escape. For a different nuance, the phrase filer à l'anglaise refers to making a quick getaway or leaving a place without saying goodbye.
How does it change in a sentence?
Additionally, when using the past tense to say someone ran away, this verb uses the auxiliary être (e.g., s'est enfui).
How do you pronounce it?
/s‿ɑ̃.fɥiʁ/
Did you know?
- If you want to describe a child running away from home, you might use se sauver instead of s'enfuir. While s'enfuir sounds like escaping a crime or a trap, se sauver is a very common, slightly more colloquial way to describe running off.
- If you are running away in a way that is very fast and disorganized, you might use the expression prendre la poudre d'escampte. This is an old-fashioned, colorful way to say you are making a hasty retreat.
- While s'enfuir is the standard way to flee, you might hear a character in a movie yell Vite ! Fuyez ! to tell people to flee. This comes from the same root as 'fugitive' in English.
Examples in context
- Tom essaya de s'enfuir.Tom tried to run away.This sentence shows the use of s'enfuir in the context of an attempt.Tatoeba #5927017 by Aiji, translation #3419781 by CK
- Ne le laissez pas s'enfuir.Don't let him run away.This sentence demonstrates a command not to let someone s'enfuir.Tatoeba #10950338 by lbdx, translation #3913441 by CH
- As-tu vu quelqu'un s'enfuir ?Did you see anyone run away?This sentence is useful for asking if someone witnessed someone s'enfuir.Tatoeba #129206 by sysko, translation #276171 by CK
- Il s'est enfui après avoir commis le crime.He ran away after committing the crime.
- Les voleurs ont pris la fuite avant l'arrivée de la police.The thieves ran away before the police arrived.
- Les prisonniers se sont échappés pendant la nuit.The prisoners escaped during the night.
- Ils ont filé à l'anglaise avant la fin de la réunion.They ran away without saying goodbye before the end of the meeting.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are watching a small dog in the park.
- LucasRegarde, le chien va s'enfuir !Look, the dog is going to run away!
- EmmaOh non, il court trop vite.Oh no, he is running too fast.
- LucasIl essaie de s'enfuir vers la forêt.He is trying to run away toward the forest.
- EmmaDépêche-toi de l'attraper, Lucas !Hurry up and catch him, Lucas!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “run away” translations and entries s'enfuir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
