éteindre
/e.tɛ̃dʁ/
To turn off in French is éteindre.
The verb éteindre is used when you want to switch off electronic devices, lights or fires.
Meaning: switch off appliance or light (verb)
Which one should you use?
The antonym of éteindre is allumer, which means to turn on or to light.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, the words fermer and fermez can be used to mean turn off.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of éteindre is éteint, meaning turned off or extinguished.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.tɛ̃dʁ/. It has 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use fermer (to close) when they mean to turn off lights or electronics. Instead, you should use éteindre.
Did you know?
- If a person is described as éteint, it does not mean they are switched off, but that they lack energy or look pale and lifeless.
- In some contexts, éteindre can be used metaphorically to describe silencing someone or suppressing a feeling.
- The French verb éteindre shares a direct ancestor with the English word 'extinguish', as both stem from the Latin 'extinguere'.
Examples in context
- Tu peux éteindre la télé.You can turn off the TV.This sentence shows how to use éteindre to talk about turning off the TV.Tatoeba #8954332 by Aiji, translation #6531859 by CK
- Puis-je éteindre la télé ?Can I turn off the TV?This sentence shows how to use éteindre to ask if you can turn off the TV.Tatoeba #12744 by sysko, translation #39139 by CK
- Puis-je éteindre la lumière ?May I turn off the light?This sentence shows how to use éteindre to ask if you can turn off the light.Tatoeba #450037 by sacredceltic, translation #3655935 by AlanF_US
- Fermez vos téléphonesTurn off your phones
- Bien sûr, je vais l'éteindre immédiatement.Of course, I will turn it off immediately.
- Éteins ça, s'il te plaît.Turn that off, please.
- 67 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are leaving a room together.
- ChloéN'oublie pas d'éteindre la lampe, Gabriel.Don't forget to turn off the lamp, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe m'en occupe tout de suite.I'll take care of it right away.
- ChloéMerci, Chloé apprécie ton aide.Thanks, Chloé appreciates your help.
- GabrielC'est bon, je viens d'éteindre.It's done, I just turned it off.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn off” translations and entries éteindre, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries éteindre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
