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A1 verb #7,000 am häufigsten 9 Min. Lesezeit

atterrir

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Erklärung atterrir in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn atterrir as a basic vocabulary word related to travel and transportation. It is most commonly used when talking about airplanes. You will likely see it in travel brochures, airport signs, or hear it during a flight. At this stage, focus on its literal meaning: an airplane coming down to the ground. You should also recognize that it is a regular -ir verb (2nd group). This means it follows the same pattern as verbs like finir (to finish) or choisir (to choose). For example, in the present tense, you say 'L'avion atterrit'. It is important to remember that it is spelled with two 't's and two 'r's. Even if you don't use it in complex sentences yet, knowing that 'atterrir' means 'to land' will help you understand essential travel announcements. Think of the word terre (land) inside the word to help you remember it. When you are at the airport in France, listen for this word on the speakers. It marks the end of a journey.

At the A2 level, you can start using atterrir in more complete sentences and in different tenses. You should be able to use the passé composé to describe a past trip: 'Nous avons atterri à Paris hier'. Notice that even though it describes movement, it uses the auxiliary avoir. You can also use it to describe birds or insects: 'L'oiseau atterrit sur l'arbre'. At this level, you might also encounter the word in simple stories or news reports about travel. You should be able to distinguish atterrir (to land) from its opposite, décoller (to take off). Practice using prepositions with it, like à for cities and sur for specific surfaces. For instance, 'Le pilote veut atterrir sur la piste'. Understanding the plural forms is also key at this stage, such as 'Les avions atterrissent toutes les cinq minutes'. This helps you master the characteristic '-iss-' sound of second-group French verbs.

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using atterrir in both its literal and more common figurative senses. You might use it to describe 'ending up' somewhere after a long journey or a confusing series of events: 'Après avoir pris trois bus différents, j'ai enfin atterri chez mon ami'. This level also involves understanding the word in more technical or professional contexts, such as news reports about space missions or emergency landings. You should be able to use the conditional and subjunctive moods with this verb. For example, 'Il faudrait que l'avion atterrisse rapidement'. You also begin to see the metaphorical use of 'returning to reality'. If a friend is being unrealistic about a project, you might jokingly say, 'Il est temps d'atterrir !'. This shows you are moving beyond simple definitions and starting to grasp how French speakers use the word to add color and nuance to their speech. You should also be aware of the difference between atterrir and se poser, choosing the latter for a more casual tone.

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At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced command of atterrir. You can use it fluently in complex sentences and understand its role in various registers. You might use it in a business setting to discuss the 'landing' of a project or an idea—making it concrete and actionable. You should also be familiar with related terms like amerrir (landing on water) and alunir (landing on the moon), and know when to use them precisely. At this stage, you can appreciate the word's etymology and how it fits into the larger family of words derived from terre (like terrestre, terrain, terroir). Your ability to use atterrir metaphorically should be quite natural. For instance, you could describe a character in a book 'landing' in a situation that changes their life. You should also be able to identify and correct common spelling and grammar mistakes, such as the use of the wrong auxiliary verb in compound tenses. Your speech should reflect the correct pronunciation of the double 'r' and the distinct endings of the second-group conjugation.

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At the C1 level, your use of atterrir should be sophisticated and context-aware. You can use the verb in literary or highly formal contexts to describe not just physical arrival, but the culmination of intellectual or emotional processes. You might use it in an essay to describe how a complex theory 'lands' or finds its place in contemporary thought. You are fully aware of the stylistic differences between atterrir and its synonyms like aboutir, échouer (in the sense of being washed ashore), or se poser. You can use the verb in idiomatic expressions with ease, such as 'faire atterrir quelqu'un' (to bring someone back to earth/reality). Your understanding of the word includes its historical development and its use in specialized fields like aerospace engineering or meteorology. You can also play with the word's connotations in creative writing, perhaps using the act of landing as a metaphor for stability, death, or the end of an illusion. At this level, the word is a versatile tool in your linguistic arsenal, used with precision and flair.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like mastery of atterrir. You understand all its subtle shades of meaning, including rare or archaic usages. You can use the word in puns, wordplay, and complex metaphors that require a deep cultural and linguistic background. You are familiar with how the word has been used by famous French authors and can discuss its nuances in high-level academic or professional debates. Whether you are discussing the physics of a spacecraft's descent or the psychological 'landing' of a traumatic event, you choose atterrir (or a more specific synonym) with absolute confidence. You can also navigate the most informal slang where atterrir might be used in a very truncated or modified way. Your pronunciation is perfect, including the subtle stress patterns in different sentence structures. For you, atterrir is not just a verb; it is a conceptual anchor that connects the physical world of the 'terre' to the abstract world of human experience and communication.

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atterrir in 30 Sekunden

Atterrir is a second-group French verb meaning 'to land', primarily used for aircraft and birds, but also used figuratively for people arriving somewhere.
It is conjugated like 'finir' and uses the auxiliary 'avoir' in the passé composé, despite being a verb that describes a type of movement.
The word comes from the root 'terre' (land), making it easy to remember. It is the opposite of 'décoller', which means 'to take off'.
In casual French, it is often used to tell someone to 'get real' or to describe ending up in an unexpected job or location.

The French verb atterrir is a fundamental term in the French language, primarily associated with the physical act of coming down to the ground from the air. At its most literal level, it is the action performed by an aircraft, a bird, or even a projectile when it makes contact with the earth. The word is deeply rooted in the noun terre (earth/land), mirroring the English construction of 'landing'. However, the nuances of atterrir extend far beyond the tarmac of an airport. In contemporary French, it is frequently employed in figurative contexts to describe reaching a destination, often unexpectedly, or finally returning to reality after a period of distraction or dreaming.

Aviation Context: This is the primary technical use. Whether it is a commercial Boeing 747, a private Cessna, or a military drone, the moment the wheels touch the runway, the vehicle is said to atterrir. It is the antonym of décoller (to take off).

L'avion de ligne vient d' atterrir sur la piste numéro quatre avec dix minutes d'avance.

Beyond technical flight, atterrir captures the essence of arrival in a broader sense. Imagine a situation where someone has been traveling without a clear plan and eventually finds themselves in a specific city; they might say they 'landed' there. This usage highlights the culmination of a journey. Furthermore, the word is used metaphorically in social and professional settings. If a person finds themselves in a job they didn't specifically train for, or in a strange social situation, atterrir conveys that sense of 'ending up' somewhere. It implies a transition from a state of movement or uncertainty to a state of being grounded or situated.

Figurative Usage: Used to describe someone who finally understands a situation or 'wakes up' to reality. For example, 'Il est temps d'atterrir !' (It's time to come back to earth/reality!).

Après ses vacances de rêve, il a eu du mal à atterrir et à reprendre le travail.

The versatility of atterrir makes it a staple of everyday conversation. It evokes images of stability and the end of a trajectory. In a world that is increasingly mobile, knowing how to describe the moment of arrival—whether physical or mental—is essential. The verb follows the second group conjugation pattern (-ir verbs like finir), making it relatively predictable for learners to master once they understand the root meaning of returning to the terre.

Using atterrir correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical structure as a second-group verb and its typical prepositional companions. Because it describes a movement toward a destination, it is almost always followed by prepositions such as à, sur, or dans. The choice of preposition depends entirely on the nature of the 'ground' being reached. For instance, planes atterrissent sur (land on) a runway, while a person might atterrir à (land in) a specific city or dans (in) a specific situation.

Preposition 'Sur': Used for specific surfaces. 'L'oiseau a atterri sur la branche' (The bird landed on the branch). It emphasizes the point of contact.

Le parachutiste a réussi à atterrir sur la cible avec une précision incroyable.

In the passé composé, atterrir uses the auxiliary verb avoir. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers who might expect être because it involves movement. However, like most verbs of movement that don't belong to the 'Devenir-Revenir' list, avoir is the standard choice. For example: 'Nous avons atterri'. Note that the past participle atterri does not change based on the subject unless there is a preceding direct object, which is rare for this verb.

Preposition 'Dans': Used for locations that are perceived as containers or specific environments. 'Il a atterri dans un fossé' (He landed in a ditch).

Comment as-tu fait pour atterrir dans cette entreprise de haute technologie ?

When using atterrir in the figurative sense of 'ending up', it often takes a slightly ironic or surprised tone. It suggests that the person didn't necessarily intend to be where they are, but the momentum of life brought them there. 'Je ne sais pas comment j'ai atterri ici' is a very common idiomatic way of expressing bewilderment at one's current circumstances. This flexibility allows the verb to move seamlessly from the technical jargon of a pilot to the casual venting of a friend at a party.

You will encounter atterrir in a variety of real-world French environments. The most obvious location is the airport. From the overhead announcements in the terminal to the pilot's address to the passengers, the word is ubiquitous. 'Nous allons bientôt atterrir' (We will soon be landing) is a phrase every traveler to France hears. In these contexts, the word is formal, precise, and reassuring, signaling the safe conclusion of a flight.

News and Media: Journalists use it when reporting on space exploration (e.g., Mars rovers), aviation news, or even sports where a jump is involved, like ski jumping or gymnastics.

La sonde spatiale a réussi à atterrir sur la comète après dix ans de voyage.

In the world of business and administration, atterrir is often heard during debriefings or project planning. It refers to the 'landing' of a project—ensuring that ideas and theories are translated into concrete, grounded results. A manager might tell their team that it's time to 'atterrir' if the discussion has become too abstract or unrealistic. This usage aligns with the English phrase 'bringing it down to earth'. It’s a call for pragmatism and realism in a professional setting.

Everyday Conversations: Used colloquially to describe someone finally showing up to a meeting or a party late, or finally understanding a joke after a long delay.

Alors, tu as enfin décidé d' atterrir parmi nous ?

Finally, in literature and film, atterrir can carry heavy symbolic weight. It can represent a character's return to their roots, the end of an odyssey, or a harsh confrontation with the truth. Whether it's the literal landing of a hero's ship or the metaphorical landing of a dreamer's hopes, the word resonates with the universal human experience of seeking solid ground after a period of being adrift.

One of the most frequent errors learners make with atterrir involves its spelling. Because of the double 't' and the double 'r', it is easy to forget one of the consonants. Remember: it comes from terre, which has two 'r's, and the prefix 'a-' often causes a doubling of the following consonant in French verbs. Writing 'aterrir' or 'atterir' are common mistakes even for native speakers in a hurry. Always double-check that you have two 't's and two 'r's.

Auxiliary Confusion: Many students assume atterrir takes être in the past because it’s a verb of movement. Correct: 'J'ai atterri'. Incorrect: 'Je suis atterri'.

Attention ! On dit 'L'avion a atterri' et non 'L'avion est atterri'.

Another mistake is confusing atterrir with amerrir. While both involve landing, amerrir is specifically for landing on water (mer). If you say a plane 'a atterri' in the ocean, it sounds like a crash or a linguistic error, as 'atterrir' implies land. Similarly, for landings on the moon, the technical (though less common) term is alunir. Using the general atterrir is usually acceptable for the moon in casual speech, but amerrir is strictly for water.

Conjugation Errors: Since it is a 2nd group verb, the plural forms include '-iss-'. 'Nous atterrissons', not 'nous atterrions' (which is the imperfect form).

Nous atterrissons à Paris dans quelques instants.

Finally, avoid using atterrir when you simply mean 'to arrive' in a general sense without the connotation of coming down from a height or ending a flight. While you can 'atterrir' in a city, it implies a long or complex journey. If you just walked to the grocery store, use arriver. Using atterrir for simple terrestrial arrivals can sound overly dramatic or confusing if there was no 'flight' or metaphorical 'descent' involved.

While atterrir is the standard term for landing, several alternatives exist depending on the register and specific context. Understanding these synonyms helps in achieving a more native-like fluency. For instance, in aviation, the phrase se poser is extremely common. It is slightly more informal than atterrir and literally means 'to set oneself down'. Pilots often use it in radio communications: 'On se pose sur la piste 2'.

Se poser vs. Atterrir: Atterrir: More formal, technical, focuses on the contact with land.
Se poser: More casual, emphasizes the action of coming to rest gently.

L'hélicoptère a fini par se poser sur le toit de l'hôpital.

In figurative contexts, if you want to say someone 'ended up' somewhere, finir par arriver or se retrouver are excellent alternatives. Se retrouver often carries a sense of surprise or lack of control, much like the figurative atterrir. For example, 'Je me suis retrouvé dans un petit village perdu' (I found myself in a small lost village) is a more common way to express the idea than using atterrir, which might sound a bit more slangy in that specific sentence.

Technical Variations: Amerrir: To land on water.
Alunir: To land on the moon.
Astreindre: (Rare) To land on a star/planet.

Après avoir erré toute la nuit, ils ont fini par aboutir à une auberge accueillante.

Lastly, if you are talking about 'landing' a job or a contract, French speakers often use décrocher (literally 'to unhook'). While in English you 'land' a deal, in French you 'unhook' it, as if it were a prize hanging from a branch. 'Il a décroché un nouveau contrat' is much more natural than using atterrir in this business context. By choosing the right synonym, you show a deeper understanding of French idioms and cultural nuances.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Neutral

Informell

Child friendly

Umgangssprache

Wusstest du?

Before airplanes existed, the word was sometimes used in a nautical sense to describe a ship approaching land, though 'accoster' or 'aborder' were more common.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /a.te.ʁiʁ/

US /a.te.ʁiʁ/

The stress is typically on the final syllable: atterRIR.

Reimt sich auf

finir choisir partir plaisir venir courir ouvrir dormir

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it like the English 'at-ter-ear' with an English R.
Forgetting to pronounce the final 'r' sound.
Confusing the double 't' with a long 't' sound (it's just a standard 't').
Mispronouncing the 'i' as a short 'ih' instead of a long 'ee' sound.
Nasalizing the 'er' which is not nasal in this word.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Easy to recognize because of the root 'terre' and similar structure to 'landing'.

Schreiben 3/5

Tricky due to double consonants (tt and rr) and 2nd group endings.

Sprechen 2/5

Requires mastering the French 'r' and the '-issent' plural ending.

Hören 2/5

Common in airport announcements; clear but can be fast.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

terre avion finir sur à

Als Nächstes lernen

décoller voler aéroport pilote voyager

Fortgeschritten

amerrir alunir atterrissage piste tarmac

Wichtige Grammatik

Second Group Verbs (-ir)

Atterrir follows the pattern: je finis, nous finissons -> j'atterris, nous atterrissons.

Auxiliary 'Avoir' with Movement Verbs

Most movement verbs like atterrir, marcher, courir use 'avoir' in passé composé.

Prepositions of Place

Use 'à' for cities (à Paris) and 'sur' for surfaces (sur la piste).

Double Consonants in Verbs

Many French verbs starting with 'a' double the next consonant (e.g., atterrir, apprendre, attendre).

Infinitive after Verbs of Perception

Je regarde l'avion atterrir (I watch the plane land).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

L'avion va atterrir à Paris.

The plane is going to land in Paris.

Uses the near future (aller + infinitive).

L'oiseau atterrit sur la table.

The bird lands on the table.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Quand est-ce que nous atterrissons ?

When do we land?

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Le pilote doit atterrir maintenant.

The pilot must land now.

Modal verb 'devoir' followed by the infinitive.

Il est facile d'atterrir ici.

It is easy to land here.

Impersonal expression 'Il est... de'.

Regarde l'avion atterrir !

Watch the plane land!

Imperative followed by an infinitive.

L'avion n'atterrit pas à Lyon.

The plane does not land in Lyon.

Negative construction (ne... pas).

Je vois un hélicoptère atterrir.

I see a helicopter landing.

Verb of perception (voir) followed by an infinitive.

Nous avons atterri avec du retard.

We landed late.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Le ballon a atterri dans le jardin du voisin.

The ball landed in the neighbor's garden.

Passé composé of a physical object.

Ils atterrissaient quand l'orage a commencé.

They were landing when the storm started.

Imperfect tense for an ongoing action interrupted by another.

Tu vas atterrir sur la piste de droite.

You are going to land on the right runway.

Future with 'aller'.

Les mouches atterrissent partout.

Flies land everywhere.

Present tense, 3rd person plural (-issent).

Elle a atterri brusquement.

She landed abruptly.

Adverb 'brusquement' modifying the verb.

Nous n'avons pas encore atterri.

We haven't landed yet.

Negative passé composé with 'encore'.

Voulez-vous atterrir ici ou là-bas ?

Do you want to land here or over there?

Interrogative with 'vouloir'.

Après ce long voyage, j'ai enfin atterri chez moi.

After this long trip, I finally landed (ended up) at home.

Figurative use of 'landing' as arriving.

Il est temps que tu atterrisses et que tu travailles.

It's time for you to come back to earth and work.

Subjunctive mood after 'Il est temps que'.

L'avion pourrait atterrir en cas d'urgence.

The plane could land in case of emergency.

Conditional mood.

Je ne savais pas où j'allais atterrir ce soir-là.

I didn't know where I was going to end up that night.

Imperfect with 'aller' + infinitive.

Si le vent se calme, nous atterrirons sans problème.

If the wind dies down, we will land without a problem.

First conditional (Si + present, future).

Elle a fini par atterrir dans une petite librairie.

She ended up landing (finding herself) in a small bookstore.

Idiomatic 'finir par' + infinitive.

Bien que l'avion ait atterri, nous ne pouvons pas sortir.

Although the plane has landed, we cannot leave.

Subjunctive past after 'bien que'.

Il faut atterrir sur une surface plane.

It is necessary to land on a flat surface.

Impersonal 'Il faut'.

Le projet doit atterrir avant la fin du mois.

The project must land (be finalized) before the end of the month.

Professional metaphorical usage.

Comment as-tu atterri dans ce milieu artistique ?

How did you end up in this artistic circle?

Interrogative with figurative meaning.

L'avion a atterri sur le ventre faute de train d'atterrissage.

The plane landed on its belly due to a lack of landing gear.

Technical description of an accident.

En atterrissant, le pilote a remarqué une anomalie.

While landing, the pilot noticed an anomaly.

Present participle (gérondif).

Il a fallu beaucoup de talent pour atterrir dans ce vent.

It took a lot of talent to land in this wind.

Infinitive after 'Il a fallu'.

On dirait qu'il vient d'atterrir d'une autre planète.

It looks like he just landed from another planet.

Idiomatic expression for being out of touch.

L'entreprise a enfin atterri après des années d'incertitude.

The company finally landed (stabilized) after years of uncertainty.

Metaphorical use for stability.

N'ayez pas peur, nous allons atterrir en douceur.

Don't be afraid, we are going to land smoothly.

Imperative and future proximity.

La discussion a fini par atterrir sur un sujet plus concret.

The discussion finally landed on a more concrete subject.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

Il est rare qu'un tel investissement atterrisse dans notre région.

It is rare that such an investment lands (ends up) in our region.

Subjunctive mood after 'Il est rare que'.

Le poète fait atterrir ses rêves dans la réalité du quotidien.

The poet makes his dreams land in the reality of everyday life.

Literary causative construction with 'faire'.

Après avoir erré dans les méandres de la philosophie, il a atterri sur une vérité simple.

After wandering through the meanders of philosophy, he landed on a simple truth.

Complex sentence structure with figurative landing.

Le vaisseau spatial devrait atterrir sur Mars l'année prochaine.

The spacecraft should land on Mars next year.

Conditional of probability.

Elle ne supporte pas de voir ses projets atterrir ainsi par manque de fonds.

She can't stand seeing her projects land (fail/stop) like this for lack of funds.

Infinitive after a verb of perception.

L'avion a atterri hors piste à cause du verglas.

The plane landed off-runway because of the ice.

Technical prepositional phrase 'hors piste'.

On se demande bien comment cette rumeur a pu atterrir jusqu'ici.

One wonders how this rumor could have landed (spread) all the way here.

Compound past with 'pouvoir'.

L'argumentation, bien que brillante, peinait à atterrir sur une conclusion tangible.

The argument, though brilliant, struggled to land on a tangible conclusion.

Highly formal/academic metaphorical use.

Il fallut au pilote une maestria hors du commun pour atterrir par vent de travers.

The pilot needed extraordinary mastery to land in a crosswind.

Passé simple and formal vocabulary.

Sa carrière a fini par atterrir dans les oubliettes de l'histoire.

His career ended up landing in the forgotten depths of history.

Idiomatic and literary expression.

Le décret, après maintes modifications, a fini par atterrir sur le bureau du ministre.

The decree, after many modifications, finally landed on the minister's desk.

Administrative context.

Toute sa vie, il a cherché à atterrir, mais son esprit était voué aux cimes.

All his life, he sought to land (find stability), but his mind was devoted to the heights.

Existential metaphorical use.

L'oiseau de proie fondit sur sa cible avant d'atterrir majestueusement.

The bird of prey swooped on its target before landing majestically.

Narrative style with 'fondre sur'.

Peu importe où nous atterrissons, l'essentiel est le voyage.

No matter where we land, the essential thing is the journey.

Subjunctive after 'Peu importe où'.

L'avion a atterri en catastrophe sur une autoroute déserte.

The plane made a crash landing on a deserted highway.

Idiomatic expression 'en catastrophe'.

Häufige Kollokationen

atterrir en douceur

atterrir d'urgence

atterrir sur la piste

faire atterrir

atterrir brusquement

atterrir à l'heure

atterrir en catastrophe

atterrir sur le ventre

prêt à atterrir

atterrir quelque part

Häufige Phrasen

On va bientôt atterrir.

— We are going to land soon. A standard announcement on flights.

Attachez vos ceintures, on va bientôt atterrir.

Où as-tu atterri ?

— Where did you end up? Used to ask about someone's final destination or current situation.

Après ta démission, où as-tu atterri ?

Il a atterri dans le décor.

— He crashed (literally 'landed in the scenery'). Often used for car accidents.

Sa voiture a glissé et il a atterri dans le décor.

Atterrir sur ses pieds.

— To land on one's feet. To recover well from a difficult situation.

Malgré la crise, il a réussi à atterrir sur ses pieds.

Il est temps d'atterrir.

— It's time to come back to reality. Used for someone who is dreaming too much.

Tes idées sont folles, il est temps d'atterrir !

L'avion a atterri sans encombre.

— The plane landed without any trouble or hitch.

Le vol était long mais l'avion a atterri sans encombre.

Atterrir à bon port.

— To arrive safely at one's destination (borrowed from nautical terms).

Nous sommes enfin atterris à bon port après ce périple.

Faire atterrir quelqu'un.

— To bring someone back to reality or to earth.

Sa mère a dû le faire atterrir en lui montrant ses factures.

Atterrir nulle part.

— To end up nowhere. Used when a plan or journey fails to reach a goal.

Toutes ces recherches n'ont atterri nulle part.

Atterrir au milieu de nulle part.

— To land/end up in the middle of nowhere.

Le GPS a buggé et on a atterri au milieu de nulle part.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

atterrir vs amerrir

Amerrir is only for water. Don't say 'l'avion a atterri dans la mer' unless it hit the sea floor.

atterrir vs arriver

Arriver is more general. Atterrir implies a descent or a long, complex path.

atterrir vs attendre

Attendre means 'to wait'. It sounds slightly similar but has a completely different meaning and conjugation.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Atterrir de la lune"

— To be completely out of touch with reality, as if arriving from the moon.

Il ne connaît pas Internet ? Il atterrit de la lune ou quoi ?

informal

"Ne pas savoir où l'on va atterrir"

— To not know how a situation will end or where one will end up.

Avec cette crise économique, on ne sait pas où on va atterrir.

neutral

"Atterrir sur le plancher des vaches"

— To return to solid ground (literally 'the cows' floor').

Après deux semaines en mer, j'étais content d'atterrir sur le plancher des vaches.

colloquial

"Atterrir dans les bras de quelqu'un"

— To end up being cared for or supported by someone, often unexpectedly.

Après ses déboires, elle a atterri dans les bras de sa sœur.

neutral

"Atterrir comme un cheveu sur la soupe"

— To arrive at a completely inappropriate or unexpected moment (though usually 'arriver' is used, 'atterrir' adds a layer of surprise).

Il a atterri à la réunion comme un cheveu sur la soupe.

informal

"Atterrir en douceur dans la vie active"

— To transition smoothly into professional life after studies.

Grâce à son stage, il a atterri en douceur dans la vie active.

neutral

"Faire atterrir le débat"

— To make a discussion more practical and less theoretical.

Il est temps de faire atterrir le débat sur des solutions réelles.

formal

"Atterrir brutalement"

— To have a rude awakening or a harsh return to reality.

Il pensait gagner, mais il a atterri brutalement quand il a vu les résultats.

neutral

"Atterrir au tapis"

— To be knocked down or to fall heavily (often in sports).

Le boxeur a atterri au tapis dès le premier round.

neutral

"Atterrir dans le ruisseau"

— To end up in the gutter or in a very low social state.

S'il continue à boire, il va atterrir dans le ruisseau.

informal

Leicht verwechselbar

atterrir vs décoller

Opposite meaning.

Décoller means to leave the ground (take off), whereas atterrir means to touch the ground (land).

L'avion décolle à 8h et atterrit à 10h.

atterrir vs attérir

Spelling mistake.

This is a common misspelling. The correct form always has two 't's because of the prefix 'a-' and the root 'terre'.

Correct: atterrir. Incorrect: attérir.

atterrir vs atterrer

Similar root.

Atterrer means to dismay or shock someone. It comes from the same root but is a different verb group (-er).

La nouvelle m'a atterré (The news shocked me).

atterrir vs alunir

Specific type of landing.

Alunir is specifically for the moon (Lune). Atterrir is for the earth (Terre).

Le module a fini par alunir.

atterrir vs accoster

Arrival of a vehicle.

Accoster is for ships coming to a dock. Atterrir is for planes or birds coming to land.

Le bateau accoste au port.

Satzmuster

L'avion + atterrit + [preposition] + [place].

L'avion atterrit à Nice.

[Subject] + a atterri + [adverb].

Il a atterri doucement.

Il est temps de + atterrir.

Il est temps d'atterrir maintenant.

[Subject] + a fini par + atterrir + [preposition] + [situation].

Il a fini par atterrir dans un bon poste.

Faire + atterrir + [noun].

Il faut faire atterrir ce projet rapidement.

[Subject], [clause], peinait à atterrir.

Le discours, bien que long, peinait à atterrir.

Je vois + [noun] + atterrir.

Je vois l'oiseau atterrir.

Si + [present], [subject] + atterrira.

Si tout va bien, il atterrira à midi.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

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So verwendest du es

frequency

High, especially in travel and metaphorical contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Je suis atterri à 10h. → J'ai atterri à 10h.
Atterrir uses the auxiliary 'avoir' in compound tenses, not 'être'.
L'avion va atérir. → L'avion va atterrir.
You must use two 't's and two 'r's. It's based on 'terre'.
Nous atterrions à Paris. → Nous atterrissons à Paris.
In the present tense plural, you need the '-iss-' suffix. 'Atterrions' is the imperfect or subjunctive form.
L'avion a atterri sur l'eau. → L'avion a amerri.
Use 'amerrir' for water. 'Atterrir' specifically implies land (terre).
J'ai atterri un nouveau job. → J'ai décroché un nouveau job.
In French, you don't 'land' a job with 'atterrir'. You 'unhook' it (décrocher).

Tipps

The Double-Double Rule

Remember: 2 't's and 2 'r's. Think of 'AT-TERRE'. If you forget, just think of the word 'Terre' (Earth) which always has two 'r's.

Auxiliary Check

Don't fall into the trap of using 'être'. It's 'J'ai atterri'. This is a common error for English and German speakers.

The 'ISS' Sound

In plural forms like 'nous atterrissons', make sure to pronounce the 'ss' clearly. It's the hallmark of second-group verbs.

Beyond Planes

Use 'atterrir' for birds, insects, and even falling objects like balls or leaves to sound more descriptive.

Get Real

Use 'Il est temps d'atterrir' when a friend is telling you a crazy, impossible plan. It's a very natural-sounding idiom.

Water vs Land

Always use 'amerrir' for water. Using 'atterrir' for a water landing sounds like a mistake unless the plane actually hit the ground under the water.

Regular IR

If you know how to conjugate 'finir', you know how to conjugate 'atterrir'. The endings are -is, -is, -it, -issons, -issez, -issent.

Arrival Nuance

Use 'atterrir' instead of 'arriver' when you want to emphasize that the journey was long or that the arrival was a relief.

The Runway T

Imagine the two 't's as the two parallel lines of a runway. This helps you remember the double consonant.

Ending Up

In the sense of 'to end up', 'atterrir' is great for stories. 'J'ai cherché ma clé et j'ai atterri dans la cave!'

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'AT' + 'TERRE' + 'IR'. You are going 'AT' the 'TERRE' (earth). The double 't' and double 'r' are like the two wheels of a plane touching the ground.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a large airplane's wheels touching the 'TERRE' (ground). Visualize the letters 'TT' as the landing gear and 'RR' as the runway tracks.

Word Web

avion pilote piste aéroport terre voyage sécurité ciel

Herausforderung

Try to use 'atterrir' in three different ways today: once for a plane, once for a bird, and once metaphorically for yourself ending up at home.

Wortherkunft

The word 'atterrir' was formed in French by combining the prefix 'a-' (to/towards) with 'terre' (earth/land) and the verbal suffix '-ir'. It appeared in its modern sense as aviation developed in the early 20th century.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To reach land or to touch the ground.

Romance (Latin root 'terra').

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but avoid using 'atterrir' jokingly about someone's mental state if they have a serious condition.

English uses 'land' for both ground and water, but French is more specific. Don't use 'atterrir' for a boat touching a dock.

Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (mentions of landing in the desert). The song 'Atterrir' by various French artists exploring the theme of returning home. News headlines during the 'Philae' lander mission on the comet 67P.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Aviation

Autorisation d'atterrir
Train d'atterrissage
Piste d'atterrissage
Atterrir à l'heure

Travel

On va bientôt atterrir
À quelle heure atterrissons-nous ?
L'avion a atterri
Après l'atterrissage

Nature

L'oiseau atterrit
Le papillon a atterri
Atterrir sur une fleur
Atterrir sur l'eau (amerrir)

Figurative/Social

Il est temps d'atterrir
Où vas-tu atterrir ?
Atterrir dans une galère
Faire atterrir quelqu'un

Space

Atterrir sur Mars
La sonde a atterri
Site d'atterrissage
Atterrir en douceur

Gesprächseinstiege

"À quelle heure ton avion doit-il atterrir demain ?"

"As-tu déjà eu peur quand un avion allait atterrir ?"

"Si tu pouvais atterrir n'importe où dans le monde, où irais-tu ?"

"Est-ce que tu penses qu'il est temps pour certains politiciens d'atterrir ?"

"Comment as-tu fini par atterrir dans cette ville ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décrivez la sensation que vous éprouvez au moment où l'avion atterrit sur la piste.

Racontez une fois où vous avez 'atterri' dans une situation inattendue.

Pourquoi est-il parfois difficile d' 'atterrir' après de longues vacances ?

Imaginez que vous êtes un pilote. Décrivez votre manœuvre pour atterrir pendant une tempête.

Si une sonde spatiale devait atterrir sur une nouvelle planète, que devrait-elle chercher ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It uses 'avoir'. Even though it's a verb of movement, it is not one of the specific verbs (like aller, venir, partir) that take 'être'. Example: 'L'avion a atterri'.

No, for a boat you should use 'accoster' (to dock) or 'aborder' (to reach land). 'Atterrir' is strictly for things coming from the air.

'Atterrir' is more formal and technical. 'Se poser' is more common in casual conversation and emphasizes a gentle landing. Pilots use both.

Yes, it is a regular second-group (-ir) verb. It follows the same conjugation rules as 'finir' (je finis, nous finissons, etc.).

The past participle is 'atterri'. It does not take an 'e' or 's' unless there is a preceding direct object, which is rare for this verb.

Not directly, but you can say 'atterrir en catastrophe' or 'atterrir dans le décor' to describe a crash-landing or an accident.

Technically, some use 'amarsir', but it is not officially recognized by most dictionaries. 'Atterrir' is generally used for any solid planet.

It comes from the prefix 'a-' (to) + 'terre' (land). In French, the 't' is doubled to maintain the sound and follow the common prefix pattern.

Yes, but it's figurative. It means you finally got home after a long or tiring day. It's quite common in casual French.

It's an idiom meaning 'It's time to come back to reality' or 'Stop daydreaming'. It's used when someone is being unrealistic.

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