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A2 adjective #3,800 más común 11 min de lectura

brûlé

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos brûlé en 30 segundos

Explicación brûlé in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'brûlé' in its most basic form: to describe food that has been cooked for too long. You will mostly use it in simple sentences like 'Le pain est brûlé' (The bread is burnt). It is important to recognize it on menus, especially in 'crème brûlée'. At this stage, don't worry too much about the complex metaphorical meanings. Focus on the physical description of objects. Remember that if you are talking about 'la pizza', you should add an 'e' to make it 'brûlée', although you don't need to pronounce the 'e'. You might also hear it when someone talks about the sun. If you see someone with very red skin, they might say 'Je suis brûlé !'. This is a helpful word for basic survival in a French kitchen or on a French beach. Try to associate the word with the smell of smoke or the sight of black toast. It's a very 'sensory' word that is easy to remember if you link it to a physical experience. You should also learn the phrase 'Ça sent le brûlé' (It smells like something is burning) as it is a very useful safety phrase. Even at A1, knowing this one word can help you avoid eating bad food or alert someone to a fire.

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At the A2 level, you should start paying closer attention to the agreement of the adjective 'brûlé'. You should be able to modify it with adverbs, saying things like 'C'est un peu brûlé' (It's a bit burnt) or 'C'est trop brûlé' (It's too burnt). You will encounter this word in more varied contexts, such as describing a small injury (une brûlure) or talking about the weather. You should also be able to distinguish between 'brûlé' (the result) and 'brûlant' (the temperature). For example, 'L'eau est brûlante' (The water is scalding hot) versus 'La forêt est brûlée' (The forest is burnt). This distinction is a key milestone in moving toward intermediate French. You should also be comfortable using it in the plural, such as 'Les gâteaux sont brûlés'. At this level, you might start to see the word in simple news stories or weather reports, particularly during the summer when forest fires are mentioned. You should also know the common culinary uses beyond just toast, like 'oignon brûlé' used in some soup recipes. Practice using the word to describe things in your house—maybe a lightbulb that has 'burnt out' (though in French we often use 'grillé' for lightbulbs, 'brûlé' can sometimes be heard for wires).

By B1, you should be using 'brûlé' with more confidence in complex sentences. You should understand its use in the passive voice, such as 'La lettre a été brûlée pour cacher le secret' (The letter was burnt to hide the secret). You will also start to encounter the metaphorical uses of the word. For instance, 'avoir les ailes brûlées' (to have one's wings burnt) describes someone who tried something ambitious but failed and was hurt by the experience. You should be able to use 'brûlé' to describe more than just food and skin; use it to describe landscapes, old photos, or even a 'burnt' CD (though this is becoming an older reference). You should also be aware of the noun form 'un brûlé', which can refer to a person who has suffered burns in a medical context (un grand brûlé). Your ability to choose between 'brûlé' and its more precise synonyms like 'roussi' (singed) or 'carbonisé' (charred) should start to develop. This shows that you are moving beyond basic descriptions and are starting to provide specific details. In discussions about the environment, you should be able to talk about the impact of 'terres brûlées' (scorched earth) policies or the ecological recovery of a 'zone brûlée'.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the nuance of 'brûlé' in professional and literary contexts. You should be familiar with the social connotation of being 'brûlé'—meaning someone's reputation is destroyed. For example, 'Après son erreur monumentale, il est brûlé dans toute la profession' (After his monumental mistake, he is finished/burnt in the whole profession). You should also understand the use of 'brûlé' in artistic descriptions, such as 'une couleur terre d'ombre brûlée' (burnt umber). Your grammar should be flawless when using the word, including tricky agreements in complex relative clauses. You should also be able to discuss the nuances between 'brûlé' and 'cramé', knowing that 'cramé' is highly informal and often used to mean 'caught' or 'found out' in slang (e.g., 'T'es cramé !' meaning 'I see what you're doing' or 'You're busted'). At B2, you should also be able to use the word in idiomatic expressions like 'brûler les étapes' (to skip steps) and relate the adjective back to the verb's idiomatic uses. You might read articles about 'la stratégie de la terre brûlée' in a historical or business context and be able to explain what it implies: destroying everything so the enemy/competitor has nothing left.

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At the C1 level, you should appreciate the stylistic and evocative power of 'brûlé'. You will encounter it in high-level literature and poetry, where it might describe a 'coeur brûlé' (a heart burnt by passion or grief) or 'des yeux brûlés par les larmes' (eyes burnt by tears). You should be able to use the word to describe subtle textures and colors in art criticism or technical descriptions. For instance, in photography, you would use 'brûlé' to describe overexposed areas of a print where no detail remains. You should also be familiar with the historical etymology of the word, noting the circumflex accent as a marker of the lost 's' from the Old French 'brusler'. This level of knowledge helps in understanding the relationship between French and other Romance languages or even English cognates. You should be able to engage in debates about environmental issues using precise terminology like 'forêt boréale brûlée' and discuss the long-term chemical effects of 'bois brûlé'. Your use of synonyms should be perfectly calibrated to the register: using 'calciné' for a forensic report, 'carbonisé' for a scientific description, and 'brûlé' for general discourse. You should also understand the subtle irony when someone says they are 'brûlés' by a situation, implying a deep, perhaps irreversible, level of exhaustion or social exclusion.

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At the C2 mastery level, the word 'brûlé' becomes a tool for precise philosophical or technical expression. You should be able to use it in the context of 'la phénoménologie de la perception', describing how a 'corps brûlé' experiences the world differently. You will understand its use in ancient or specialized contexts, such as 'le vin brûlé' (an old term for brandy or mulled wine, though 'vin chaud' is modern). You can discuss the 'esthétique du brûlé' in modern art, where fire is used as a creative medium. Your mastery of the word includes knowing all its rare idiomatic uses and being able to play with the word in puns or sophisticated wordplay. You should be able to write a critique of a culinary experience where the 'note de brûlé' is analyzed as either a flaw or a deliberate 'fumé' element. In a legal or political context, you would understand the implications of 'un dossier brûlé' (a sensitive or 'hot' file that has been destroyed or is too dangerous to handle). At this level, you don't just know the word; you know its history, its social weight, and its ability to evoke a vast array of sensory and intellectual responses. You can navigate the finest lines between 'brûlé', 'consumé' (consumed by fire), and 'incendié', choosing the exact word that fits the rhythmic and tonal requirements of a high-level text.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

brûlé en 30 segundos

Brûlé is the French adjective for 'burnt', used for food, sunburns, and fire damage.
It must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (brûlé, brûlée, brûlés, brûlées).
Commonly heard in 'crème brûlée' and the phrase 'Ça sent le brûlé' (It smells like burning).
Metaphorically, it can mean 'socially finished' or 'discredited' in professional circles.

The French adjective brûlé is a fundamental word that every learner should master early in their journey. At its core, it translates to the English word 'burnt' or 'scorched.' However, its application in the French language is far more nuanced than a simple culinary mishap. Derived from the past participle of the verb brûler (to burn), it functions as an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: brûlé (masculine singular), brûlée (feminine singular), brûlés (masculine plural), and brûlées (feminine plural). This word is ubiquitous in daily life, appearing in contexts ranging from the kitchen and the beach to emotional states and environmental descriptions.

Culinary Context: In the kitchen, it describes food that has been exposed to too much heat. While usually a negative descriptor for a ruined toast, it is also part of the name of one of the world's most famous desserts.

La crème brûlée est mon dessert préféré car j'aime la couche de sucre caramélisé.

Beyond the plate, brûlé is the go-to word for physical sensations caused by the sun. If you spend too much time under the Mediterranean sun without protection, you won't just be 'red'; you will be brûlé. This usage highlights the intensity of the word. It isn't just warm; it has undergone a transformation through heat. In environmental terms, you will see this word in the news regarding forest fires (les forêts brûlées), emphasizing the devastation and the aftermath of a fire. It is important to note the distinction between brûlant (burning/burning hot) and brûlé (burnt). While brûlant describes the active state or the temperature, brûlé describes the result of the action.

Metaphorical Usage: Metaphorically, the word can describe someone who is 'burnt out' or has lost their reputation. A 'sujet brûlé' is a topic that has been discussed so much it no longer holds interest or is too controversial to touch.

Après ce scandale, cet homme politique est un homme brûlé dans sa circonscription.

Finally, the word is used in technical and artistic fields. In photography, a 'ciel brûlé' refers to an overexposed sky where the details are lost in white light. In woodworking, 'bois brûlé' (Shou Sugi Ban) is a popular aesthetic and protective technique. Understanding these diverse applications allows a learner to move from basic A2 communication to more descriptive and precise B1/B2 levels of expression. The word carries an inherent weight of finality—once something is brûlé, it is changed forever.

Using brûlé correctly requires a solid grasp of French adjective agreement. Since it is a regular past participle used as an adjective, it follows the standard rules of gender and number. This section will guide you through the various grammatical structures where brûlé appears, ensuring you can deploy it naturally in conversation. Whether you are complaining about a meal or describing a landscape, the syntax remains relatively consistent.

Basic Predicative Use: When used after a linking verb like être (to be) or sembler (to seem), the adjective must match the subject. This is the most common way to state the condition of an object.

Les toasts semblent un peu brûlés, tu ne trouves pas ?

Notice in the example above that 'toasts' is masculine plural, so we add an 's' to brûlé. If we were talking about 'la viande' (the meat), we would say 'La viande est brûlée.' This agreement is crucial for oral clarity, although the pronunciation of brûlé, brûlée, and brûlés is identical in standard French. The distinction is primarily written, but it reflects your grammatical competence.

Attributive Use: This is when the adjective is placed directly next to the noun to describe a specific quality of that noun, often within a larger sentence structure.

L'odeur de bois brûlé me rappelle les soirées d'hiver au coin du feu.

In more advanced constructions, brûlé can be used to describe the state of a person's skin or health. For instance, 'avoir le visage brûlé par le soleil' (to have one's face burnt by the sun). Here, 'brûlé' acts as a modifier for 'visage'. It can also be used in passive constructions where the agent of the burning is mentioned using the preposition par (by). For example, 'La maison a été brûlée par un incendie criminel.'

Negative and Comparative Forms: You can modify the intensity of the adjective using adverbs like trop (too), très (very), or un peu (a little). You can also use it in comparisons.

Ce gâteau est moins brûlé que celui d'hier.

By mastering these patterns, you move beyond simple vocabulary recognition and begin to build complex, descriptive sentences. Remember that brûlé is not just a label; it's a way to add sensory detail to your French, describing smells, textures, and visual states with precision.

If you were to walk through the streets of Paris or a small village in Provence, you would encounter the word brûlé in several distinct environments. Understanding these contexts helps you recognize the word even when spoken quickly or amidst background noise. The most immediate place is, of course, the Boulangerie-Pâtisserie. While bakers strive for perfection, sometimes a batch of baguettes or croissants might stay in the oven a minute too long. You might hear a customer whisper to their companion, 'Regarde, celui-là est un peu brûlé,' as they point to a darker loaf.

The French Kitchen: In restaurants, particularly high-end ones, the 'crème brûlée' is a staple. Servers will use the word hundreds of times a day. Interestingly, they rarely use 'brûlé' to describe a steak unless it's a mistake; instead, they use terms like 'bien cuit' (well cooked).

Garçon, je suis désolé, mais ce canard a un goût de brûlé.

The second major context is The Beach (La Plage). French people are very conscious of 'les coups de soleil' (sunburns). On a hot July afternoon in Nice, you'll hear parents telling their children, 'Mets de la crème, sinon tu vas être tout brûlé!' In this context, it's used as a warning. If you go to a pharmacy (une pharmacie) seeking relief, you would tell the pharmacist, 'J'ai la peau brûlée par le soleil,' to get the right ointment.

News and Media: During the summer months, news reports frequently discuss 'les hectares de forêt brûlés'. This is a somber and serious use of the word, often accompanied by dramatic footage of wildfires in the South of France.

Plus de mille hectares ont été brûlés dans l'incendie de cette nuit.

Lastly, in the world of Automobiles and Mechanics, if a car is overheating or has a short circuit, a mechanic might say, 'Il y a un câble brûlé.' This indicates a physical failure. As you can see, brûlé is a word that bridges the gap between the mundane (a piece of toast) and the catastrophic (a forest fire), making it a versatile and essential component of the French vocabulary.

Even though brûlé seems straightforward, English speakers often stumble over its usage due to false friends, incorrect agreement, or confusing it with similar-sounding words. Identifying these pitfalls early will help you sound more like a native and less like a translation app. The first and most common mistake is the confusion between brûlé (burnt) and brûlant (burning/very hot).

Brûlé vs. Brûlant: Think of 'brûlé' as the past result and 'brûlant' as the present state. If you say 'Le café est brûlé,' you are saying the beans were over-roasted or the coffee tastes scorched. If you say 'Le café est brûlant,' you mean it is currently at a very high temperature and might burn your tongue.

Attention ! Cette plaque est brûlante (hot), ne la touche pas, sinon ton doigt sera brûlé (burnt).

Another frequent error involves the circumflex accent (^) on the 'u'. While many modern French spelling reforms have made the circumflex optional on 'i' and 'u' in certain cases, it remains standard and expected for brûlé. Omitting it doesn't usually change the meaning, but it looks like a spelling mistake to a native eye. This accent is a ghost of the letter 's' that used to follow the 'u' in Old French (related to the English 'burst' or 'combustion').

Confusing with 'Cramé': While 'cramé' is a very common slang synonym for 'brûlé', you should avoid using it in formal writing or professional settings. It's perfectly fine with friends, but using it in a restaurant complaint might sound too informal.

Incorrect: Ma viande est cramée, Monsieur le serveur (Too slangy).
Correct: Ma viande est brûlée.

Finally, be careful with the expression 'sentir le brûlé'. Learners often try to say 'sentir brûlé' (missing the 'le'). In French, you smell 'the burnt' (the smell of burning), so the definite article is mandatory: 'Ça sent le brûlé'. Small errors like these are the difference between sounding like a student and sounding like a speaker.

To truly enrich your French vocabulary, you need to know when to use brûlé and when a more specific word would be more appropriate. French is a language of precision, and there are several synonyms that convey different degrees or types of burning. By expanding your toolkit, you can describe a slightly over-toasted piece of bread differently than a charred remains of a building.

Cramé (Slang/Informal): This is the most common informal alternative. It's used for food, electronics that have short-circuited, or even people who are exhausted. Use it with friends, but not with your boss.

Mince, j'ai laissé mon chargeur branché et il est tout cramé.

If something is only slightly burnt on the edges, the word roussi is perfect. It often describes the smell of hair or fabric that has been too close to a flame. It's less intense than brûlé. On the other end of the spectrum, if something is completely incinerated, you should use carbonisé. This implies that the object has turned into carbon or ash.

Comparisons at a Glance

Brûlé: Standard, general use (Burnt).
Roussi: Singed, slightly scorched (Singed).
Carbonisé: Charred, turned to coal (Charred).
Calciné: Specifically for remains of a fire (Ashy/Calcined).
Cramé: Informal, very common in speech (Fried/Burnt).

Le rôti n'est pas carbonisé, il est juste un peu roussi sur le dessus.

In a metaphorical sense, if you want to say someone is 'burnt out' from work, the term is épuisé or en burn-out (the English term is used in French). Brûlé in a social sense means 'finished' or 'discredited'. For example, 'Il est brûlé dans le milieu du cinéma' means nobody will hire him again. Understanding these alternatives allows you to navigate French social and professional circles with much greater linguistic dexterity.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Les structures furent entièrement calcinées et brûlées."

Neutral

"Le pain est un peu brûlé ce matin."

Informal

"Mince, c'est tout cramé !"

Child friendly

"Fais attention, le gâteau est tout noir, il est brûlé."

Jerga

"T'es trop cramé, mec !"

Dato curioso

The 's' that disappeared from 'brusler' is still visible in the English word 'combustion' and the Italian 'bruciare'. In English, words like 'burst' also share a distant ancestral link to the same concept of sudden heat or energy.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /bʁy.le/

US /bru.le/

Final syllable (le).

Rima con

allé parlé manger été clé blé pré nez

Errores comunes

Pronouncing it like 'broo-lee' (English style).
Failing to round the lips for the 'u' sound.
Adding a 'y' sound at the end of 'é' (making it a diphthong).
Pronouncing the final 'e' in 'brûlée' (it should be silent).
Mixing up the 'u' in 'brûlé' with the 'ou' in 'boule'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Easy to recognize, especially with the accent and English cognates.

Escritura 3/5

Requires remembering the circumflex accent and gender agreement.

Expresión oral 3/5

The 'u' sound can be tricky for English speakers.

Escucha 2/5

Clear pronunciation, usually easy to pick out in context.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

feu chaud manger soleil noir

Aprende después

brûlure incendie carbonisé cuisiner fumer

Avanzado

calciné pyromane combustion torréfaction échaudé

Gramática que debes saber

Adjective Agreement

La tarte est brûlée (f), le pain est brûlé (m).

Past Participle as Adjective

Le verbe brûler devient l'adjectif brûlé.

Circumflex Accent

The ^ on the u in brûlé replaces a historical 's'.

Placement of Adjectives

Usually follows the noun: 'un gâteau brûlé'.

Passive Voice with Être

La forêt a été brûlée par l'incendie.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Le pain est brûlé.

The bread is burnt.

Simple subject + verb 'être' + adjective.

J'aime la crème brûlée.

I like crème brûlée.

The adjective 'brûlée' is feminine to agree with 'crème'.

Ma pizza est brûlée !

My pizza is burnt!

Feminine agreement for 'pizza'.

Le café a un goût brûlé.

The coffee has a burnt taste.

The adjective modifies 'goût' (masculine).

Attention, c'est brûlé.

Watch out, it's burnt.

Using 'c'est' with the masculine singular form as a general statement.

Regarde le bois brûlé.

Look at the burnt wood.

Adjective follows the noun 'bois'.

Il est tout brûlé par le soleil.

He is all burnt by the sun.

'Tout' adds emphasis; 'brûlé' agrees with 'il'.

Où est le gâteau brûlé ?

Where is the burnt cake?

Interrogative sentence with the adjective modifying 'gâteau'.

Les toasts sont trop brûlés pour être mangés.

The toasts are too burnt to be eaten.

Masculine plural agreement: 'brûlés'.

Elle a la peau brûlée après sa journée à la plage.

She has burnt skin after her day at the beach.

Feminine singular agreement for 'peau'.

Ça sent le brûlé dans la cuisine !

It smells like something is burning in the kitchen!

'Le brûlé' is used as a noun here meaning 'the smell of burning'.

Ces frites sont un peu brûlées, non ?

These fries are a bit burnt, aren't they?

Feminine plural agreement for 'frites'.

Le papier est à moitié brûlé.

The paper is half burnt.

Adverbial phrase 'à moitié' modifying the adjective.

Ne mange pas la partie brûlée.

Don't eat the burnt part.

Feminine agreement for 'partie'.

Le fond de la casserole est tout brûlé.

The bottom of the pan is all burnt.

'Fond' is masculine, so 'brûlé' is masculine.

Mes cheveux sont brûlés par le lisseur.

My hair is burnt by the straightener.

Masculine plural agreement for 'cheveux'.

L'odeur de bois brûlé flottait dans l'air froid.

The smell of burnt wood floated in the cold air.

Descriptive use in a narrative context.

La forêt brûlée mettra des années à redevenir verte.

The burnt forest will take years to become green again.

Adjective 'brûlée' modifying the subject 'forêt'.

Il a jeté les documents brûlés dans la poubelle.

He threw the burnt documents into the trash.

Masculine plural agreement for 'documents'.

Sa réputation est brûlée dans cette petite ville.

His reputation is ruined (burnt) in this small town.

Metaphorical use of 'brûlée'.

Nous avons trouvé une voiture brûlée au bord de la route.

We found a burnt car by the side of the road.

Feminine agreement for 'voiture'.

Le goût brûlé du caramel apporte de l'amertume.

The burnt taste of the caramel brings bitterness.

Using the adjective to describe a specific culinary property.

Elle portait une robe couleur terre brûlée.

She was wearing a burnt-earth colored dress.

'Terre brûlée' acts as a color descriptor.

Les ailes brûlées, l'oiseau ne pouvait plus s'envoler.

With its wings burnt, the bird could no longer fly.

Participial phrase used descriptively.

La politique de la terre brûlée a dévasté la région.

The scorched earth policy devastated the region.

Fixed historical/military expression.

Ce film est un sujet brûlé, personne ne veut le produire.

This movie is a 'burnt' subject, nobody wants to produce it.

Metaphorical use meaning 'too controversial' or 'overdone'.

Les zones brûlées par l'acide doivent être rincées immédiatement.

Areas burnt by acid must be rinsed immediately.

Passive construction with 'par'.

On distingue encore les contours du bâtiment brûlé.

One can still distinguish the outlines of the burnt building.

Adjective modifying 'bâtiment'.

L'ampoule est brûlée, il faut la changer.

The lightbulb is burnt out, it needs to be changed.

Common usage, though 'grillée' is also frequent.

Ses yeux étaient brûlés par le manque de sommeil.

His eyes were 'burnt' (stinging/red) from lack of sleep.

Metaphorical/Physical description of strain.

Le circuit imprimé semble brûlé à cet endroit.

The circuit board seems burnt at this spot.

Technical context.

Un grand brûlé nécessite des soins intensifs.

A severe burn victim requires intensive care.

'Brûlé' used as a noun for a person.

La toile présentait des tons de Sienne brûlée.

The canvas featured tones of burnt Sienna.

Specific artistic terminology.

Il a le regard d'un homme qui a tout brûlé derrière lui.

He has the look of a man who has burnt everything behind him.

Metaphorical expression for 'burning bridges'.

Les hautes lumières de la photo sont totalement brûlées.

The highlights of the photo are totally 'burnt' (blown out).

Technical photography jargon.

L'odeur âcre du caoutchouc brûlé prenait à la gorge.

The acrid smell of burnt rubber caught in the throat.

Sensory, descriptive language.

C'est une âme brûlée par les désillusions de la vie.

It is a soul burnt by life's disillusions.

Literary/Poetic usage.

Le parchemin, à moitié brûlé, restait illisible.

The parchment, half burnt, remained unreadable.

Appositive adjective phrase.

Le café trop torréfié laisse un arrière-goût brûlé en bouche.

Over-roasted coffee leaves a burnt aftertaste in the mouth.

Precise culinary description.

Les vestiges calcinés et brûlés témoignaient de la violence du brasier.

The charred and burnt remains bore witness to the fire's violence.

Using synonyms together for emphasis.

L'ontologie du débris brûlé interroge notre rapport à la finitude.

The ontology of the burnt debris questions our relationship with finitude.

Philosophical/Academic register.

Il s'agit d'un vin aux arômes tertiaires de café brûlé et de tabac.

It is a wine with tertiary aromas of burnt coffee and tobacco.

Oenological (wine study) context.

La gestion des grands brûlés en milieu hospitalier a beaucoup évolué.

The management of severe burn victims in hospitals has evolved significantly.

Medical/Formal noun usage.

Le dramaturge utilise le motif de la lettre brûlée comme ressort tragique.

The playwright uses the motif of the burnt letter as a tragic device.

Literary analysis register.

Sa plume, comme brûlée par le génie, ne produisait plus rien.

His pen, as if burnt by genius, produced nothing more.

Highly metaphorical, poetic register.

L'expertise a révélé un court-circuit au niveau du câble brûlé.

The expert report revealed a short circuit at the burnt cable.

Technical/Legal report style.

La terre, brûlée par des siècles de soleil, était devenue stérile.

The earth, burnt by centuries of sun, had become sterile.

Grand, epic narrative style.

L'artiste explore la matérialité du bois brûlé dans ses sculptures.

The artist explores the materiality of burnt wood in his sculptures.

Art criticism register.

Colocaciones comunes

Odeur de brûlé

Peau brûlée

Bois brûlé

Goût de brûlé

Forêt brûlée

Pain brûlé

Ciel brûlé

Papier brûlé

Cheveux brûlés

Sucre brûlé

Frases Comunes

Ça sent le brûlé

— Literally 'it smells like burning'. Used as a warning.

Vite ! Ça sent le brûlé dans le garage !

Terre brûlée

— Scorched earth. Refers to a military strategy or total destruction.

L'armée a pratiqué la politique de la terre brûlée.

Être brûlé

— To be finished or discredited in a social or professional circle.

Après ce scandale, il est brûlé dans le monde du journalisme.

Crème brûlée

— A famous custard dessert with a burnt sugar topping.

Je vais prendre une crème brûlée en dessert.

Un grand brûlé

— A person suffering from severe, extensive burns.

Il a été transporté au centre pour grands brûlés.

Brûlé vif

— Burnt alive. Used in historical or tragic contexts.

Jeanne d'Arc a été brûlée vive à Rouen.

À moitié brûlé

— Half-burnt. Describes something partially damaged.

On a sauvé un coffre à moitié brûlé.

Brûlé par le soleil

— Sunburnt. Very common during summer.

Il est revenu de vacances tout brûlé par le soleil.

Avoir le bec brûlé

— An old expression for being disappointed or 'burnt' by a situation.

Il pensait gagner, mais il a eu le bec brûlé.

Graisse brûlée

— Burnt fat/grease. Often used when cleaning kitchens.

Il faut frotter pour enlever la graisse brûlée.

Se confunde a menudo con

brûlé vs Brûlant

Brûlant means 'burning' or 'very hot' (temperature), while brûlé means 'burnt' (result).

brûlé vs Brouillé

Brouillé means 'scrambled' (like eggs) or 'confused'. Don't mix them up in the kitchen!

brûlé vs Brillé

Brillé is the past participle of 'briller' (to shine). Totally different meaning.

Modismos y expresiones

"Avoir les ailes brûlées"

— To be damaged by an overly ambitious or dangerous venture.

Il a voulu jouer en bourse et il en est ressorti les ailes brûlées.

Literary/Metaphorical

"Se brûler les ailes"

— To get hurt by taking too much risk (like Icarus).

Fais attention avec ce projet, tu pourrais te brûler les ailes.

Common

"Jouer avec le feu et se retrouver brûlé"

— To play with fire and get burnt. Taking unnecessary risks.

Il a menti à son patron et maintenant il est brûlé.

Common

"Être brûlé par les deux bouts"

— Variation of 'burning the candle at both ends' (though usually 'brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts').

À force de travailler la nuit, il est complètement brûlé.

Metaphorical

"Un sujet brûlé"

— A topic that is no longer interesting because it has been over-discussed.

La météo ? C'est un sujet brûlé, parlons d'autre chose.

Informal

"Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide"

— Once bitten, twice shy (literally: a scalded/burnt cat fears cold water).

Je ne veux plus investir, chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.

Proverb

"Brûler ses vaisseaux"

— To burn one's boats/bridges. To make a decision from which there is no turning back.

En démissionnant sans préavis, il a brûlé ses vaisseaux.

Formal

"Brûler la politesse"

— To leave without saying goodbye or to overtake someone rudely.

Il nous a brûlé la politesse et est parti sans un mot.

Common

"Brûler d'envie"

— To be burning with desire to do something.

Je brûle d'envie de lui dire la vérité.

Common

"Brûler les étapes"

— To skip steps or rush through a process.

Ne brûle pas les étapes, apprends d'abord les bases.

Common

Fácil de confundir

brûlé vs Brûlant

Similar root and sound.

Brûlant is an active state (hot), brûlé is a finished state (damaged).

Le café est brûlant, mais le toast est brûlé.

brûlé vs Cramé

Same meaning.

Cramé is slang and informal; brûlé is standard and correct for all situations.

Mon burger est cramé (with friends) vs. Mon plat est brûlé (to a waiter).

brûlé vs Grillé

Both involve heat and cooking.

Grillé is usually positive (toasted/grilled), while brûlé is usually negative (overcooked).

Je veux du pain grillé, pas du pain brûlé !

brûlé vs Roussi

Both mean burnt.

Roussi is only slightly burnt or singed, often with a specific smell.

Tes cheveux ont roussi près de la bougie.

brûlé vs Brouillé

Phonetically similar.

Brouillé means scrambled or blurred.

Des œufs brouillés vs. des œufs brûlés.

Patrones de oraciones

Le [noun] est brûlé.

Le pain est brûlé.

C'est un peu [adjective].

C'est un peu brûlé.

L'odeur de [noun] brûlé...

L'odeur de bois brûlé est forte.

Être brûlé par [agent].

Il est brûlé par le soleil.

Un [noun] à moitié brûlé.

Un document à moitié brûlé.

La matérialité du [noun] brûlé.

La matérialité du bois brûlé.

Ne mange pas le [noun] brûlé.

Ne mange pas le toast brûlé.

Une zone [adjective].

Une zone brûlée.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very common in daily life (A2-B1 levels).

Errores comunes

Le pain est brûle. → Le pain est brûlé.
You need the accent on the 'e' to make it an adjective. Without it, it's a verb form.
La pizza est brûlé. → La pizza est brûlée.
Adjectives must agree with feminine nouns like 'pizza'.
Ça sent brûlé. → Ça sent le brûlé.
In French, you smell 'the' burnt. The definite article is required.
L'eau est brûlée. → L'eau est brûlante.
Water is 'burning hot' (brûlante), not 'burnt' (brûlée).
J'ai les mains brûlées. → J'ai les mains brûlées.
This is correct, but learners often forget the 'es' for feminine plural 'mains'.

Consejos

Agreement is Key

Always look at the noun. Feminine? Add 'e'. Plural? Add 's'. It's the most common mistake for learners.

Don't say 'Broo-lee'

The 'u' is not an 'oo' sound. It's a French 'u'. Round your lips tightly!

The 'Le' in Smell

Remember: 'Ça sent LE brûlé'. Don't forget the article when talking about the smell.

Crème Brûlée

This is your best friend for remembering the word. Think of the cracked sugar top.

Brûlé vs Brûlant

Use 'brûlant' for things that are currently hot enough to burn you. Use 'brûlé' for things already damaged.

The Circumflex

The little hat (^) on the 'u' makes your French look authentic. Don't skip it.

Cramé for Friends

Use 'cramé' when joking with friends about a burnt pizza. It sounds very native.

Social Burning

If someone is 'brûlé', they are socially dead. It's a powerful metaphor in French.

Emergency Phrase

Learn 'Au feu ! Ça brûle !' alongside 'C'est brûlé'. It could be useful!

Colors

'Terre d'ombre brûlée' is a real color name. Use it to sound sophisticated.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'Brûlé' as 'Blue-Lay'. If you lay under a blue sky for too long without sunscreen, you will be brûlé (burnt).

Asociación visual

Imagine a crème brûlée with its dark, burnt sugar top. The word is right there in the name of the dessert.

Word Web

feu noir toast soleil cuisine fumée chaud accident

Desafío

Go through your kitchen and find one thing that could be 'brûlé'. Describe it in a full sentence using the correct agreement.

Origen de la palabra

From the Old French 'brusler', which likely comes from a combination of the Latin 'bustulare' (to burn) and Germanic 'broelen' (to swell or cook). The circumflex accent on the 'u' indicates the disappearance of the 's' found in the original Old French spelling.

Significado original: To consume by fire or to cook intensely.

Romance (Indo-European)

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'un grand brûlé'; it is a serious medical term for victims of severe accidents.

English speakers know the word primarily through 'crème brûlée', but often forget that it applies to simple toast or sunburns too.

The dessert 'Crème Brûlée'. The phrase 'Terre Brûlée' in history books. The song 'Belles ! Belles ! Belles !' by Claude François mentions being burnt by love.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Kitchen / Cooking

C'est brûlé.
Ça sent le brûlé.
Le gâteau est brûlé au fond.
J'ai brûlé les toasts.

Beach / Summer

Je suis brûlé par le soleil.
Ma peau est toute brûlée.
Mets de la crème, tu es brûlé !
Un coup de soleil brûlé.

Fire / Accidents

La maison est brûlée.
Un câble brûlé.
Des papiers brûlés.
Tout a été brûlé.

Restaurant

Une crème brûlée, s'il vous plaît.
La viande a un goût de brûlé.
C'est trop brûlé pour moi.
Le chef a brûlé le canard.

Social / Reputation

Il est brûlé dans ce métier.
Sa réputation est brûlée.
Un sujet brûlé.
Se brûler les ailes.

Inicios de conversación

"Est-ce que tu aimes la crème brûlée ou tu préfères le chocolat ?"

"Oulala, est-ce que ça sent le brûlé dans la cuisine ?"

"As-tu déjà été brûlé par le soleil pendant tes vacances ?"

"Que fais-tu quand ton pain est trop brûlé le matin ?"

"Penses-tu que cet homme politique est brûlé après ce scandale ?"

Temas para diario

Décris une fois où tu as brûlé quelque chose en cuisinant. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

Imagine une forêt brûlée qui commence à repousser. Décris le paysage.

Est-ce que tu préfères tes toasts bien grillés ou pas du tout brûlés ? Pourquoi ?

Écris sur une situation où tu as eu 'les ailes brûlées' par une ambition.

Décris l'odeur du bois brûlé et les souvenirs qu'elle t'évoque.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, it can also refer to chemical burns, sunburns, or even metaphorical damage to a reputation. In photography, it refers to overexposure. It essentially means anything damaged by too much light or heat.

No, unless it's at the beginning of a sentence. It's a common noun phrase. In French, we don't capitalize names of dishes.

Shape your lips as if you are going to whistle or say 'oo', but try to say the English letter 'E'. It's a tight, focused sound. This is one of the most distinct sounds in French.

Technically yes, but French people usually say 'grillée' for a lightbulb that has burnt out. 'L'ampoule est grillée' is the standard phrase.

It is 'brûlées'. You add an 'e' for feminine and an 's' for plural. For example: 'Les tartes sont brûlées'.

Yes, in standard and formal French. While some spelling reforms make it optional on 'u', it is still very much expected by native speakers and in academic contexts.

It means 'to smell something burning'. The 'le' is important because you are smelling the 'burnt thing/odor'. It's a very common warning in a house.

Yes. If they are 'un grand brûlé', they are a burn victim. If they are 'brûlé' in their job, it means they are discredited and won't be hired again.

No, 'cramé' is slang. If you use it with a waiter, it might sound rude or uneducated. Use 'brûlé' instead.

'Incendié' means 'set on fire' (usually a building or car). 'Brûlé' is the state of being burnt. You would say 'La maison incendiée est maintenant toute brûlée'.

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