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A2 verb 11 min de lectura

brûler

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos brûler en 30 segundos

Explicación brûler in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal and common uses of 'brûler'. This mainly involves physical fire and basic sensations of heat. You will encounter 'brûler' when talking about a fireplace (la cheminée), a candle (la bougie), or cooking accidents. It is important to learn the present tense conjugation: je brûle, tu brûles, il brûle, nous brûlons, vous brûlez, ils brûlent. You should also recognize the past participle 'brûlé', which often acts like an adjective to describe overcooked food. For example, 'Le pain est brûlé' (The bread is burned). At this stage, keep your sentences simple and focus on concrete objects that can catch fire or be damaged by heat. You don't need to worry about complex idioms yet, but knowing that 'ça brûle' means 'it's burning' or 'it's hot' is very helpful for basic safety and communication.

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At the A2 level, you begin to expand your use of 'brûler' into more common daily situations and simple idioms. This is the stage where you should learn the reflexive form 'se brûler' to talk about accidental injuries, like burning your hand on a stove. Remember the grammar rule: 'Je me suis brûlé la main' (I burned my hand). You should also learn the very common traffic idiom 'brûler un feu rouge' (to run a red light). At A2, you are expected to use 'brûler' in the passé composé and imparfait to tell stories or describe past events. For instance, 'Hier, j'ai brûlé le dîner' or 'Le feu brûlait dans la forêt'. You can also start using it to describe weather, such as a sun that 'brûle la peau'. This level is about moving from simple labels to describing actions and consequences in everyday life.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with the metaphorical and figurative uses of 'brûler'. You will encounter it in phrases like 'brûler d'envie de faire quelque chose' (to be dying to do something) or 'brûler d'impatience'. This level requires you to understand how 'brûler' can describe intense emotions and desires. You should also be able to distinguish 'brûler' from its synonyms like 'consumer' or 'roussir' depending on the context. In terms of grammar, you might use 'brûler' in the subjunctive or conditional to express feelings or hypothetical situations: 'J'ai peur que la maison ne brûle' or 'Si j'avais laissé le gâteau plus longtemps, il aurait brûlé'. You should also be aware of more diverse idioms like 'brûler les étapes' (to skip steps), which is useful in professional or educational discussions about progress.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to have a nuanced understanding of 'brûler' in various registers, from formal literature to casual slang. You should recognize 'cramer' as a common informal alternative. You will use 'brûler' to discuss social and environmental issues, such as 'brûler des énergies fossiles' (burning fossil fuels) or the consequences of global warming. At this level, you can handle more complex idiomatic expressions like 'brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts' (to burn the candle at both ends) to describe a fast-paced, exhausting lifestyle. Your ability to use the verb should be fluid, incorporating it into debates and detailed explanations. You should also understand its use in historical and literary contexts, such as the 'autodafé' (burning of books) or poetic descriptions of passion that 'brûle l'âme'.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'brûler' should show a high degree of precision and stylistic awareness. You can use the verb to create vivid imagery in writing, choosing it or its more specific synonyms (incendier, calciner, carboniser) to convey exact meanings. You should be familiar with literary uses of 'brûler' as a symbol of purification or total destruction. You can understand and use rare or formal idioms like 'brûler ses vaisseaux' (to burn one's boats/bridges, making retreat impossible). In professional contexts, you might use it to discuss economic concepts like 'brûler du cash' (burning through cash/capital). Your mastery of the verb allows you to catch subtle puns and cultural references in French media, literature, and cinema, where 'brûler' is often used to evoke themes of rebellion, passion, and the ephemeral nature of life.

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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'brûler'. You can appreciate the philosophical depth the word carries in French thought, from the 'feu sacré' that burns in a creator to the nihilistic 'tout brûler' of certain political movements. You can use the verb with total flexibility in any grammatical structure, including archaic or highly formal ones. You are aware of the etymological roots (from the Latin 'brustulare') and how the word has evolved over centuries. You can effortlessly switch between the literal, the figurative, and the highly idiomatic, using 'brûler' to add texture and resonance to your speech and writing. Whether analyzing a poem by Baudelaire or discussing high-level strategy, 'brûler' is a tool you use with perfect accuracy and stylistic flair, understanding all its connotations and historical weight.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

brûler en 30 segundos

Brûler is the primary French verb for 'to burn' in both literal and figurative senses.
It is a regular -er verb, making it easy to conjugate for beginners.
Commonly used for fire, cooking, sunburns, and running red lights.
Can express intense emotions like desire or impatience when used with 'de'.

The French verb brûler is a versatile and essential word that primarily translates to "to burn" in English. At its most basic level, it describes the physical process of combustion or the effect of extreme heat on an object or surface. Whether you are talking about a roaring fireplace, a piece of toast that stayed in the toaster too long, or the painful sensation of a sunburn after a day at the beach, brûler is your go-to term. In the French language, it functions as both a transitive verb (something burning something else) and an intransitive verb (something being on fire).

Physical Combustion: This is the literal use where fire consumes material. For example, wood in a stove or a building during a fire.

Les feuilles mortes commencent à brûler dans le jardin.

Beyond the literal flames, brûler is frequently used to describe sensations of heat or irritation. If you drink coffee that is too hot, it will brûler your tongue. If you apply a harsh chemical to your skin, it might brûler. This extension into the realm of sensation is very common in medical and culinary contexts. Furthermore, the word takes on a metaphorical life in French literature and daily conversation. It can describe intense emotions, particularly passion or desire. When someone is "burning with desire," the French say they brûlent d'envie. It captures the consuming, almost painful nature of deep yearning or curiosity.

The Culinary Context: Used when food is overcooked or charred. It is a common kitchen disaster term.

Fais attention à ne pas faire brûler le ragoût sur le feu.

In more modern or idiomatic contexts, brûler appears in phrases related to speed and rule-breaking. One of the most common idiomatic uses for travelers is brûler un feu rouge, which literally means "to burn a red light," but translates to "running a red light" in English. Similarly, brûler les étapes means to skip steps or rush through a process without following the proper order. This versatility makes it a high-frequency verb that appears in news reports, romantic novels, traffic court, and the kitchen alike. Understanding its range allows a learner to move from simple descriptions of fire to nuanced expressions of human behavior and emotional intensity.

Metaphorical Intensity: Expressing extreme desire, impatience, or the rapid consumption of resources.

Elle brûle d'impatience de découvrir ses cadeaux de Noël.

Using brûler correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility. It can be used transitively, where there is a direct object receiving the action. For instance, if you are destroying old documents, you would say Je brûle les papiers. In this case, 'les papiers' is the direct object. However, it can also be used intransitively, meaning the subject itself is the thing that is burning. For example, La bougie brûle doucement (The candle burns slowly). This dual nature is very similar to the English verb "to burn," making it intuitive for English speakers to grasp.

Transitive Usage: Subject + Verb + Direct Object. The subject performs the action on something.

Le soleil a brûlé les feuilles délicates des fleurs.

When talking about accidents or personal injuries, the pronominal form se brûler is essential. This indicates that someone has burned themselves. In French, you must use the reflexive pronoun: Je me suis brûlé le doigt (I burned my finger). Note that in French, we use the definite article 'le' rather than the possessive 'mon' when the reflexive pronoun already indicates whose finger it is. This is a common pattern for parts of the body in French. If you want to say something is "burning hot" to the touch, you might use the present participle brûlant as an adjective, as in une soupe brûlante.

Intransitive Usage: The subject is the thing undergoing the combustion. No direct object follows.

Regarde comme le bois brûle bien dans la cheminée !

Another important structure involves the preposition de. When expressing a strong internal state, we use brûler de + noun or infinitive. Common examples include brûler d'amour (to burn with love), brûler de désir (to burn with desire), and brûler d'impatience (to be burning with impatience). In these cases, the verb conveys a sense of being consumed from within by a powerful force. This is a more formal or literary way to express intensity, but it is frequently encountered in French culture and media.

Pronominal Form: Used for reflexive actions, especially accidental injuries to oneself.

Il s'est brûlé en sortant le plat du four sans gants.

In everyday French life, you will hear brûler in a variety of practical settings. One of the most common is in the kitchen. French culinary culture is meticulous, and the smell of something burning—ça sent le brûlé—is an immediate cause for alarm. You might hear a chef or a parent yell, Vite ! Le lait va brûler ! (Quick! The milk is going to burn!). It is also a standard term in medical or first-aid situations. If you go to a pharmacy because of a minor kitchen accident or a sunburn, you would say, Je me suis brûlé or J'ai une brûlure (I have a burn).

Traffic and Driving: Commonly used when discussing traffic violations or aggressive driving behaviors.

Le chauffard a brûlé le feu rouge et a failli causer un accident.

Another very common place to hear this word is in the context of driving and the rules of the road. As mentioned, brûler un feu is the standard way to say someone ran a red light. You might hear this in news reports about traffic accidents or in casual conversation when complaining about bad drivers. In a similar vein, brûler la politesse à quelqu'un is a slightly more formal but common idiom meaning to leave without saying goodbye or to overtake someone rudely. It suggests a lack of manners that "burns" the social contract of politeness.

The Pharmacy/Health: Used for skin irritations, sunburns, or domestic accidents involving heat.

Cette crème apaisante est parfaite si tu t'es fait brûler par le soleil.

In pop culture, specifically in music and film, brûler is a staple of romantic and dramatic language. French songs are full of references to hearts that burn (le cœur qui brûle) or the world burning. It provides a powerful image of destruction and passion that resonates deeply in artistic expression. You might also hear it in sports, specifically in the phrase brûler ses cartouches, which means to use up all one's resources or chances too early in a game or competition. This wide usage across different domains—from the mundane safety of the kitchen to the heights of poetic passion—makes it a truly indispensable part of the French vocabulary.

Artistic Expression: Used in lyrics and poetry to symbolize intense feelings or unavoidable destruction.

Dans sa chanson, il dit que son amour pour elle le brûle de l'intérieur.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using brûler is confusing it with the verb allumer. While both are related to fire, allumer means "to light" or "to ignite" (the action of starting the fire), whereas brûler describes the ongoing state of being on fire or the destructive result of heat. You allumes a candle, and then the candle brûle. Using brûler when you mean to start a fire can sound strange to native speakers, as it implies the object is already being consumed or destroyed rather than just being lit.

Brûler vs. Allumer: Allumer is the start (igniting); brûler is the process or the damage.

On allume la mèche pour que la bougie puisse brûler.

Another common error involves the use of possessive adjectives with the reflexive form se brûler. In English, we say "I burned my hand." In French, the correct form is Je me suis brûlé la main. Many learners incorrectly say J'ai brûlé ma main. While this is technically understandable, it sounds like you purposely took your hand and held it over a flame as if it were an external object. The reflexive se indicates that the action happened to you, and the definite article la is used for the body part because the owner is already clear from the reflexive pronoun.

Possessive Reflexives: Always use reflexive pronouns + definite articles for accidental self-injury.

Elle s'est brûlé la langue avec le thé trop chaud.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the difference between brûler and chauffer (to heat). If you want to warm up your soup, you chauffes it. If you brûles it, you have ruined it. Using brûler when you simply mean to increase the temperature is a common overstatement. Finally, remember that brûler is a regular verb. Some students try to apply irregular patterns found in other common verbs, but brûler follows the standard -er conjugation perfectly (je brûle, tu brûles, il brûle, etc.), so don't overcomplicate the spelling or endings.

Brûler vs. Chauffer: Chauffer is to warm up; brûler is to over-apply heat to the point of damage.

Je veux juste chauffer mon café, pas le faire brûler.

While brûler is the most common and versatile word for burning, French offers several synonyms that provide more specific nuances. For instance, consumer is often used when something is being slowly eaten away or used up by fire or time. It has a more gradual, almost elegant connotation compared to the sometimes violent brûler. If you are talking about a forest fire or a building being intentionally set on fire, you might use incendier. This verb often implies a larger scale or a criminal act (arson).

Brûler vs. Consumer: Brûler is general; consumer suggests a slow, total depletion of the material.

La bougie se consume lentement dans la nuit noire.

In informal or slang contexts, you will frequently hear the verb cramer. This is very common among young people or in casual settings to mean "to burn" or "to be toasted." For example, if you overcook a pizza, you might say La pizza est cramée. It can also mean to be "caught" or "busted" in a metaphorical sense. Another specific alternative is roussir, which means to singe or to scorch slightly, often used with fabric when ironing or with hair. If you only slightly burn something, roussir is the more precise choice.

Brûler vs. Incendier: Incendier is more formal and usually refers to large-scale fires or deliberate acts.

Les manifestants ont incendié plusieurs voitures dans la rue.

When talking about the sun, you might use griller (to grill) as a synonym for getting a sunburn or being very hot. In a professional context, if someone is experiencing extreme exhaustion, the English loanword "burn-out" is used, but you might also hear se consumer au travail or s'épuiser. For chemical burns, corroder (to corrode) might be more scientifically accurate, though brûler is still common. Understanding these alternatives allows you to choose the word that best fits the intensity and context of the situation you are describing.

Brûler vs. Roussir: Roussir is for light scorching; brûler is for more significant damage.

Le fer à repasser était trop chaud et a roussi ma chemise blanche.

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The circumflex accent (^) on the 'û' in 'brûler' is a historical marker. It indicates that there used to be an 's' after the 'u' (brustler), which disappeared over time as the language evolved.

Guía de pronunciación

UK /bʁy.le/

US /bʁy.le/

Stress falls on the final syllable: brû-LÉ.

Rima con

parler manger aller aimer chanter donner jouer tomber

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'u' like 'ou' (blue).
Using an English 'r' sound.
Pronouncing the final 'r' (it is silent in the infinitive).
Making the 'é' sound like a diphthong (ay-ee).
Stressing the first syllable.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 1/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to its similarity to 'brulee' and clear context.

Escritura 2/5

Requires attention to the circumflex accent and reflexive structures.

Expresión oral 2/5

The French 'u' and 'r' can be tricky for English speakers.

Escucha 1/5

Distinct sound, usually clear in spoken French.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

le feu chaud allumer la main manger

Aprende después

éteindre chauffer l'incendie la fumée le pompier

Avanzado

calciner carboniser consumer incendier roussir

Gramática que debes saber

Reflexive verbs for body parts

Je me brûle LE doigt (not MON doigt).

Regular -er verb conjugation

Nous brûlons, vous brûlez.

Passé composé with 'être' for reflexive

Elle s'est brûlée.

Circumflex accent usage

The 'û' in brûler.

Infinitive after 'faire'

Faire brûler la viande.

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Ejemplos por nivel

Le bois brûle dans la cheminée.

The wood is burning in the fireplace.

Simple present tense of a regular -er verb.

Attention, la soupe brûle !

Watch out, the soup is burning!

Used here to indicate overcooking.

La bougie brûle sur la table.

The candle is burning on the table.

Intransitive use: the subject is burning.

Il ne faut pas brûler le papier.

You must not burn the paper.

Negative imperative with the infinitive.

Le soleil brûle aujourd'hui.

The sun is burning today.

Metaphorical use for extreme heat.

J'aime regarder le feu brûler.

I like to watch the fire burn.

Infinitive used after a verb of perception (regarder).

Le pain est tout brûlé.

The bread is completely burned.

Past participle used as an adjective.

Est-ce que ça brûle ?

Is it burning?

Standard question form with 'est-ce que'.

Je me suis brûlé le doigt avec l'allumette.

I burned my finger with the match.

Reflexive form 'se brûler' for accidental injury.

Il a brûlé un feu rouge ce matin.

He ran a red light this morning.

Idiomatic expression 'brûler un feu'.

Nous avons brûlé tous les vieux documents.

We burned all the old documents.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Fais attention à ne pas te brûler !

Be careful not to burn yourself!

Reflexive imperative in the negative.

Le cuisinier a fait brûler la viande.

The cook let the meat burn.

Causative construction 'faire' + infinitive.

Ma peau brûle après une journée à la plage.

My skin is burning after a day at the beach.

Intransitive use describing a sensation.

Les feuilles brûlent dans le jardin de mon voisin.

Leaves are burning in my neighbor's garden.

Present tense, third person plural.

Est-ce que tu as déjà brûlé un CD ?

Have you ever burned a CD?

Technological use of the verb.

Elle brûle d'envie de partir en voyage.

She is dying to go on a trip.

Figurative expression 'brûler d'envie de'.

Il ne faut pas brûler les étapes si tu veux réussir.

You mustn't skip steps if you want to succeed.

Idiom 'brûler les étapes' (to rush/skip steps).

Le désir de vengeance le brûlait intérieurement.

The desire for revenge was burning him up inside.

Imparfait used for a continuous internal state.

La passion brûle souvent très vite.

Passion often burns out very quickly.

Abstract subject with metaphorical verb use.

Il brûle d'impatience de voir les résultats.

He is burning with impatience to see the results.

Phrase 'brûler d'impatience'.

Le piment me brûle la gorge.

The chili pepper is burning my throat.

Transitive use describing a physical sensation.

Elle s'est brûlé les ailes en voulant aller trop vite.

She burned her wings by wanting to go too fast.

Idiom 'se brûler les ailes' (to overreach and fail).

Le feu brûlait encore quand les pompiers sont arrivés.

The fire was still burning when the firefighters arrived.

Contrast between imparfait and passé composé.

À force de travailler trop, il finit par se brûler.

By working too much, he ended up burning out.

Reflexive use referring to 'burn-out'.

La ville a été brûlée pendant la guerre.

The city was burned during the war.

Passive voice construction.

Il a brûlé la politesse à tout le monde en partant sans rien dire.

He was rude to everyone by leaving without saying a word.

Idiom 'brûler la politesse' (to leave rudely).

Les calories se brûlent plus vite pendant l'effort intense.

Calories are burned faster during intense effort.

Pronominal passive 'se brûler'.

Il ne reste que des débris brûlés après l'incendie.

Only burned debris remains after the fire.

Adjectival use of the past participle.

L'acide peut brûler les métaux les plus résistants.

Acid can burn through the most resistant metals.

Modal verb 'pouvoir' + infinitive.

Elle brûle ses économies dans des futilités.

She is burning through her savings on trifles.

Metaphorical use for spending money rapidly.

Le soleil de midi brûle impitoyablement le désert.

The midday sun burns the desert pitilessly.

Descriptive literary use.

Il a brûlé ses vaisseaux pour ne plus pouvoir reculer.

He burned his bridges so he could no longer retreat.

Idiom 'brûler ses vaisseaux' (to burn one's boats/bridges).

Cette polémique brûle les doigts de tous les politiciens.

This controversy is a 'hot potato' for all politicians.

Figurative use for a dangerous or tricky topic.

L'autodafé consistait à brûler les livres jugés hérétiques.

The 'auto-da-fé' consisted of burning books deemed heretical.

Historical/Academic context.

Elle brûle d'une passion dévorante pour l'astronomie.

She burns with a consuming passion for astronomy.

Literary construction 'brûler d'une [noun]'.

Le givre a brûlé les bourgeons précoces du printemps.

The frost burned the early spring buds.

Scientific use: cold can also 'burn' plants.

Il brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts et finira par s'épuiser.

He is burning the candle at both ends and will end up exhausted.

Classic idiom for over-exertion.

Les souvenirs de cette époque brûlent encore dans sa mémoire.

Memories of that time still burn in his memory.

Metaphorical use for vivid, painful memories.

Le gouvernement a brûlé ses dernières cartouches lors de ce vote.

The government used its last resources during this vote.

Idiom 'brûler ses cartouches' (to use one's last resources).

L'œuvre de Néron a vu Rome brûler sous ses yeux indifférents.

Nero's work saw Rome burn before his indifferent eyes.

Infinitive construction after 'voir'.

Le texte sacré brûle d'une vérité transcendante.

The sacred text burns with a transcendent truth.

Highly formal/philosophical register.

Il s'agit de brûler ce que l'on a adoré pour avancer.

It is a matter of destroying what one once loved in order to move forward.

Philosophical/Psychological context.

La critique a littéralement brûlé son dernier roman.

The critics literally trashed (burned) his latest novel.

Metaphorical use for extreme negative criticism.

Le soleil décline, mais l'horizon brûle encore d'un rouge vif.

The sun is setting, but the horizon still burns a bright red.

Poetic/Descriptive use.

Chaque mot de son discours brûlait comme un fer rouge.

Every word of his speech burned like a branding iron.

Simile comparing words to hot iron.

Ils ont brûlé le pavé pour arriver à l'heure au rendez-vous.

They drove at breakneck speed to arrive on time for the meeting.

Idiom 'brûler le pavé' (to drive/travel very fast).

L'amertume le brûle plus sûrement que n'importe quel poison.

Bitterness burns him more surely than any poison.

Comparative structure with metaphorical verb.

Colocaciones comunes

brûler vif

brûler d'envie

faire brûler

brûler des calories

brûler un feu

brûler de l'encens

brûler les étapes

se brûler les ailes

brûler d'impatience

brûler le pavé

Frases Comunes

Ça brûle !

— It's burning! or It's very hot!

Ne touche pas le plat, ça brûle !

Brûler le feu rouge

— To go through a red light.

La police l'a arrêté car il a brûlé le feu.

Brûler d'envie de...

— To be dying to do something.

Je brûle d'envie de partir en vacances.

Brûler les étapes

— To skip steps or rush through something.

Prends ton temps, ne brûle pas les étapes.

Se brûler les doigts

— To burn one's fingers (literal or figurative).

Il s'est brûlé les doigts avec cette affaire louche.

Brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts

— To work too hard and sleep too little.

Tu vas tomber malade à force de brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts.

Brûler ses cartouches

— To use up all one's resources or arguments.

Il a brûlé toutes ses cartouches dès le début du débat.

Brûler la politesse

— To leave without saying goodbye or overtake rudely.

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

Brûler les planches

— To be a great, energetic stage actor.

Cette actrice brûle les planches à chaque représentation.

Brûler un stop

— To drive through a stop sign without stopping.

Il a eu une amende parce qu'il a brûlé un stop.

Se confunde a menudo con

brûler vs allumer

Allumer is to start the fire; brûler is the state of being on fire.

brûler vs chauffer

Chauffer is to warm up; brûler is to damage with too much heat.

brûler vs éclairer

Éclairer is to provide light, which a burning candle does, but they are not the same action.

Modismos y expresiones

"Brûler ses vaisseaux"

— To make it impossible to go back to a previous state or situation.

En démissionnant avec éclat, il a brûlé ses vaisseaux.

literary

"Brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts"

— To exhaust oneself by doing too much at once, often staying up late.

Elle brûle la chandelle par les deux bouts depuis des mois.

neutral

"Se brûler les ailes"

— To fail because of excessive ambition or risk-taking.

L'entrepreneur s'est brûlé les ailes avec ce projet trop grand.

neutral

"Brûler le pavé"

— To drive or ride very fast.

Les voitures de course brûlent le pavé sur le circuit.

neutral

"Brûler d'amour pour quelqu'un"

— To be deeply and passionately in love.

Il brûle d'amour pour sa nouvelle compagne.

literary

"Brûler les étapes"

— To skip necessary parts of a process to reach the end faster.

Dans cet apprentissage, il ne faut pas brûler les étapes.

neutral

"Brûler la politesse"

— To ignore social etiquette, specifically by leaving abruptly.

Il a brûlé la politesse à ses hôtes.

formal

"Brûler ses cartouches"

— To waste one's chances or resources too early.

N'utilise pas tous tes arguments maintenant, ne brûle pas tes cartouches.

informal

"Brûler les planches"

— To perform with great talent and charisma in the theater.

Dès qu'il entre en scène, il brûle les planches.

neutral

"Avoir le feu au derrière"

— To be in a huge hurry (contains the concept of burning/fire).

Il court comme s'il avait le feu au derrière.

informal

Fácil de confundir

brûler vs allumer

Both relate to fire/heat.

Allumer is the initiation of fire (lighting a match). Brûler is the ongoing process or the destruction.

J'allume la bougie et elle brûle toute la nuit.

brûler vs chauffer

Both involve temperature.

Chauffer is positive or neutral (to heat/warm). Brûler is negative or extreme (to char/hurt).

Je chauffe mon café, mais s'il est trop chaud, il me brûle.

brûler vs cramer

They mean the same thing.

Cramer is slang/informal. Brûler is standard French. Cramer can also mean 'to be caught'.

Ma pizza est cramée (informal) vs Ma pizza est brûlée (neutral).

brûler vs roussir

Both involve heat damage.

Roussir is only a surface scorch (turning brown). Brûler is deeper damage.

Le fer a roussi la nappe, mais la bougie a brûlé le rideau.

brûler vs briller

Similar sound.

Briller means 'to shine'. Brûler means 'to burn'.

Le soleil brille (shines) et il me brûle (burns) la peau.

Patrones de oraciones

Le/La [subject] brûle.

La bougie brûle.

Je me suis brûlé [article] [body part].

Je me suis brûlé la main.

[Subject] a brûlé le feu.

Le taxi a brûlé le feu.

Brûler de [emotion].

Il brûle d'impatience.

Faire brûler [object].

Il fait brûler du bois.

Se brûler les ailes.

Il s'est brûlé les ailes.

Brûler ses vaisseaux.

Elle a brûlé ses vaisseaux.

Brûler le pavé.

La voiture brûle le pavé.

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

brûlure (a burn)

brûlage (the act of burning)

brûleur (a burner)

brûlis (burnt clearing)

Verbos

rebrûler (to burn again)

brûler (to burn)

Adjetivos

brûlant (burning/scorching)

brûlé (burned)

Relacionado

le feu

la flamme

l'incendie

la chaleur

la cendre

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high; it is one of the top 1000 most used verbs in French.

Errores comunes

J'ai brûlé ma main. → Je me suis brûlé la main.
In French, accidental actions on one's own body require the reflexive form and a definite article.
Je brûle la cigarette. → J'allume la cigarette.
Use 'allumer' for the action of lighting something. 'Brûler' is the process of it being consumed.
Je cours un feu rouge. → Je brûle un feu rouge.
English says 'run a light,' but French uses the specific idiom 'brûler un feu.'
Le soleil est brûlé. → Le soleil brûle.
To say the sun is hot/scorching, use the active verb. 'Brûlé' would mean the sun itself has been burned by something else.
Il brûle d'impatience pour le film. → Il brûle d'impatience de voir le film.
The phrase 'brûler d'impatience' is usually followed by 'de' + infinitive when describing an action you want to do.

Consejos

Reflexive Body Parts

When using 'se brûler' with a body part, always use the definite article (le, la, les). Saying 'J'ai brûlé mon doigt' sounds like you burned a finger that wasn't attached to you!

Spicy Food

If food is too spicy, you can say 'Ça me brûle la bouche.' It's a very common way to describe the sensation of heat from peppers.

Traffic Rules

Memorize 'brûler un feu rouge.' It's one of the most useful idioms for anyone driving in a French-speaking country or reading news reports.

The Silent R

In the infinitive 'brûler', the final 'r' is silent. It should sound exactly like the past participle 'brûlé'. Both end in the 'ay' sound as in 'café'.

The Circumflex

Don't forget the hat on the 'u'! While some modern spelling reforms allow its removal, 'brûler' is still almost universally written with the accent.

Kitchen Disasters

If you smell something burning in the kitchen, say 'Ça sent le brûlé.' It's the standard phrase for 'Something smells like it's burning.'

Passionate Love

To sound more poetic, use 'brûler d'amour.' It conveys a much stronger and more literary sense of passion than just saying 'être amoureux'.

Brûler vs Allumer

Never say 'Je brûle la lumière' to mean 'I turn on the light.' You must use 'J'allume la lumière.' Brûler would mean you are setting the lamp on fire!

Using 'Cramer'

Use 'cramer' with friends to describe overcooked food. 'Mince, j'ai cramé les frites !' It sounds very natural and native.

Candle Metaphors

The idiom 'brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts' is very common in France to describe the 'work hard, play hard' lifestyle that leads to exhaustion.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'Brulee' (like Crème Brûlée). The top of the dessert is 'brûlée'—burned or caramelized with a torch. This helps you remember the meaning 'to burn'.

Asociación visual

Imagine a red 'STOP' light that is so hot it is melting and 'burning' (brûler). This links the literal meaning with the common idiom 'brûler un feu rouge'.

Word Web

Feu Chaleur Cuisine Passion Soleil Accident Vitesse Destruction

Desafío

Try to use 'brûler' in three different ways today: once for food, once for the weather, and once for an emotion.

Origen de la palabra

The word 'brûler' comes from the Old French 'bruler', which is believed to derive from a mixture of the Frankish word '*brōjan' (to scald/burn) and the Latin 'bustulāre' (to burn slightly), which is a diminutive of 'combūrere' (to burn up).

Significado original: The original sense was specifically related to the action of fire consuming wood or organic matter.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Gallo-Romance > French.

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'brûler' in the context of people; 'brûlé vif' is a very dark historical and criminal term.

English speakers often say 'run a red light', while French speakers 'burn' it. This difference in imagery is important for natural-sounding speech.

Crème Brûlée (famous dessert) Néron brûlant Rome (historical/mythical reference) Baudelaire's poetry often uses 'brûler' for passion.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Cooking

Le gâteau est brûlé.
Ça sent le brûlé.
Ne fais pas brûler le beurre.
Le fond de la casserole a brûlé.

Health/Injury

Je me suis brûlé la main.
J'ai un coup de soleil qui me brûle.
Applique de la crème sur la brûlure.
Ça me brûle quand je touche.

Driving

Il a brûlé le feu rouge.
Ne brûle pas le stop !
Il a eu un retrait de points pour avoir brûlé un feu.
On va brûler le pavé.

Emotions

Je brûle d'envie de le savoir.
Elle brûle d'impatience.
Un désir qui brûle.
Brûler de passion.

Environment

Brûler des déchets.
Brûler du charbon.
La forêt brûle.
Brûler les ressources naturelles.

Inicios de conversación

"As-tu déjà fait brûler quelque chose en cuisinant ?"

"Est-ce que tu as déjà brûlé un feu rouge par accident ?"

"Brûles-tu d'envie d'apprendre une nouvelle langue ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui te fait brûler d'impatience en ce moment ?"

"Préfères-tu le chauffage au bois qui brûle dans une cheminée ?"

Temas para diario

Décris une fois où tu t'es brûlé en faisant la cuisine. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

Y a-t-il un projet ou un rêve pour lequel tu brûles d'envie de commencer ?

Penses-tu que les gens brûlent trop vite leurs économies de nos jours ?

Raconte une histoire où un personnage brûle ses vaisseaux pour changer de vie.

Décris la sensation de la chaleur du soleil qui brûle sur ta peau pendant l'été.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Yes, 'brûler' is a regular -er verb. It follows the standard conjugation patterns for the first group, which makes it very predictable for learners. For example, in the present tense: je brûle, tu brûles, il brûle, nous brûlons, vous brûlez, ils brûlent.

You should use the reflexive form: 'Je me suis brûlé la main.' Note that you use 'la' (the) instead of 'ma' (my) because the reflexive pronoun 'me' already tells us whose hand it is. This is a standard rule for body parts in French.

It is an idiom meaning 'to run a red light.' Even though it literally translates to 'burning a fire,' it is the standard way to describe driving through a red traffic signal without stopping.

Yes, it can describe sensations like a 'burning' feeling from spicy food or chemicals. It is also used metaphorically for intense emotions like 'brûler d'envie' (to be dying to) or 'brûler d'amour' (to be passionately in love).

The most common slang term is 'cramer.' You might hear 'C'est cramé !' to mean 'It's burned!' or 'He's busted/caught!' It is very common in casual, spoken French among younger generations.

The circumflex (^) usually indicates that an 's' used to follow that vowel in Old French. In this case, 'brûler' used to be 'brusler.' The 's' was dropped, and the accent was added to mark its historical presence.

Yes, 'brûler un CD' was the standard term for writing data to a compact disc. While CDs are less common now, the verb is still used in technological contexts for similar processes.

Allumer is the action of starting a fire or turning on a light (to ignite). Brûler is what happens after—the state of being on fire or being consumed by heat. You allume the stove to brûle the wood.

Yes, 'brûlant' is the present participle of 'brûler' and is frequently used as an adjective meaning 'burning hot' or 'scorching.' For example, 'un soleil brûlant' (a scorching sun).

In the passé composé, it uses the auxiliary 'avoir': 'J'ai brûlé.' If it is reflexive, it uses 'être': 'Je me suis brûlé.' The past participle is 'brûlé'.

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