This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
French
Vocabulary
accélérer

A1 verb #4,500 most common 9 min read

accélérer

Top 4,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips accélérer in 30 Seconds

Explanation accélérer in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'accélérer' is a very useful verb to know for basic survival and descriptive tasks. You will primarily use it in the context of driving or walking. Imagine you are in a taxi and you are late; you might say 'S'il vous plaît, pouvez-vous accélérer ?' Although this is a bit direct, it's grammatically simple. At this stage, you should focus on the infinitive form and the basic present tense. Think of it as the opposite of 'ralentir' (to slow down). You will see it on road signs or hear it in simple instructions like 'Accélérez un peu'. It’s also helpful to associate it with 'la voiture' (the car) or 'le vélo' (the bicycle). Don't worry too much about complex figurative meanings yet; just focus on the physical act of going faster. Remember the spelling with double 'c' and the accent on the first 'e'. This verb helps you describe movement in a more precise way than just saying 'aller vite' (to go fast).

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'accélérer' in slightly more complex sentences, often involving a reason or a specific context. You might describe your daily routine or a trip you took: 'J'ai dû accélérer parce que j'étais en retard pour mon rendez-vous.' You should also become aware of the stem-changing property in the present tense (j'accélère, tu accélères). At this level, you can start using the expression 'accélérer le pas' which means to walk faster. This is a very common phrase in French stories and daily life. You might also encounter the noun form 'l'accélération' in simple news reports or weather forecasts. You are expected to use 'accélérer' in the passé composé ('j'ai accéléré') and the futur simple ('j'accélérerai'). Understanding that it is a regular -er verb with a minor spelling tweak will help you build confidence in your conjugation skills.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'accélérer' in both physical and metaphorical contexts. You will use it to discuss social trends, work projects, or environmental issues. For example, 'Le changement climatique accélère la disparition de certaines espèces.' You are now expected to handle the verb in various moods, including the subjunctive ('Il faut que nous accélérions le processus') and the conditional ('Si nous avions plus de budget, nous pourrions accélérer le projet'). You will also start to notice the word in professional settings, such as 'accélérer la production' or 'accélérer les négociations'. At B1, you should be able to distinguish between 'accélérer' and its synonyms like 'presser' or 'hâter' based on the level of formality and the specific nuance of the situation. Your vocabulary is expanding, and 'accélérer' becomes a tool for expressing urgency and progression in a more sophisticated manner.

At the B2 level, 'accélérer' is used fluently in debates and complex discussions. You might use it to describe economic phenomena like 'l'accélération de la croissance' or 'l'accélération de l'inflation'. You should be able to use it intransitively to describe a situation that is gaining momentum: 'La situation s'accélère'. You will also encounter it in literary or high-level journalistic texts where it might describe the 'accélération de l'histoire' (the acceleration of history). At this stage, you are expected to understand the nuances of its usage in passive constructions or with reflexive pronouns if the context demands, although 's'accélérer' is less common than the active form. You should also be familiar with related technical terms like 'accélérateur de particules' or 'accélérateur de particules' and how they function in a sentence. Your ability to use 'accélérer' to convey abstract concepts of speed and efficiency is a key indicator of your B2 proficiency.

At the C1 level, you use 'accélérer' with a high degree of precision and stylistic awareness. You can incorporate it into complex arguments about sociology, technology, or philosophy. For example, you might discuss the 'accélération sociale' as a consequence of digital technology. You understand that 'accélérer' can be used to create a sense of rhythm in your writing and speaking. You are also proficient in using its derivatives and related idioms with ease. You might use the verb in more obscure tenses like the passé simple in written narratives ('Il accéléra brusquement'). At C1, you can also play with the word's connotations—using it to imply positive progress or, conversely, a dangerous lack of control (e.g., 'accélérer vers l'abîme'). Your understanding of the word is deeply integrated with French culture and intellectual discourse, allowing you to use it in a way that sounds natural and authoritative.

At the C2 level, 'accélérer' is a word you can manipulate for maximum rhetorical effect. You are fully aware of its etymological roots (from the Latin 'accelerare') and how this informs its usage in various Romance languages. You can use it in highly specialized fields, from theoretical physics to avant-garde literature. You might critique a film by discussing the 'accélération du montage' or analyze a political movement by its 'volonté d'accélérer les ruptures sociales'. At this level, you no longer think about the conjugation or the basic meaning; the word is a flexible instrument in your linguistic repertoire. You can use it to express the most subtle gradations of speed and intensity. You are also capable of understanding and using the word in its most abstract, philosophical senses, such as the concept of 'accelerationism' in political theory, and discussing it fluently in French.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

accélérer in 30 Seconds

Accélérer means to increase speed, whether physically (driving) or metaphorically (working faster).
It is a common -er verb with a stem-change: 'é' becomes 'è' in most present tense forms.
The word is used in driving, sports, business, and science to describe rapid progression.
Its direct antonym is 'ralentir', which means to slow down or decrease speed.

The French verb accélérer is a versatile and essential word that primarily translates to "to accelerate" or "to speed up" in English. At its most basic level, it describes the physical act of increasing the velocity of a vehicle or a person. However, its utility extends far beyond the driver's seat. In the modern world, we use accélérer to describe the quickening pace of technological advancement, the rushing of a project to meet a deadline, or even the physiological response of a heart beating faster during exercise. It is a first-group verb ending in -er, making its conjugation relatively predictable, though it does feature a stem-changing accent in certain forms to maintain the correct vowel sound. Understanding accélérer is crucial for anyone navigating daily life in a French-speaking environment, from understanding traffic instructions to participating in high-level business discussions about growth and efficiency.

Physical Motion: The most common use involves vehicles. When you press the gas pedal (l'accélérateur), you are performing the action of accélérer. It applies to cars, bicycles, runners, and even celestial bodies in a scientific context.

Le conducteur a dû accélérer pour dépasser le camion sur l'autoroute.

Process and Time: In a professional or academic setting, accélérer refers to shortening the duration of a process. You might accelerate a production cycle or a learning curve. It implies a sense of urgency and increased productivity.

Nous devons accélérer le processus de recrutement pour combler les postes vacants.

Biological Context: Medical professionals and athletes use the term to describe heart rate (le rythme cardiaque) or breathing. If you are nervous or sprinting, your heart will accélérer.

Sous l'effet de la peur, son cœur commença à accélérer violemment.

L'entreprise a décidé d' accélérer sa transition écologique.

Il faut accélérer le pas si nous voulons arriver avant la fermeture du magasin.

Using accélérer correctly requires an understanding of whether you are using it transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (without one). In its intransitive form, it simply means to move faster. For example, "La voiture accélère" (The car is speeding up). In its transitive form, it means to make something else go faster: "Le gouvernement veut accélérer la croissance économique" (The government wants to accelerate economic growth). This distinction is vital for clear communication. Furthermore, the verb is often paired with nouns like le pas (the pace/step), le mouvement (the movement), or le rythme (the rhythm). When you 'accélérer le pas', you are literally walking faster. This is a common idiomatic expression heard in streets across the Francophone world.

Transitive Usage: Used when an agent causes an object to speed up. Structure: [Subject] + [accélérer] + [Direct Object]. Example: 'La chaleur accélère la décomposition'.

Vous devriez accélérer vos recherches pour finir le rapport à temps.

Intransitive Usage: Used when the subject itself increases speed. Structure: [Subject] + [accélérer]. Example: 'Le train commence à accélérer'.

Dès qu'il a vu le feu passer au vert, il a fait accélérer le moteur.

Imperative Mood: Used for giving commands or urgent suggestions. 'Accélérez !' is a common shout in sports or during a group walk.

Allez, accélérez un peu, nous sommes en retard !

L'innovation technologique ne cesse d'accélérer le changement social.

Si tu veux gagner la course, tu dois accélérer dans le dernier virage.

You will encounter accélérer in a variety of real-world scenarios. On French television, news anchors often discuss the 'accélération de l'inflation' or the 'accélération des réformes'. In the world of sports, particularly cycling (Le Tour de France) or Formula 1, commentators use it constantly to describe a competitor making a break from the pack. In a more mundane setting, you'll hear it at the train station when an announcement mentions a train gaining speed after a delay. In the workplace, your manager might ask you to accélérer la cadence (speed up the pace) during a busy period. It is also a key term in scientific and pedagogical contexts, referring to accelerated learning programs (classes accélérées) or particles in a collider (accélérateur de particules).

The Automotive World: GPS systems in French often say 'Accélérez jusqu'à la vitesse autorisée' (Accelerate to the authorized speed). Mechanics use it to diagnose engine issues related to acceleration.

Le GPS m'a dit d'accélérer pour rejoindre l'autoroute A1.

News and Economy: Headlines frequently use the word to describe rapid changes in the market. 'L'accélération de la demande mondiale' is a common phrase in economic journals like Les Échos.

Les experts prévoient que le réchauffement climatique va accélérer la fonte des glaces.

Education and Careers: Career coaches talk about 'accélérer sa carrière' through networking or additional certifications. Language schools offer 'cours accélérés' for rapid acquisition.

Elle a pris des cours du soir pour accélérer son apprentissage du français.

Le gouvernement a promis d'accélérer le déploiement de la fibre optique.

Pour ne pas rater le bus, nous avons dû accélérer soudainement.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make with accélérer is related to spelling, specifically the accents. In French, when a verb has an 'é' (acute accent) in the last syllable of the stem, that accent often changes to an 'è' (grave accent) when the following syllable contains a silent 'e'. This means that while the infinitive is accélérer, the first-person singular is j'accélère. Forgetting this change is a hallmark of a beginner. Another mistake is confusing accélérer with se dépêcher. While both involve speed, se dépêcher means 'to hurry oneself', whereas accélérer focuses on the rate of speed or the process itself. You 'accélérer' a car, but you 'vous dépêchez' to catch a train. Additionally, learners sometimes use 'viter' (which isn't a word) instead of accélérer because of the adjective 'vite'.

The Accent Trap: Incorrect: *J'accélére. Correct: J'accélère. The grave accent is necessary to open the vowel sound before the silent 'e'. This applies to je, tu, il/elle, and ils/elles.

Il est important de ne pas oublier l'accent grave quand on écrit : 'il accélère'.

Confusion with 'Hâter': 'Hâter' also means to speed up, but it's more formal and often used for events or conclusions (e.g., hâter sa fin). Accélérer is the more common, all-purpose term.

Ne confondez pas accélérer (augmenter la vitesse) et se dépêcher (agir avec hâte).

Incorrect Prepositions: Learners sometimes try to say 'accélérer à' or 'accélérer de'. Usually, accélérer is used directly with a noun: 'accélérer le rythme'.

Elle a réussi à accélérer la cadence de production sans faire d'erreurs.

On ne dit pas 'il va plus vite' dans un rapport technique, on dit 'il accélère'.

Attention à ne pas accélérer trop fort sur une route mouillée.

While accélérer is the most common way to express an increase in speed, French offers several alternatives depending on the context and desired nuance. For instance, presser is often used when there is a deadline or a need for urgency (e.g., 'presser le pas'). Précipiter suggests a more sudden or even reckless increase in speed, often implying that things might go wrong because they are happening too fast. In scientific contexts, incrémenter might be used for values, though it's not a direct synonym for speed. If you are talking about making a process more efficient and thus faster, dynamiser or booster (borrowed from English) are popular in business settings. Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the word that fits the register and specific situation perfectly.

Accélérer vs. Se Dépêcher: Accélérer: To increase rate or speed (technical/physical).
Se dépêcher: To hurry (personal/urgent).

Au lieu de simplement accélérer, il a commencé à courir pour ne pas être en retard.

Accélérer vs. Précipiter: Accélérer: Controlled increase.
Précipiter: Hasty, often uncontrolled increase (e.g., precipitating a crisis).

La nouvelle technologie va accélérer le développement de nouveaux médicaments.

Common Phrasal Alternatives: 'Mettre les bouchées doubles' (to work twice as hard/fast) and 'Passer à la vitesse supérieure' (to move to the next gear/level).

Il est temps d'accélérer la cadence pour finir avant ce soir.

Le vent a fait accélérer la propagation de l'incendie.

Nous ne pouvons pas accélérer le temps, il faut être patient.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Nous devons accélérer la mise en œuvre des réformes structurelles."

Neutral

"La voiture accélère pour doubler le camion."

Informal

"Allez, accélère un peu, on va rater le début du film !"

Child friendly

"Le petit lapin accélère pour échapper au renard."

Slang

"Il a écrasé le champignon pour accélérer à fond."

Fun Fact

The word 'celerity' in English comes from the same Latin root 'celer', but 'accelerate' is much more common in daily English than 'celerity'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ak.se.le.ʁe/

US /ak.se.le.re/

In French, stress is usually on the last syllable: ak-se-le-RÉ.

Rhymes With

espérer préférer libérer opérer générer tempérer considérer adhérer

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'h' (which doesn't exist here).
Forgetting the 's' sound of the second 'c'.
Pronouncing the final 'r' in the infinitive (it's silent in -er verbs).
Misplacing the accent in speech.
Confusing the 'é' and 'è' sounds.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize due to English cognate.

Writing 3/5

Tricky because of the double 'c' and the accent change in conjugation.

Speaking 2/5

Simple pronunciation, but requires the French 'r'.

Listening 1/5

Clear sound and often used in familiar contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

aller vite voiture plus faire

Learn Next

ralentir vitesse freiner dépasser conduire

Advanced

catalyser précipiter incrémenter propulser hâter

Grammar to Know

Stem-changing verbs in -er (é to è)

J'accélère vs Nous accélérons.

Auxiliary verb 'avoir' in compound tenses

J'ai accéléré.

Transitive vs Intransitive usage

Il accélère (intransitive) vs Il accélère le rythme (transitive).

Position of adverbs with verbs

Il accélère brusquement.

Infinitive after verbs of movement or modal verbs

Il va accélérer / Il doit accélérer.

Examples by Level

La voiture accélère sur la route.

The car accelerates on the road.

Present tense, third person singular.

Tu dois accélérer un peu.

You must speed up a bit.

Infinitive after a modal verb (devoir).

Le vélo accélère dans la descente.

The bike speeds up on the downhill.

Simple subject-verb agreement.

Nous accélérons pour attraper le bus.

We are speeding up to catch the bus.

Present tense, first person plural.

Il ne faut pas accélérer ici.

You must not speed up here.

Negative construction with 'il ne faut pas'.

J'accélère quand le feu est vert.

I accelerate when the light is green.

Stem change: é becomes è.

Voulez-vous accélérer le rythme ?

Do you want to speed up the pace?

Interrogative with 'voulez-vous'.

Elle accélère pour finir son travail.

She speeds up to finish her work.

Present tense, third person singular.

J'ai accéléré le pas pour ne pas être en retard.

I quickened my pace so as not to be late.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Le train a commencé à accélérer après la gare.

The train started to accelerate after the station.

Infinitive after 'commencer à'.

Si tu accélères, nous arriverons à midi.

If you speed up, we will arrive at noon.

Si-clause with present and future.

Vous avez accéléré trop vite au virage.

You accelerated too fast at the turn.

Passé composé with an adverb (trop vite).

Elle accélère toujours quand elle est stressée.

She always speeds up when she is stressed.

Frequency adverb 'toujours'.

Nous allons accélérer la réunion pour finir tôt.

We are going to speed up the meeting to finish early.

Futur proche with 'aller'.

Il accélère sa course pour gagner la médaille.

He speeds up his run to win the medal.

Direct object 'sa course'.

Le vent fait accélérer les nuages dans le ciel.

The wind makes the clouds speed up in the sky.

Causative construction with 'faire'.

L'entreprise doit accélérer sa transformation numérique.

The company must accelerate its digital transformation.

Abstract direct object.

Le rythme cardiaque accélère pendant l'effort physique.

The heart rate speeds up during physical effort.

Medical/biological context.

Il est nécessaire d'accélérer les procédures administratives.

It is necessary to speed up administrative procedures.

Impersonal construction 'il est nécessaire de'.

Nous avons accéléré le projet pour respecter les délais.

We accelerated the project to meet the deadlines.

Passé composé with 'respecter'.

La chaleur accélère la maturation des fruits.

The heat speeds up the ripening of the fruits.

Scientific/natural process.

Le gouvernement veut accélérer la transition énergétique.

The government wants to accelerate the energy transition.

Political/social context.

J'espère que les travaux vont accélérer cette semaine.

I hope the work will speed up this week.

Subordinate clause with 'que'.

Ils ont décidé d'accélérer la cadence de production.

They decided to speed up the production rate.

Expression 'accélérer la cadence'.

L'innovation technologique ne cesse d'accélérer le changement.

Technological innovation never stops accelerating change.

Negative construction 'ne cesse de'.

La crise a contribué à accélérer la chute des prix.

The crisis contributed to accelerating the fall in prices.

Verb 'contribuer à'.

Il faut accélérer la mise en œuvre de ces réformes.

The implementation of these reforms must be accelerated.

Noun phrase 'mise en œuvre'.

L'expansion urbaine accélère la déforestation dans cette région.

Urban expansion is accelerating deforestation in this region.

Environmental context.

Son discours a servi à accélérer la prise de décision.

His speech served to accelerate the decision-making process.

Verb 'servir à'.

Nous devons accélérer nos efforts pour atteindre nos objectifs.

We must accelerate our efforts to reach our goals.

Possessive adjective 'nos efforts'.

La mondialisation accélère les échanges culturels.

Globalization accelerates cultural exchanges.

Sociological context.

Le moteur a rugi lorsqu'il a commencé à accélérer.

The engine roared when he started to accelerate.

Temporal conjunction 'lorsque'.

L'accélération du temps semble être un trait de la modernité.

The acceleration of time seems to be a feature of modernity.

Philosophical subject.

Le chercheur a tenté d'accélérer la réaction chimique par un catalyseur.

The researcher attempted to accelerate the chemical reaction using a catalyst.

Technical scientific context.

Il est impératif d'accélérer le démantèlement des centrales nucléaires.

It is imperative to accelerate the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

Formal adjective 'impératif'.

La poésie peut parfois accélérer le rythme du cœur par sa beauté.

Poetry can sometimes speed up the heart's rhythm through its beauty.

Metaphorical usage.

Les tensions géopolitiques pourraient accélérer la course aux armements.

Geopolitical tensions could accelerate the arms race.

Conditional mood 'pourraient'.

Il a accéléré sa plume pour noter toutes ses pensées.

He speeded up his pen to write down all his thoughts.

Literary metonymy 'sa plume'.

L'intelligence artificielle risque d'accélérer l'obsolescence des compétences.

Artificial intelligence risks accelerating the obsolescence of skills.

Verb 'risquer de'.

Elle a su accélérer au moment opportun pour remporter le scrutin.

She knew how to speed up at the right moment to win the ballot.

Strategic context.

Le récit s'accélère, entraînant le lecteur dans une spirale de suspense.

The narrative accelerates, drawing the reader into a spiral of suspense.

Reflexive form 's'accélérer'.

L'accélérationnisme prône d'accélérer les processus du capitalisme.

Accelerationism advocates for accelerating the processes of capitalism.

Political theory context.

Il fallut accélérer la manœuvre pour éviter la collision imminente.

It was necessary to accelerate the maneuver to avoid the imminent collision.

Passé simple 'fallut'.

La déliquescence de l'empire fut accélérée par des invasions successives.

The decay of the empire was accelerated by successive invasions.

Passive voice 'fut accélérée'.

L'artiste cherche à accélérer la perception visuelle par des jeux de lumière.

The artist seeks to accelerate visual perception through light play.

Aesthetic/perceptual context.

Cette découverte pourrait accélérer de façon exponentielle nos connaissances.

This discovery could exponentially accelerate our knowledge.

Adverbial phrase 'de façon exponentielle'.

L'accélération constante de la vie urbaine mène souvent à l'aliénation.

The constant acceleration of urban life often leads to alienation.

Sociological analysis.

Il convient d'accélérer la cadence sans pour autant sacrifier la qualité.

It is appropriate to speed up the pace without sacrificing quality.

Formal expression 'il convient de'.

Common Collocations

Accélérer le pas

Accélérer la cadence

Accélérer le rythme

Accélérer le processus

Accélérer la croissance

Accélérer violemment

Accélérer le mouvement

Accélérer la production

Accélérer les recherches

Accélérer sa carrière

Common Phrases

À toute allure

— At full speed. Often used with verbs of movement including accelerating.

Il est parti à toute allure.

Brûler les étapes

— To skip steps to go faster. A figurative way to say you are accelerating too much.

Il ne faut pas brûler les étapes.

Mettre les gaz

— To step on the gas. Informal way to say accelerate.

Allez, mets les gaz !

Prendre de la vitesse

— To gain speed. A synonym for the intransitive use of accélérer.

Le vélo prend de la vitesse.

Passer à la vitesse supérieure

— To shift into high gear. To significantly increase effort or speed.

L'équipe passe à la vitesse supérieure.

Gagner du temps

— To save time. Often the goal of accelerating a process.

Nous accélérons pour gagner du temps.

En accéléré

— In fast motion. Refers to video or a very quick version of something.

J'ai regardé le film en accéléré.

Course contre la montre

— Race against the clock. A situation where you must accelerate.

C'est une course contre la montre.

Prendre les devants

— To take the lead. Often requires accelerating past others.

Il a accéléré pour prendre les devants.

Vitesse de croisière

— Cruising speed. What you reach after you stop accelerating.

Nous avons atteint notre vitesse de croisière.

Often Confused With

accélérer vs Exceller

Sounds similar but means 'to excel' or 'to be excellent'.

accélérer vs Accepter

Starts with 'acc-' but means 'to accept'.

accélérer vs Accéder

Starts with 'acc-' but means 'to access' or 'to reach'.

Idioms & Expressions

"Appuyer sur le champignon"

— To push the mushroom. A very common French idiom meaning to step on the gas pedal/accelerate.

Appuie sur le champignon, on va être en retard !

Informal

"Mettre les bouchées doubles"

— To take double mouthfuls. To work much faster than usual.

Pour finir le projet, on a mis les bouchées doubles.

Neutral

"Aller comme une flèche"

— To go like an arrow. To move very fast.

Elle a accéléré et est partie comme une flèche.

Neutral

"Vivre à cent à l'heure"

— To live at a hundred miles an hour. To have a very fast-paced life.

Depuis sa promotion, il vit à cent à l'heure.

Neutral

"Prendre son élan"

— To get a running start. The preparation before accelerating.

Le sauteur prend son élan.

Neutral

"Avoir le feu aux fesses"

— To have fire at one's buttocks. To be in a huge hurry.

Il court comme s'il avait le feu aux fesses.

Slang

"Faire diligence"

— To act with speed and care. Formal way to suggest accelerating a task.

Nous ferons diligence pour traiter votre dossier.

Formal

"Prendre le mors aux dents"

— To take the bit between the teeth. To suddenly start working or moving with great energy.

Il a pris le mors aux dents pour finir son livre.

Literary

"Aller bon train"

— To go at a good pace. To progress quickly.

Les travaux vont bon train.

Neutral

"Pied au plancher"

— Foot to the floor. Driving as fast as possible.

Il conduisait pied au plancher.

Informal

Easily Confused

accélérer vs Se dépêcher

Both involve speed.

Se dépêcher is 'to hurry' (personal); accélérer is 'to speed up' (rate/velocity).

Je me dépêche de courir, mais la voiture accélère.

accélérer vs Hâter

Synonyms.

Hâter is more formal and used for time/events; accélérer is more for physical speed.

Hâter la fin d'un discours.

accélérer vs Presser

Synonyms.

Presser implies pressure or lack of time; accélérer is more neutral.

Je vous presse de finir.

accélérer vs Viter

Non-existent word.

Learners think 'viter' exists because of 'vite'. Use 'accélérer' instead.

N/A

accélérer vs Avancer

Related meanings.

Avancer means to move forward; accélérer means to move forward faster.

On avance, mais il faut accélérer.

Sentence Patterns

S + accélère.

La voiture accélère.

S + a accéléré + le pas.

Il a accéléré le pas.

Il faut + accélérer + le/la + N.

Il faut accélérer la cadence.

S + ne cesse de + accélérer.

Le progrès ne cesse d'accélérer.

S + tend à + accélérer + N.

La situation tend à accélérer les réformes.

N + se voit + accéléré + par + N.

Le déclin se voit accéléré par la crise.

S + va + accélérer.

Le train va accélérer.

S + aide à + accélérer + N.

Cela aide à accélérer le travail.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High (Top 2000 words in French).

Common Mistakes

J'accélére → J'accélère
The accent must change to grave before a silent syllable.
Il vitte → Il accélère
'Vitte' is not a verb. Use accélérer or 'il va vite'.
Accélérer de le rythme → Accélérer le rythme
Accélérer is a direct transitive verb; no preposition 'de' is needed.
Je suis accéléré → J'ai accéléré
Use 'avoir' as the auxiliary verb, not 'être'.
Accélerer → Accélérer
The first 'e' must have an acute accent in the infinitive.

Tips

The Boot Rule

Remember the 'boot' of the conjugation table (je, tu, il, ils) uses the grave accent: j'accélère. Nous and vous keep the acute: nous accélérons.

Driving Terms

Pair 'accélérer' with 'freiner' (brake) and 'tourner' (turn) to master basic driving vocabulary in French.

Business French

Use 'accélérer la cadence' in professional emails to sound more native when asking for faster results.

Double C

The first 'c' is hard (k), the second is soft (s). Practice 'ak-se-le-re' slowly.

The Mushroom

Learn 'appuyer sur le champignon' to impress your French friends while driving.

Physics Link

If you know physics, remember 'a = dv/dt'. In French, 'a' stands for 'accélération'.

Double C

Don't forget the double 'c'. It's the same as in the English 'accelerate'.

Sports

Watch a French sports broadcast to hear 'accélérer' used in a high-energy environment.

Fast Tracks

Look for 'cours accélérés' if you want an intensive learning experience.

Variety

In a long essay, alternate between 'accélérer', 'hâter', and 'intensifier' to avoid repetition.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'Accelerator' pedal in a car. In French, it's 'l'accélérateur'. The verb is simply the action of using it: 'accélérer'.

Visual Association

Imagine a speedometer needle jumping from 50 to 100. That jump is 'l'accélération'.

Word Web

Vitesse Voiture Gaz Rapide Course Moteur Temps Progrès

Challenge

Try to use 'accélérer' in a sentence about your favorite sport and one about your work today.

Word Origin

From the Latin 'accelerare', which is composed of 'ad-' (to/towards) and 'celer' (swift/fast).

Original meaning: To hasten or quicken a movement or action.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when telling someone to 'accélérer' in a professional setting; it can sound demanding if not phrased politely.

The word is a direct cognate with 'accelerate', making it easy for English speakers to recognize, though the spelling is slightly different.

Le Tour de France (commentators often say 'Il accélère !') Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco French Electronic Music (often features accelerating beats)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Driving

Accélérer au feu vert
Appuyer sur l'accélérateur
Voie d'accélération
Accélérer pour doubler

Work/Projects

Accélérer le calendrier
Accélérer la cadence
Accélérer les ventes
Accélérer le recrutement

Sports

Accélérer dans la montée
Une accélération foudroyante
Accélérer pour gagner
Le rythme s'accélère

Science

Accélérer une réaction
Accélérateur de particules
Accélération de la pesanteur
Vitesse qui accélère

Health

Le cœur qui accélère
Pouls accéléré
Respiration accélérée
Métabolisme accéléré

Conversation Starters

"Penses-tu que la technologie accélère trop nos vies ?"

"Est-ce que tu accélères quand tu es en retard ou restes-tu calme ?"

"Dans quels sports l'accélération est-elle la plus importante selon toi ?"

"As-tu déjà pris un cours de langue accéléré ?"

"Comment peut-on accélérer l'apprentissage du français ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez un moment où vous avez dû accélérer pour atteindre un objectif important.

Réfléchissez à la manière dont l'intelligence artificielle pourrait accélérer les changements dans votre métier.

Écrivez une histoire courte sur une voiture qui ne peut pas arrêter d'accélérer.

Pensez-vous qu'il est nécessaire d'accélérer la transition écologique ? Pourquoi ?

Comment vous sentez-vous quand tout s'accélère autour de vous ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, it is a regular -er verb, but it has a stem-changing accent (é to è) in the present tense for all forms except 'nous' and 'vous'. This is common for many verbs ending in -érer.

Yes, you can say 'il accélère' if someone is running or walking faster. It is very common in sports contexts like cycling or athletics.

The noun is 'l'accélération' (feminine). For the car part, it is 'l'accélérateur' (masculine).

You can say 'accélère !' or the idiom 'appuie sur le champignon !' which is very common and colorful.

It always takes 'avoir' in the passé composé: 'J'ai accéléré'.

It is 'accélérer' with two acute accents in the infinitive.

Yes, 's'accélérer' is used for processes that speed up on their own, like 'le rythme s'accélère'.

The most common opposite is 'ralentir' (to slow down).

Yes, to describe the tempo getting faster, though musicians might use the Italian 'accelerando'.

Very common. You will hear it in traffic, at work, and on the news daily.