French word

blanchir

Pronunciation

IPA/blɑ̃ʃiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbbleach

Example

Tu dois blanchir le linge très sale.

You must bleach the very dirty laundry.

Illustration for blanchir (bleach)

More examples

Elle a essayé de blanchir son nom.

She tried to clear her name.

Core concept

A stained or dyed cloth being made pale again until its clean whiteness returns.

Common phrases

  • blanchir les draps

    bleach the sheets

  • blanchir les taches

    bleach the stains

  • blanchir son nom

    clear one's name

Similar words

laver: To clean clothing or objects by washing away dirt with water or detergent.
détacher: To get rid of a localized stain on fabric or clothing.

Definition in French

Rendre blanc ou plus clair un tissu ou un linge en enlevant la couleur ou les taches.

Word origin

Blanchir comes from Old French blanchir, formed from blanc with the verb-forming suffix -ir; blanc derives from Frankish blank, meaning bright or white.

Usage tips

  • Blanchir is commonly used transitively with the item being treated, as in blanchir le linge, rather than alone.

Other meanings

  • whitenverb
  • blanchverb
  • exonerateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • blanchisseurlaundry workernoun
  • blanchimentbleachingnoun
  • blanchibleachedadjective

Word lists with this word