French word

chauffer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃofe/

Meaning

  • verbheat

Example

Je chauffe la soupe au micro-ondes.

I heat the soup in the microwave.

Illustration for chauffer (heat)

More examples

Je chauffe le lait pour mon café.

I heat up the milk for my coffee.

Core concept

Heat being applied to a thing or person until its temperature rises.

Common phrases

  • chauffer le lait

    heat up the milk

  • chauffer l'eau

    heat up the water

Similar words

réchauffer: To warm cold food or drink again after it has cooled.
préchauffer: To heat an oven or machine to the required temperature before using it.
échauffer: To gently warm part of the body before exercise.

Definition in French

Apporter de la chaleur à une chose ou à une personne; s'emploie aussi pronominalement (se chauffer) pour indiquer que l'on devient chaud.

Word origin

French chauffer comes from Old French chaufer, from Late Latin calefacere, meaning 'make hot' and combining calere 'be hot' with facere 'make'.

Usage tips

  • In French, chauffer can take a person as its direct object, while se chauffer expresses warming oneself or becoming warm.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word