French word

ensoleiller

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃soleje/

Meaning

  • verbput ___ in the sun

Example

J'ensoleille les plantes sur le balcon.

I put the plants on the balcony in the sun.

Illustration for ensoleiller (put ___ in the sun)

More examples

Une grande baie vitrée ensoleille la pièce l'après-midi.

A large picture window bathes the room in sunlight in the afternoon.

Core concept

A room or garden warmed and brightened as sunlight reaches its surfaces.

Common phrases

  • ensoleiller la journée de quelqu'un

    brighten someone's day

  • ensoleiller un balcon

    bathe a balcony in sunlight

Similar words

exposer: Leaving an object in a sunny place so the sun reaches it.
éclairer: Lighting a place or object to make it bright.
réchauffer: Making an object or place warmer by increasing its temperature.
sécher: Drying an object by taking away its moisture.

Definition in French

Rendre un lieu plus lumineux et chaud en le faisant recevoir la lumière du soleil.

Word origin

The verb ensoleiller is formed from soleil, from Latin sol, with the verb-forming prefix en- and the ending -er.

Usage tips

  • Ensoleiller is transitive, so the sunlit place follows it directly as in ensoleiller la pièce.

Other meanings

  • make sunnierverb

Opposites

  • assombrirdarkenverb
  • ombragershadeverb

Related words

  • ensoleillésunnyadjective
  • ensoleillementsunlight exposurenoun

Word lists with this word