French word

faner

Pronunciation

IPA/fane/

Meaning

  • verbwilt

Example

Ces fleurs se fanent vite.

These flowers wilt quickly.

Illustration for faner (wilt)

More examples

Les pétales ont fané rapidement au soleil.

The petals wilted quickly in the sun.

Core concept

A plant gradually loses its fresh upright form: leaves and petals droop, while its color becomes duller.

Common phrases

  • se faner

    wilt

  • commencer à faner

    begin to wilt

Similar words

flétrir: To lose moisture, wilt, and become soft, as leaves or flowers do.
dessécher: To lose all moisture and dry out completely.

Definition in French

Devenir flétri ou moins vif, en particulier pour les fleurs, les feuilles ou une couleur.

Word origin

Faner derives from Old French faner, formed from fane, meaning foliage or a plant leaf.

Usage tips

  • For plants, faner is commonly pronominal, as in les fleurs se fanent, while faner can also be transitive for making something wilt or fade.

Other meanings

  • fadeverb
  • witherverb

Opposites

  • fleurirbloomverb
  • s'épanouirblossomverb

Related words

  • fanéwiltedadjective

Word lists with this word