French Conversation · Level 144
30 words
French word
incendier
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛ̃sɑ̃dje/
Meaning
- verbset fire to
Example
Ils ont incendié la maison.
They set fire to the house.
More examples
La police enquête après qu'une école a été incendiée.
The police are investigating after a school was set on fire.
Core concept
A deliberate flame spreading from one starting point until a building or other object is badly damaged.
Common phrases
incendier une école
set fire to a school
incendier des locaux
set fire to the premises
Similar words
brûler: To burn something until it is completely consumed.
mettre le feu à: To set fire to something and make it burn.
allumer: To light a fire or turn on a light.
enflammer: To set something ablaze so it burns fiercely.
Definition in French
Faire brûler volontairement quelque chose en y mettant le feu, entraînant souvent des dégâts importants.
Word origin
French incendier comes from Latin incendiare, related to incendium and incendere, meaning to set on fire.
Usage tips
- Incendier is a transitive verb and takes its object directly, as in incendier la maison, without the preposition à.