French word

réchauffer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁeʃofe/

Meaning

  • verbwarm up

Example

Je vais réchauffer la soupe au micro-ondes.

I am going to warm up the soup in the microwave.

Illustration for réchauffer (warm up)

More examples

Il faut réchauffer le lait avant de le boire.

You need to warm the milk before drinking it.

Core concept

Heat returning to a dish that has lost its warmth.

Common phrases

  • réchauffer le lait

    warm the milk

  • réchauffer au micro-ondes

    warm in the microwave

  • se réchauffer les mains

    warm one's hands

Similar words

chauffer: Raising the temperature of something by adding heat.
faire chauffer: Warming a dish or drink before it is consumed.
cuire: Cooking raw ingredients until they are heated through.
décongeler: Thawing frozen food until it is ready to use.

Definition in French

Rendre quelque chose plus chaud, en particulier remettre au chaud un aliment qui a refroidi.

Word origin

The verb is formed with French re-, expressing repetition, and chauffer, a verb descended through Old French from Latin calefacere.

Usage tips

  • Réchauffer normally refers to food that was already cooked and cooled; cuire is more suitable for cooking it for the first time.

Other meanings

  • reheatverb

Opposites

Related words

  • réchauffeurheaternoun
  • réchaufféwarmedadjective

Word lists with this word