French word

ralenti

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁalɑ̃ti/

Meaning

  • masculine nounidle

Example

Le moteur tourne au ralenti.

The engine is running at idle.

Illustration for ralenti (idle)

More examples

Il a mis la voiture au ralenti pour attendre.

He set the car to idle so he could wait.

Core concept

A car engine humming gently with no load while its crankshaft turns slowly.

Common phrases

  • au ralenti

    idling

  • mettre au ralenti

    set to idle

  • être au ralenti

    be idling

Similar words

ralentissement: A reduction in speed or movement.
arrêt: A complete stop of operation or movement.

Definition in French

Désigne l'état d'un moteur qui tourne sans charge à bas régime, c'est-à-dire avec peu de tours par minute.

Word origin

Ralenti is the nominalized past participle of ralentir, a verb formed from lent, ultimately from Latin lentus, meaning slow.

Usage tips

  • The masculine noun normally appears in au ralenti, as in tourner au ralenti or laisser la voiture au ralenti.

Other meanings

  • slow motionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word