French word

rallumer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁalyme/

Meaning

  • verbturn on again

Example

Elle a rallumé la lampe après la panne.

She turned the lamp on again after the power outage.

Illustration for rallumer (turn on again)

More examples

Peux-tu rallumer la télé, s'il te plaît?

Can you turn the TV back on, please?

Core concept

A switched-off source comes back on, or a fading desire and attention flare up again.

Common phrases

  • rallumer la lampe

    turn the lamp back on

  • rallumer la télé

    turn the TV back on

  • rallumer son téléphone

    turn one's phone back on

Similar words

allumer: To turn on a lamp or electrical light with a switch.
éclairer: To brighten a place or object with light.
raviver: To make a color or feeling vivid again.

Definition in French

Remettre en service ou allumer à nouveau une lampe, un feu ou un appareil éteint; au sens figuré, raviver une ardeur, un désir ou une attention.

Word origin

The verb was formed by adding re- to allumer, an Old French verb descended from Latin illuminare.

Usage tips

  • For restarting a machine in general, remettre en marche is often more precise than rallumer, which focuses on power or renewed intensity.

Other meanings

  • relightverb
  • rekindleverb

Opposites

Related words

  • rallumagerelightingnoun
  • ralluméturned back onadjective

Word lists with this word