Skip to content

élancer

to dart, to rush forward

verb eh-lahn-SEH Rare
Body & Health Movement

Also means

to throb, to shoot (pain)

Usage Note

élancer has two distinct uses: the reflexive s'élancer means to dash or spring forward with energy, while the non-reflexive élancer often describes a sharp throbbing pain (ma jambe m'élance = my leg is throbbing). The related noun un élan means momentum or a surge of enthusiasm.

Examples

"Il s'élança vers la sortie dès que la cloche sonna."

Natural Translation

He dashed toward the exit as soon as the bell rang.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic