Usage Note
Envoler is used almost exclusively in the reflexive form s'envoler — birds, planes, and time all s'envolent. The phrase le temps s'envole means 'time flies'. It can also mean 'to be blown away' by the wind (le chapeau s'est envolé = 'the hat blew away'). The non-reflexive form is rarely used.
Examples
"Les oiseaux se sont envolés d'un coup."
Natural Translation
The birds flew away all at once.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
6 min read