fumigène

smoke-producing

adjective fyoo-mee-ZHEN Rare

Origin: Latin fumus, smoke + Greek -genēs, producing

Usage Note

Fumigène describes something that produces smoke, typically as a deliberate effect. Une grenade fumigène is a smoke grenade, used by the military or police for cover. Un engin fumigène is a smoke device. As a noun (un fumigène) it refers to the device itself; it is also used in agriculture for fumigation.

Examples

"Les manifestants ont lancé des grenades fumigènes."

Natural Translation

The protesters threw smoke grenades.

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

French Silent Letters: The CaReFuL Rule

Final consonants in French are silent by default — except C, R, F, L. The CaReFuL rule, the silent -e, the plural-s trap, and liaison, explained simply.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Telling Time in French: Hours, Quarters, 24-Hour

Telling time in French means Il est cinq heures, et quart, et demie, and the 24-hour clock like quatorze heures trente. Read any French schedule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Sorry in French: Désolé vs Pardon vs Excusez-moi

Use désolé for genuine regret, pardon to bump or squeeze past, and excusez-moi to get attention. A situation-by-situation guide to saying sorry in French.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read