refroidir

cool down

verb ruh-frwah-DEER Rare

Also means

dampen (enthusiasm)

Usage Note

Refroidir describes both literal cooling (a soup refroidit, an engine refroidit) and figurative cooling of feelings — refroidir l'enthousiasme means to dampen enthusiasm. The reflexive se refroidir means to catch a chill. Refroidi as a past participle can also be slang for 'dead' (killed) in familiar registers.

Examples

"Laisse le café refroidir avant de le boire."

Natural Translation

Let the coffee cool down before drinking it.

Literal Translation

Let the coffee cool down before to drink it.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

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

FrenchNow

French Object Pronouns: le, la, lui, leur Order

Le lui or lui le? Use the à-name test to pick le/la vs lui/leur, then one slot chart to order two French object pronouns — plus the command exception.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

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