Usage Note
Ventilateur refers specifically to an electric or mechanical fan. The verb ventiler means 'to ventilate' and the noun ventilation shares the same root. Unlike climatiseur (air conditioner), a ventilateur only circulates air without cooling it.
Examples
"J'ai allumé le ventilateur pour avoir moins chaud."
Natural Translation
I turned on the fan to feel cooler.
Literal Translation
I turned on the fan to have less hot.

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