French Phrase
Étouffe les flammes.
Meaning
Literally, 'Smother the flames.' It can refer to putting out a fire or, figuratively, to suppressing strong emotions or a heated argument.
When to use
Use this command when you need someone to quickly extinguish a fire, or in a figurative sense to ask someone to calm down a tense situation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Étouffelesflammes
Imperative (tu) of 'étouffer'
For regular -er verbs, the tu‑imperative drops the final -s, so 'étouffer' becomes 'Étouffe' (pronounced /e.tuf/).
Definite article 'les'
Used before a plural noun, regardless of gender. Here it introduces the plural feminine noun 'flammes'.
Noun gender & number
'Flamme' is feminine; its plural form is 'flammes' and takes the article 'les'.
🗨In Conversation
Étouffe les flammes, s'il te plaît !
Smother the flames, please!
D'accord, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
Okay, I’ll take care of it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Étouffes les flammes.
The tu‑imperative drops the final -s; 'Étouffes' is incorrect here.
Étouffe les flamme.
The noun 'flamme' is plural, so the article must be 'les' and the noun 'flammes'.
Éteindre les flammes.
While 'éteindre' is a correct verb for 'to extinguish', it changes the nuance; learners often swap the two verbs without noticing the slight difference in meaning.
↔Alternatives
Éteins les flammes.
Turn off the flames.
Éteins le feu.
Extinguish the fire.
Éteignez les flammes.
Extinguish the flames (formal/plural).
Étouffe le feu.
Smother the fire.
Cultural Tip
In French, 'étouffer les flammes' is a vivid, slightly dramatic way to tell someone to put out a fire, often heard in kitchens or during safety drills. Metaphorically, it can be used in political or social contexts to describe the act of suppressing unrest or heated debate. The phrase carries a sense of urgency, so it’s best used in informal or urgent situations rather than formal written instructions.