French Phrase
Enlève l'excès de graisse.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction to remove the surplus of fat. It is commonly heard in cooking instructions (e.g., skimming fat from a sauce) or in health‑related advice about reducing body fat.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a clear, informal command in a kitchen, a fitness class, or any situation where you want someone to get rid of extra grease. The imperative ‘tu’ form is typical for recipes, casual conversation, or instructional videos.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Enlèvel'excèsdegraisse.
Imperative (2nd pers. sing.)
‘Enlève’ is the imperative form of ‘enlever’ for ‘tu’; the final -s is dropped unless followed by ‘y’ or ‘en’.
Elision ‘l’ ’
The definite article ‘le’ becomes ‘l’ before a vowel or mute ‘h’, as in ‘l’excès’.
Masculine noun ‘excès’
‘Excès’ is a masculine singular noun; it takes the article ‘le’ (elided to ‘l’).
Preposition ‘de’
‘De’ links the noun ‘excès’ with what is in excess – here ‘graisse’.
Feminine noun ‘graisse’
‘Graisse’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘fat’; no article is needed after ‘de’ in this construction.
🗨In Conversation
La sauce est trop grasse, que faire ?
The sauce is too greasy, what should we do?
Enlève l'excès de graisse.
Remove the excess fat.
✕Common Mistakes
Enlèves l'excès de graisse.
In the singular imperative the final –s is dropped; ‘Enlèves’ is the present‑tense form, not the command.
Enlève l'excés de graisse.
The noun ‘excès’ takes a single acute accent on the first ‘e’, not on the second.
Enlève l'excès de la graisse.
When you talk about the *excess* of something, you use ‘de’ directly after ‘excès’, not ‘de la’. ‘De la graisse’ would mean ‘some fat’, not ‘excess fat’.
↔Alternatives
Retire l'excès de graisse.
Take away the excess fat.
Élimine le surplus de graisse.
Eliminate the surplus of fat.
Supprime la graisse superflue.
Delete the superfluous fat.
Cultural Tip
French recipes traditionally use the imperative mood, so you’ll see verbs like ‘enlever’, ‘retirer’ or ‘éponger’ in instructions. ‘Enlever’ is a general ‘to take off/remove’, while ‘retirer’ often implies a more precise action (e.g., pulling a piece out). In health‑talk, ‘graisse’ can sound a bit informal; professionals may prefer ‘les lipides’ or ‘le surplus de graisse corporelle’. Adjust the register accordingly.