French Phrase
Les glaciers et les calottes glaciaires fondent.
Meaning
This sentence states that the glaciers and the ice caps are melting. It is a concise way to describe one of the most visible effects of global warming, emphasizing that both mountain glaciers and polar ice caps are losing mass.
When to use
Use this phrase in discussions about climate change, environmental news, scientific reports, or classroom debates on the impact of rising temperatures. It works well in both formal written French and spoken presentations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesglaciersetlescalottesglaciairesfondent
Definite article (les)
‘Les’ is the plural definite article used before both masculine (glaciers) and feminine (calottes) nouns.
Noun gender & plural
‘Glacier’ is masculine plural (les glaciers); ‘calotte glaciaire’ is feminine plural (les calottes glaciaires).
Coordinating conjunction (et)
‘Et’ simply links two noun phrases; the verb that follows must agree with the combined plural subject.
Verb ‘fondre’ (present 3rd pl.)
‘Fondre’ conjugated for a plural subject is ‘fondent’; the ending -ent is silent, so the pronunciation is /fɔ̃d/.
Compound noun (calottes glaciaires)
‘Calotte’ (cap) + adjective ‘glaciaire’ forms a fixed term meaning ‘ice cap’; both words stay in the plural.
🗨In Conversation
Les glaciers et les calottes glaciaires fondent.
The glaciers and the ice caps are melting.
Oui, c’est inquiétant pour l’avenir de la planète.
Yes, it’s worrying for the planet’s future.
✕Common Mistakes
Les glaciers et les calottes glaciaires fond.
‘Fond’ is the third‑person singular form; the subject is plural, so the correct verb is ‘fondent’.
Le glacier et les calottes glaciaires fondent.
The noun must stay plural; ‘glacier’ singular would break agreement with ‘et les calottes…’.
Les glaciers et les calottes glaciaire fondent.
The adjective must agree in number and gender: ‘glaciaires’ (plural feminine).
↔Alternatives
Les glaciers et les calottes de glace fondent.
The glaciers and the ice caps are melting.
Les glaces alpines fondent rapidement.
Alpine ice is melting quickly.
Les masses glaciaires disparaissent à cause du réchauffement.
Glacial masses are disappearing because of warming.
Cultural Tip
In French media, the term ‘calotte glaciaire’ is often used when referring to the polar ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, while ‘glacier’ usually denotes mountain ice. When speaking about climate issues, French speakers tend to use precise scientific vocabulary, so keeping the gender agreement (les glaciers, les calottes glaciaires) is essential for credibility.