verb

engloutir

devour

Avaler rapidement quelque chose, souvent sans mâcher ou en grande quantité.

The French verb "engloutir" means "to engulf," "to swallow up," or "to gobble." It is used to describe the act of something being consumed completely, often by something larger—in a literal or figurative sense.

Basic meaning:

Literal use: To describe something being devoured or swallowed entirely, such as food.
- Example: "Il a englouti son repas" (He gulped down his meal).
Figurative use: To indicate a situation or concept being consumed or overwhelmed by something, like emotions or circumstances.
- Example: "La tempête a englouti le village" (The storm swallowed up the village).

Synonyms and differences:

Dévorer: This means "to devour" and implies eating something quickly and greedily. Unlike "engloutir," which can also imply being overwhelmed, "dévorer" focuses more on the act of eating.
Avaler: This means "to swallow." It indicates the action of taking something into the throat and typically does not convey the sense of total engulfing or overwhelming that "engloutir" can imply.

In summary, while these verbs can overlap in meaning (particularly around the idea of consumption), "engloutir" emphasizes total engulfment, whether it pertains to physical objects or abstract ideas.