ralentir

Meaning (in English)

Ralentir is a French verb meaning to slow down.

It can be used in two main ways:

1. Intransitive (no direct object):

   • to slow down, to become slower
     Ex. La voiture ralentit. — “The car is slowing down.”

2. Transitive (with a direct object):

   • to slow (something) down, to reduce the speed/pace of something
     Ex. Ralentir la circulation. — “To slow traffic down.”

It is also used more broadly to mean to slow the pace or progress of something (work, growth, activity, an economy, etc.).

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Parts / Word structure

• Built on the adjective lent (“slow”), with the prefix ra- (often indicating a change of state or “to make/become again/differently”).
• Related words:
  • lent / lente (adjective): slow
  • ralentissement (noun): slowdown, deceleration

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French synonyms

Depending on context:

• diminuer la vitesse (to reduce speed)
• réduire l’allure (to reduce pace)
• freiner (to brake / to slow down)
• décélérer (to decelerate)
• se modérer (to moderate oneself, slow down—more figurative)

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French antonyms

• accélérer (to speed up)
• augmenter la vitesse (to increase speed)
• se hâter (to hurry)
• s’emballer (to speed up/get carried away—often figurative)