/ɑ̃.fɛʁ.me/
Translation
to shut in, to lock up
Word origin
Formed in Old French from en- ('in') and fermer ('to close'), which comes from Latin firmare ('to make firm, to fasten'), from firmus ('firm'). A closed door was originally a door made fast.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- firmare
- English cognates
- firm, confirm
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | enferme | enfermais | enfermai | enfermerai | enfermerais |
| tu | enfermes | enfermais | enfermas | enfermeras | enfermerais |
| il/elle | enferme | enfermait | enferma | enfermera | enfermerait |
| nous | enfermons | enfermions | enfermâmes | enfermerons | enfermerions |
| vous | enfermez | enfermiez | enfermâtes | enfermerez | enfermeriez |
| ils/elles | enferment | enfermaient | enfermèrent | enfermeront | enfermeraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | enferme | enfermasse |
| tu | enfermes | enfermasses |
| il/elle | enferme | enfermât |
| nous | enfermions | enfermassions |
| vous | enfermiez | enfermassiez |
| ils/elles | enferment | enfermassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | enferme |
| nous | enfermons |
| vous | enfermez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- enfermant
- Past participle
- enfermé · enfermée · enfermés · enfermées
Examples
sortons.
We shut the dog in the kitchen when we go out.
claqué .
The wind slammed the door and I locked myself out.
' .
He shuts himself in his room to work.
l' .
They locked him up for six months.
' tiroir, .
Do not lock your papers in that drawer, the key is lost.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueFrench · Free printables
enfermer: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "enfermer" (to shut in, to lock up): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 26.