Basic Details
Word: Flammable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Catching fire easily and burning quickly.
Synonyms: inflammable, combustible
Antonyms: non-flammable, fireproof
How to Spell Flammable
Syllables: flam - ma - ble
Tricky part: There is a double m in the middle, and the ending is able, not ible. People who think of flame often write flamable with one m.
Watch out for: flamable, flammible, flamible
Memory tip: It is flame + able with an extra m: flaMMable. Picture the two m's as two tongues of fire.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Petrol is highly flammable, so smoking is banned at fuel pumps.
Example 2: The label on the spray can says Flammable: keep away from heat.
Example 3: Dry leaves are flammable, which is why forest fires spread so fast in summer.
Fun Fact
Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. Flammable is used on warning signs because some people wrongly think inflammable means will not burn.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) edible
b) portable
c) flamable
d) durable
Show answer
c) flamable. Flammable needs a double m before able.
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order: a, a, e
a) p__rt__bl__
b) fl__mm__bl__
c) d__r__bl__
d) __d__bl__
Show answer
b) fl__mm__bl__. Flammable takes a, a and e; portable needs o, durable needs u and edible needs e and i.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
mmalbelaf
a) safe to eat
b) catching fire easily and burning quickly
c) impossible to break
d) able to float on water
Show answer
b) catching fire easily and burning quickly. The letters make flammable, which describes things that burn easily.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the sentence?
Before the painters left, they stacked the flamable paint tins far away from the kitchen stove and the gas cilinder.
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
Show answer
c) 2. Flamable should be flammable and cilinder should be cylinder.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is flammable?
a) paper
b) a steel spoon
c) a glass of water
d) a brick
Show answer
a) paper
2. A tanker marked flammable should be kept away from ____.
a) sparks
b) rain
c) shade
d) sand
Show answer
a) sparks
