PURPOSE: To provide a method and an apparatus for quenching synthetic filaments such as synthetic yarn filaments when the synthetic filaments are extruded from a plurality of openings in a downward direction and in an annular pattern.

CONSTITUTION: This apparatus comprises a quenching head part provided with a quenching gas from a quenching gas source and further a first and a second nozzles 30 and 36 arranged in an annular pattern of filaments adjacent and beneath an extrusion die 10. Each of the nozzles 30 and 36 is formed to cause the quenching gas to pass therefrom generally in a radial direction toward the annular pattern of the filaments and at a predetermined angle directed upwardly with respect to a horizontal plane through the nozzles 30 and 36 to provide a more uniform quenching of all of the filaments in the annular pattern.