French · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Book" in French: livre
le livre
Book in French is le livre, masculine : un livre, des livres. A bookstore is une librairie. Livre can also mean pound sterling in money talk, but here it is the reading kind.
In a bookstore
Je cherche un livre sur Paris.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce livre
Say it
luh LEEVR
/livʁ/
LEEVR. The i is ee, and the final re is a soft French r. Un livre: uhn LEEVR.
"Book" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le livre | the book Masculine noun for a book. | Masculine noun for a book. |
| un livre | a book Buying or recommending one. | Buying or recommending one. |
| des livres | books Plural. | Plural. |
| lire un livre | to read a book Common collocation. | Common collocation. |
How to use livre in real life
- 1In a bookstore
Je cherche un livre sur Paris.
I'm looking for a book about Paris.
Un livre + sur for topic.
- 2Lending to a friend
Tu peux me prêter ce livre ce week-end ?
Can you lend me this book this weekend?
Ce livre points to a specific one.
- 3Talking about hobbies
Le soir, je lis un livre avant de dormir.
In the evening I read a book before sleeping.
Lire un livre is everyday.
Mistakes English speakers make with livre
Incorrect: J'achète une livre.
Correct: J'achète un livre.
Livre (book) is masculine. Une livre can mean a pound (weight or money).
Incorrect: Je vais à la bibliothèque pour acheter un livre.
Correct: Je vais à la librairie pour acheter un livre.
A library lends; a bookstore (librairie) sells books.
Good to know
French bookstores often keep a table of nouveautés near the door. Asking for un livre de poche means a paperback, handy for travel.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Picking a novel to share
ChatPal
Tu as fini le livre que je t'ai prêté ?
Have you finished the book I lent you?
You
Presque. C'est un livre difficile, mais captivant.
Almost. It's a tough book, but gripping.
ChatPal
Si tu veux, on en choisit un autre demain.
If you want, we can pick another one tomorrow.
You
Oui. Je veux un livre plus court cette fois.
Yes. I want a shorter book this time.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Book" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Book" in French
How do I say bookstore?
Une librairie. Une bibliothèque is a library.
Is livre masculine?
Yes for a book: un livre. Watch out for livre as pound in other contexts.
How do you say paperback?
Un livre de poche.
How do you pronounce livre?
LEEVR, with a soft French r at the end.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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