bibliothèque
/bi.bli.jɔ.tɛk/
The English phrase 'library' is translated into French as bibliothèque.
bibliothèque is the standard French word for a library, which is a building or room containing collections of books for people to read or borrow. In some contexts, you may encounter the term médiathèque, which refers specifically to a multimedia library that offers a variety of media formats, such as books, music and films.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the Greek roots biblio- meaning book and -thèque meaning container or collection.
Which one should you use?
English speakers should be careful not to confuse bibliothèque with librairie. While they may look similar to the English word 'library', librairie actually means 'bookstore'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is feminine. Therefore, it is used with the feminine article une (as in une bibliothèque) and feminine adjectives like grande (large).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables: /bi.bli.jɔ.tɛk/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word bibliothèque describes both the public institution you visit to borrow books and the physical shelving unit you keep in your living room.
- A person with an obsessive passion for collecting books is called a bibliophile, a word sharing the same biblio- root as bibliothèque.
- The word comes from the Ancient Greek βιβλιοθήκη, which literally translates to 'book-room'.
Examples in context
- Je vais à la bibliothèqueI am going to the library
- Je vais à la biblio pour emprunter un livreI'm going to the library to borrow a book
- J'ai trouvé ce livre intéressant à la bibliothèque municipaleI found this book interesting at the public library
- La bibliothèque est ouverte le lundi.The library is open on Mondays.
- Je cherche un livre à la bibliothèque.I am looking for a book at the library.
- Il y a une grande bibliothèque ici.There is a large library here.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are talking about their study plans.
- EmmaTu veux aller à la bibliothèque avec moi ?Do you want to go to the library with me?
- GabrielOui, c'est une bonne idée, Emma.Yes, that is a good idea, Emma.
- EmmaEst-ce que la bibliothèque est calme ?Is the library quiet?
- GabrielOui, elle est très calme pour étudier.Yes, it is very quiet for studying.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bibliothèque, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bibliothèque, CC BY-SA 4.0.
