journal intime
/ʒuʁ.na.l‿ɛ̃.tim/masculine
The English phrase "diary" is journal intime in French.
journal intime is used to refer to a daily log of experiences.
Meaning: daily log of experiences (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase journal intime literally translates to "intimate journal" or "private journal".
Which one should you use?
While journal intime refers specifically to a personal diary, the word journal on its own often refers to a newspaper or a professional log.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of journal intime is journaux intimes, where the noun journal follows the irregular plural pattern for words ending in -al.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒuʁ.na.l‿ɛ̃.tim/ (4 syllables)
Did you know?
- The word 'journal' shares its DNA with the English word 'journey', as both stem from the concept of a day's progress or travel.
- The word intime can be used as a noun in French to describe a 'bosom buddy' or a very close confidant, mirroring the closeness of a journal intime.
- If you were to write a 'journal de bord', you would not be writing a diary, but rather a ship's logbook used by sailors.
Examples in context
- Il tient un journal intime.He keeps a diary.This sentence is useful for showing how someone keeps a journal intime.Tatoeba #133079 by nimfeo, translation #302202 by CK
- Où est mon journal intime ?Where's my diary?This sentence is useful for asking the location of a journal intime.Tatoeba #3627935 by fleur74, translation #2254636 by CK
- Je cherchais mon journal intime.I was looking for my diary.This sentence is useful for describing the act of looking for a journal intime.Tatoeba #5963308 by Aiji, translation #2544374 by CK
- Mon agenda professionnelMy professional diary
- Son journal intimeHis/her personal diary
- Ton carnetYour diary
- Notre agenda partagéOur shared diary
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are talking in their bedroom about privacy.
- GabrielEmma, est-ce que tu as vu mon journal intime ?Emma, have you seen my diary?
- EmmaNon, Gabriel, je ne l'ai pas vu.No, Gabriel, I haven't seen it.
- GabrielJe suis sûr qu'il était ici.I am sure it was here.
- EmmaRegarde, il est peut-être dans ton sac.Look, maybe it is in your bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diary” translations and entries journal intime, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries intime, journal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
