J'aime lire
The English phrase "I like to read" is expressed in French as J'aime lire.
J'aime lire is a statement used to express a personal fondness for the activity of reading.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Je (I), aime (like/love) and lire (to read).
Which one should you use?
While J'aime lire expresses a general fondness for the activity, Je lis (I read) describes the actual action or a habit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb lire remains in its infinitive form because it follows the conjugated verb aime.
Did you know?
- While J'aime lire is common, a French speaker might say Je suis un rat de bibliothèque to describe themselves as a 'bookworm'.
- In French culture, the bouquiniste is a traditional second-hand bookseller who sells from green metal boxes along the Seine in Paris.
- The French word lire shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'collect'. Both come from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to gather', as reading was originally seen as gathering words together.
Examples in context
- J'aime lire des livres.I like to read books.Tatoeba #127542 by sysko, translation #2377504 by CK
- J'aime lire avant de m'endormir.I like to read before going to sleep.Tatoeba #3259284 by nimfeo, translation #3259285 by CK
- J'aime lire avec de la musique en fond sonore.I like to read with music playing in the background.Tatoeba #9765960 by lbdx, translation #9763451 by AlanF_US
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are talking about their hobbies.
- HugoQu'est-ce que tu fais pendant ton temps libre ?What do you do in your free time?
- EmmaJ'aime lire et marcher en forêt.I like to read and walk in the forest.
- HugoMoi aussi, j'adore les romans.Me too, I love novels.
- EmmaC'est super, Emma !That's great, Emma!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
