journal
/ʒuʁ.nal/masculine
The English phrase 'journal' (meaning a diary or daily record) is journal in French.
journal is a masculine noun that can refer to a personal diary or a daily record. In common usage, it is also used to mean 'the newspaper' (le journal). When describing specific types of publications, you can use journal scientifique for a scientific journal, journal médical for a medical journal, journal en ligne or journal numérique for an online journal. To express the habit of keeping a journal, you can use the phrase je tiens un journal or j'écris dans mon journal régulièrement.
Meaning: diary or daily record (noun)
Which one should you use?
In French, journal has a dual meaning: it can refer to a personal diary or a newspaper. If you are specifically referring to a newspaper, the word quotidien is also frequently used for a daily newspaper.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒuʁ.nal/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because journal can mean 'newspaper', French speakers often use the phrase journal intime to specifically mean a personal diary and avoid any confusion.
Did you know?
- The word journal shares the same root as the English word 'journey', as both stem from the concept of a single 'day's' progress or passage.
- In France, the phrase journal télévisé refers specifically to the evening news broadcast on television, often shortened to le JT.
- The word journalier is used in French to describe a day laborer, linking the idea of a daily record to a daily wage.
Examples in context
- Je tiens un journal.I keep a journal.This sentence is useful for expressing the habit of keeping a journal.Tatoeba #5353213 by Aiji, translation #2374673 by CK
- Ne lis pas mon journal !Don't read my journal.Tatoeba #1845994 by sacredceltic, translation #1845511 by CK
- Ne lisez pas mon journal !Don't read my journal!Tatoeba #1845995 by sacredceltic, translation #2948168 by Joseph
- J'ai lu un article intéressant dans le journal aujourd'hui.I read an interesting article in the newspaper today.
- J'ai soumis mon article à une publication spécialisée.I submitted my article to a specialized journal.
- J'ai consulté quelques revues pour ma recherche.I consulted some journals for my research.
- J'écris mes sentiments dans mon journal intime tous les soirs.I write my feelings in my diary every evening.
- J'ai acheté un nouveau carnet pour noter mes idées.I bought a new journal to jot down my ideas.
- Où puis-je trouver des revues sur la santé?Where can I find journals on health?
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are sitting in a cafe.
- LucasTu écris dans ton journal ?Are you writing in your diary?
- EmmaOui, c'est mon nouveau journal.Yes, it is my new diary.
- LucasIl est très joli ce journal.This diary is very pretty.
- EmmaMerci, Lucas, il est très pratique.Thanks, Lucas, it is very practical.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “journal” translations and entries journal, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries journal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
