billet de loterie
masculine
The English phrase 'lottery ticket' is translated into French as billet de loterie.
The term refers to a slip of paper drawn in a lottery. While billet de loterie is the standard term, ticket de loterie is also frequently used and understood in common parlance.
Meaning: slip of paper drawn in a lottery (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of billet (ticket/slip), de (of) and loterie (lottery).
Did you know?
- The word billet shares its ancestor with the English word 'bullet' and the French word boulette because they all originate from the Latin bulla, meaning a round seal or stud.
- If you win, you don't just 'win a lottery', you 'gagner le gros lot', which literally means 'to win the big prize'.
- In France, the official national lottery is known as 'La Française des Jeux', so you might see people asking for a 'ticket de la FDJ' rather than a generic 'billet de loterie'.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, je voudrais acheter un billet de loterie, s'il vous plaît.Excuse me, I would like to buy a lottery ticket, please.
- Salut! As-tu acheté un ticket de loto?Hi! Have you bought a lottery ticket?
- J'ai acheté un billet de loterie ce matin.I bought a lottery ticket this morning.
- Il a perdu son billet de loterie.He lost his lottery ticket.
- Ce billet de loterie est très vieux.This lottery ticket is very old.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking in the kitchen.
- GabrielRegarde, Manon, j'ai un billet de loterie !Look, Manon, I have a lottery ticket!
- ManonC'est super, Gabriel ! Tu as gagné ?That's great, Gabriel! Did you win?
- GabrielJe ne sais pas encore, je dois vérifier.I don't know yet, I have to check.
- ManonDis-moi vite si tu as gagné le gros lot.Tell me quickly if you won the jackpot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lottery ticket” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries billet, de, loterie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
