mémoriser
/me.mɔ.ʁi.ze/
The English phrase 'memorize' can be translated into French using mémoriser or apprendre par cœur.
Meaning: to commit to memory, to learn by heart (verb)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| mémoriser | /me.mɔ.ʁi.ze/ |
| apprendre par cœur |
mémoriser means to commit to memory or to learn by heart. It is also frequently used in contexts involving technical processes, computer memory or data.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiomatic phrase apprendre par cœur is composed of the verb apprendre (to learn), the preposition par (by) and the noun cœur (heart).
Which one should you use?
apprendre par cœur is the most natural and common way to express 'to memorize' in everyday French. In contrast, mémoriser is more formal and technical.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of mémoriser is mémorisé.
How do you pronounce it?
/me.mɔ.ʁi.ze/ (4 syllables)
Did you know?
- The verb apprendre comes from the Latin apprehendere, which means 'to seize' or 'to grasp'. This links the act of learning to the physical action of catching something.
- To describe something that is memorized perfectly, a French speaker might say it is gravé dans la mémoire, meaning it is 'engraved' in the memory.
- French has a specific term mémoire photographique for 'photographic memory', though psychologists prefer the term mémoire eidétique.
Examples in context
- Tu dois mémoriser cette phrase.You have to memorize this sentence.This sentence shows how to use mémoriser to say someone must memorize a specific sentence.Tatoeba #1577830 by Julien_PDC, translation #1577806 by rbbrbb
- Un acteur doit mémoriser son texte.An actor has to memorize his lines.This sentence uses mémoriser to describe an actor needing to memorize lines.Tatoeba #1223556 by sacredceltic, translation #1223472 by CK
- Peux-tu mémoriser dix millions de phrases ?Can you memorize 10 million sentences?This sentence uses mémoriser to ask if someone can memorize a large number of sentences.Tatoeba #13194764 by Rovo, translation #11112198 by espamatics
- Mémorise ces règles grammaticales pour ton examen.Memorize these grammar rules for your exam.
- Il faut que tu te mettes ces chiffres dans la tête.You need to get these numbers into your head.
- Je dois retenir tous ces noms avant la soirée.I have to memorize all these names before the party.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are studying for a history exam.
- HugoJe n'arrive pas à mémoriser toutes ces dates.I can't manage to memorize all these dates.
- ChloéEssaie de les lire à haute voix, Hugo.Try reading them out loud, Hugo.
- HugoEst-ce que tu as réussi à tout mémoriser ?Did you manage to memorize everything?
- ChloéOui, je connais tout le cours par cœur.Yes, I know the whole lesson by heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “memorize” translations and entries mémoriser, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apprendre, cœur, mémoriser, par, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
