une bière
In French, "one beer" is translated as une bière.
In a bar or restaurant context, une bière can mean both "one beer" and "a beer".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Paris and some northern regions of France, the term un demi is specifically used to refer to a half-pint beer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for beer is feminine, so the number one must be the feminine form une rather than the masculine un.
Did you know?
- The word bière is a homonym in French. While it refers to a drink, it also means 'coffin'.
- In some regions, the term une mousse is used as a slang synonym for une bière, referring to the foam on top.
- The word bière is a linguistic 'false friend' to English speakers because, while it means beer in French, its cognate in English, 'bier', refers to a stand on which a coffin is placed during a funeral.
Examples in context
- C'est combien, une bière ?How much is one beer?This sentence is useful for asking about the price of une bière.Tatoeba #859427 by sacredceltic, translation #853072 by piksea
- « Nous voudrions une bière. » « Juste une bière ? »"We'd like a beer." "Just one beer?"This sentence shows a dialogue regarding the quantity of une bière being ordered.Tatoeba #11335465 by Micsmithel, translation #1858675 by CK
- Il finit de boire une bière et en commanda une autre.He finished drinking one beer and ordered another.This sentence demonstrates how someone might finish une bière and order another.Tatoeba #427763 by sciuro, translation #427769 by witbrock
- Une bière, s'il vous plaît.One beer, please.
- Pourrais-je avoir une bière, s'il vous plaît?Could I have one beer, please?
- Un verre de bière, s'il te plaît.A glass of beer, please.
- Je prends une bière!I'll take a beer!
Example conversation
At a bar, Chloé and Nathan are ordering drinks.
- ChloéJe voudrais une bière, s'il vous plaît.I would like one beer, please.
- NathanEt pour toi, Nathan, une bière aussi ?And for you, Nathan, one beer too?
- NathanNon, je vais prendre un soda.No, I will have a soda.
- ChloéD'accord, une bière et un soda.Okay, one beer and one soda.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bière, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
