pinte
/pɛ̃t/
The English word 'pint' is translated into French as pinte.
A pinte is a unit of volume for liquids. In a modern French social context, it most commonly refers to a pint of beer.
Meaning: unit of volume for liquids (noun)
Which one should you use?
While pinte can refer to the historical unit of measurement, in contemporary casual speech it is used almost exclusively for a glass of beer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain French-speaking regions, the term demi can be used to refer to a half pint.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɛ̃t/
Did you know?
- The word pinte is actually a distant relative of the English word 'paint', stemming from the Latin pincta which refers to a 'marked' or 'painted' line on a vessel.
- The French government replaced the pinte and other local units with the metric system during the French Revolution to ensure national consistency.
- Before the French Revolution, the exact volume of a pinte changed depending on which city you were in, such as Paris or Provence.
Examples in context
- J'ai envie d'une pinte.I fancy a pint.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for a pinte.Tatoeba #12769126 by lbdx, translation #10652777 by sundown
- Le barman a pris une pinte.The barman pulled a pint.This sentence shows the action of a barman taking a pinte.Tatoeba #6297559 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #6296661 by zumley
- Si vous n'avez jamais pris une pinte de Guinness dans un vrai pub irlandais, je le recommande chaudement.If you've never had a pint of Guinness in a real Irish pub, I highly recommend it.This sentence is a recommendation for having a pinte of Guinness in an Irish pub.Tatoeba #816670 by sacredceltic, translation #612231 by darinmex
- On va prendre une choppe ce soir?Shall we have a pint tonight?
- On se retrouve au pub ce soir? Je prends une choppe!Shall we meet at the pub tonight? I'll have a pint!
- Pourriez-vous me servir une pinte de votre meilleure bière, s'il vous plaît?Could you please serve me a pint of your finest beer?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are ordering drinks at a local pub.
- LéaQu'est-ce que tu veux boire, Gabriel ?What do you want to drink, Gabriel?
- GabrielJe vais prendre une pinte de bière.I'll have a pint of beer.
- LéaMoi aussi, je commande une pinte.Me too, I'm ordering a pint.
- GabrielC'est parfait, on commande maintenant.Perfect, let's order now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pinte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pinte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
