lieu
/ljø/masculine
The English word 'place' can be translated into French using several words depending on the context, such as lieu, endroit or place.
Meaning: location, position (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lieu | /ljø/ | masculine |
| endroit | /ɑ̃.dʁwa/ | masculine |
| place | /plas/ | feminine |
In French, the choice of word for 'place' depends on whether you are describing a general location, a specific spot or a physical space like a seat or a square.
Which one should you use?
lieu is often used in more abstract or formal contexts, such as a birthplace or a place of worship. endroit is the most common way to refer to a specific, concrete spot or a particular point in space. While lieu and endroit refer to a general location, place specifically refers to a physical seat, a parking space or a public square.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of lieu is lieux, the plural of endroit is endroits and the plural of place is places.
How do you pronounce it?
/ljø/
Did you know?
- The word lieu is a homonym in French and also refers to a type of fish known as the pollock.
- The French word lieu is the root of the English word 'lieu' as seen in the phrase 'in lieu of', meaning 'instead of'.
- While lieu and endroit are often interchangeable, lieu is used in legal terms like lieu de crime for a crime scene.
Examples in context
- Tu es en lieu sûr.You are at a safe place.This sentence is useful for showing how to use lieu in the phrase 'en lieu sûr'.Tatoeba #468903 by sacredceltic, translation #5870602 by peterius
- Ce lieu me manque.I miss that place.This sentence is useful for expressing a feeling about a lieu.Tatoeba #1346052 by sacredceltic, translation #1745544 by belgavox
- Quel bel endroit !What a beautiful place!This sentence is useful for using endroit to describe a beautiful spot.Tatoeba #7694698 by sacredceltic, translation #2045746 by CK
- Je cherche un endroit tranquille pour étudier.I'm looking for a quiet place to study.
- L'événement aura lieu au centre de congrès.The event will take place at the conference center.
- Nous avons choisi un emplacement idéal pour notre nouveau bureau.We have chosen an ideal location for our new office.
- Il y a un bon restaurant dans ce coin.There's a great restaurant in this area.
- 814 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are discussing where to hold a meeting.
- NathanOn doit choisir un lieu pour la réunion.We have to choose a place for the meeting.
- ManonJe connais un lieu très calme en ville.I know a very quiet place in town.
- NathanC'est un lieu facile à trouver pour tout le monde ?Is it a place that's easy for everyone to find?
- ManonOui, c'est un lieu central et accessible.Yes, it is a central and accessible place.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “place” translations and entries lieu, endroit, place, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries endroit, lieu, place, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
