livres et pence
The English phrase "pounds and pence" is translated into French as livres et pence.
This phrase refers to the units of currency used in the United Kingdom. The term livres is the specific French word for "pounds".
Did you know?
- The word livre is a cognate of the Roman 'libra', which is why the symbol for a pound (£) is actually a stylized letter L.
- In French, the word livre can refer to both the British unit of currency and a unit of weight, such as a 'pound' of sugar. This dual meaning stems from the ancient practice where the value of coins was determined by the actual weight of the metal.
- The word et has a 't' that was actually a later addition to the French language. In Old French, the conjunction was frequently written simply as e, but scholars later re-inserted the 't' to align the spelling with its Latin ancestor.
Examples in context
- Je vais vous rembourser vingt livres sterling et cinq pence.I will reimburse you twenty pounds and five pence.
- Le prix est exprimé en livres et pence.The price is expressed in pounds and pence.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are planning a trip to London.
- LéaGabriel, on va payer en livres et pence ?Gabriel, are we going to pay in pounds and pence?
- GabrielOui, c'est la monnaie là-bas.Yes, that is the currency there.
- LéaJe dois changer mon argent alors.I need to exchange my money then.
- GabrielOn peut utiliser la carte bancaire aussi.We can use the bank card too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries et, CC BY-SA 4.0.
