How to Say "Preface" in French

préface

/pʁe.fas/feminine

The English word 'preface' is translated into French as préface.

The word préface refers to an introduction before the main text (noun).

Meaning: introduction before the main text (noun)

Related words

préface is a feminine noun, meaning it is used with feminine articles such as la or une. The plural form is préfaces.

The word has two syllables and is pronounced /pʁe.fas/.

The term préface can be used metaphorically in French to describe the early stages of a person's life or the beginning of a historical era, as in la préface d'un siècle.
In French academic circles, a préface written by a famous scholar to validate a younger author's work is often seen as a formal endorsement or a 'literary baptism'.
Some French authors historically wrote their préface last, treating it as a final summary or a 'meta-commentary' on the completed creative process.

Un livre sans préface, c'est comme un corps sans âme.
A book without preface is like a body without a soul.
Tatoeba #6291202 by nimfeo, translation #5182608 by CK
Il a écrit une brillante préface pour cette pièce.
He wrote a fine preface to the play.
Tatoeba #408857 by Scott, translation #290673 by menaud
Je dois écrire la préface de mon livre.
I have to write the preface of my book.
L'auteur a lu le prologue de son livre en guise de préface.
The author read the prologue of his book as a preface.
La préface explique le contexte de l'histoire.
The preface explains the context of the story.

Emma and Gabriel are in a bookstore.

Emma

Est-ce que tu as lu la préface de ce livre ?
Have you read the preface of this book?
Gabriel

Non, je préfère commencer directement l'histoire.
No, I prefer to start the story directly.
Emma

Pourtant, sa préface est vraiment intéressante.
Yet, her preface is really interesting.
Gabriel

D'accord, je la lirai avant de commencer.
Okay, I will read it before starting.

Sources

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