lecture
/lɛk.tyʁ/feminine
The English word "reading" is translated into French as lecture.
lecture refers to the process of interpreting written language. You may also encounter the verb lire, which means "to read". If you are reading with great enthusiasm, you might use the verb dévorer, which means "to devour". For a lighter action, you can use feuilleter, meaning "to leaf through".
Meaning: process of interpreting written language (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
lecture is a feminine noun. It is derived from the verb lire, which means "to read".
How do you pronounce it?
/lɛk.tyʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use lecture to mean a university lecture, as English speakers often do. In French, lecture means the act of reading.
Did you know?
- A person who is an avid reader is often called a rat de bibliothèque, which literally translates to a 'library rat'.
- While lecture is the noun for reading, the French language uses the word bouquiniste to describe the specialized booksellers who sell second-hand reading material along the banks of the Seine in Paris.
- The English word 'lecture' actually shares a common ancestor with the French lecture, but their meanings have diverged significantly over time.
Examples in context
- J'ai de la lecture.I have some reading to do.This sentence shows how to express having reading material to attend to using lecture.Tatoeba #2565607 by sacredceltic, translation #2360340 by CK
- Il adore la lecture.He's very fond of reading.This sentence illustrates an expression of fondness for the activity lecture.Tatoeba #4557629 by sacredceltic, translation #2258649 by _undertoad
- Tom aime la lecture.Tom enjoys reading.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone enjoys lecture.Tatoeba #4764172 by Rovo, translation #6929309 by Eccles17
- La lecture est une activité enrichissante.Reading is an enriching activity.
- Je passe beaucoup de temps à lire chaque jour.I spend a lot of time reading every day.
- Chaque soir, avant de dormir, j'aime bouquiner un peu.Every evening, before sleeping, I enjoy reading a bit.
- On peut se détendre en lisant un bon bouquin.You can relax by reading a good book.
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about their hobbies in the library.
- LéaTu aimes la lecture, Lucas ?Do you like reading, Lucas?
- LucasOui, c'est ma passion depuis l'enfance.Yes, it has been my passion since childhood.
- LéaMoi aussi, la lecture me détend beaucoup.Me too, reading relaxes me a lot.
- LucasOn pourrait s'échanger des livres alors.We could exchange books then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reading” translations and entries lecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lecture, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
