presbytère
masculine
The English word rectory is translated into French as presbytère. Wiktionary also lists cure.
Meaning: residence of Roman Catholic priest (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| presbytère | masculine | |
| cure | /kyʁ/ | feminine |
The term refers to the residence of a Roman Catholic priest.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word presbytère is a masculine noun, so you would say le presbytère. In contrast, the form cure is a feminine noun, written as la cure.
Did you know?
- While la cure refers to the priest's house, the word cure in modern French also means 'a health retreat' or 'a detox'.
- The term presbytère is shared with other Romance languages, such as the Spanish presbiterio, though it often refers to the altar area in those languages.
- In rural French villages, le presbytère often serves as a primary historical landmark and is frequently converted into a town hall or museum after the priest leaves.
Examples in context
- La réunion du conseil paroissial aura lieu au presbytère.The parish council meeting will take place at the rectory.
- Viens chez moi ! Ma mère cuisine pour le repas paroissial à la maison du curé.Come over! My mother is cooking for the parish meal at the priest's house.
- Le presbytère est situé près de l'église.The rectory is located near the church.
- Ils habitent dans le presbytère du village.They live in the village rectory.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking through a small French village.
- ChloéTu vois le presbytère là-bas ?Do you see the rectory over there?
- GabrielOui, c'est une très belle maison.Yes, it is a very beautiful house.
- ChloéLe prêtre vit dans ce presbytère.The priest lives in this rectory.
- GabrielIl a beaucoup de chance.He is very lucky.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rectory” translations and entries presbytère, cure, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
