R.-U.
masculine
The English phrase 'uk' is translated into French as R.-U. or RU.
Meaning: abbreviation of United Kingdom (name)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R.-U. | masculine | |
| RU | /ʁy/ | masculine |
Both forms are abbreviations for the United Kingdom. In French, the full name of the country is Royaume-Uni.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both R.-U. and RU are masculine.
Did you know?
- When referring to the R.-U. in news reports, French journalists often use the phrase outre-Manche (across the Channel) to avoid repeating the country name.
- French speakers often use the term le Royaume-Uni in formal settings but may refer to l'Angleterre (England) when speaking casually about the R.-U.
- The abbreviation RU can be confused with the French word rue, which means 'street'. Depending on the context, a reader might momentarily mistake the abbreviation for a direction or a location.
Examples in context
- RU est l'abréviation de Royaume-Uni.UK is the abbreviation for the United Kingdom.This sentence is useful for showing that RU is the abbreviation for Royaume-Uni.Tatoeba #7683548 by Micsmithel, translation #1067763 by CM
- Le Royaume-Uni est composé de l'Angleterre, l'Écosse, le Pays de Galles et l'Irlande du Nord.The United Kingdom is composed of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- On m'a offert un billet pour assister à un concert en Écosse, au Pays de Galles ou en Irlande du Nord. Je ne peux pas me décider!I was given a ticket to attend a concert in either Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. I can't decide!
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are discussing their travel plans.
- HugoTu veux aller où pour tes vacances ?Where do you want to go for your holidays?
- ManonJ'aimerais beaucoup visiter le R.-U.I would really like to visit the UK.
- HugoC'est une super idée, Manon !That's a great idea, Manon!
- ManonOui, je veux voir Londres et Édimbourg.Yes, I want to see London and Edinburgh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “uk” translations and entries R.-U., RU, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
