écrire
/e.kʁiʁ/
The English phrase 'write' is translated into French as écrire.
écrire is the verb used to form letters and words. If you specifically want to convey the idea of composing or drafting a document, you should use rédiger. If you intend to say you are taking notes or jotting something down, use noter. Additionally, the noun form une écriture refers to handwriting or a style of writing.
Meaning: to form letters, etc. (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of écrire is écrit. If you want to use the imperfect tense for the first-person singular to say 'I was writing' or 'I used to write', use écrivais.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /e.kʁiʁ/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- French has a specific expression écrire sous la dictée, which means to write something exactly as it is told to you, often used metaphorically to describe someone following orders blindly.
- In French, the phrase écrire en noir sur blanc (to write in black on white) is used to mean expressing something very clearly and definitively.
- The English word 'scribe' and the French verb écrire share the same Latin ancestor, *scrībere, which meant to scratch or mark.
Examples in context
- Je veux écrire ceci.I want to write this down.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to write something down using écrire.Tatoeba #2475391 by sacredceltic, translation #2012472 by CK
- Il me faut l'écrire.I need to write that down.This sentence is useful for expressing a necessity to write something down using écrire.Tatoeba #3326807 by sacredceltic, translation #2387778 by CK
- Je veux écrire à Tom.I want to write to Tom.This sentence is useful for expressing the desire to write to someone using écrire.Tatoeba #5289095 by Aiji, translation #5193597 by CK
- Vous êtes prié(e) d'écrire votre nom en lettres capitales.Please write your name in capital letters.
- Merci de rédiger un rapport détaillé sur le sujet.Please write a detailed report on the subject.
- J'ai écrit une lettre à mon ami hier.I wrote a letter to my friend yesterday.
- N'oublie pas de noter les courses à faire.Don't forget to write down the grocery shopping.
- 513 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé is asking Nathan to help her with a task.
- ChloéNathan, peux-tu m'aider à écrire ce mot ?Nathan, can you help me write this word?
- NathanBien sûr, Chloé, quel est ce mot ?Of course, Chloé, what is the word?
- ChloéC'est un mot très difficile à écrire.It is a very difficult word to write.
- NathanNe t'inquiète pas, je vais t'aider.Don't worry, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “write” translations and entries écrire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries écrire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
