Level A1 (Beginner)
Published January 17, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The French Word of the Day is lire, meaning “to read.” I provide four audio example sentences and touch on lire vs. la lecture (to read vs. reading).
👉 See separate lesson: Lire conjugation chart (with audio) »
📘 Lire meaning in French
Lire is an irregular French verb meaning “to read.” It is used when talking about reading in general — for example books, newspapers, articles, or texts out loud. For example, “Je lis le journal” (I read the newspaper). The related noun is la lecture (reading). for example, “J’aime faire de la lecture” (I like reading).
🎧 Lire pronunciation in French
The pronunciation of lire is /liʀ/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “leer.”
📝 Lire usage examples
Je lis un article sur le travail à distance.
I am reading an article about remote work.
Elle lit le texte à voix haute en classe.
She reads the text out loud in class.
Nous lisons dans le journal que les prix augmentent.
We read in the newspaper that prices are going up.
Elle apprend à lire à l’école primaire.
She is learning to read in elementary school.
Interestingly, lecture (f.) is a false cognate meaning “reading” — as in the activity of reading.
👉 See also: Lecture (reading) »
In addition to the usage examples, true fluency comes from knowing the verb forms.
👉 See also: Lire conjugation chart (with audio) »
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- la lecture — reading
- le livre — book
- le journal — newspaper
- le texte — text
- lire à voix haute — to read out loud
- savoir lire — to be able to read
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner!
👉 Lire conjugation chart (with audio) »
👉 Lecture – reading »
👉 Keep learning with the French Word of the Day »
Lire meaning — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What does lire mean in French?
Lire is an irregular French verb meaning “to read.”
How do you pronounce lire in French?
Lire is pronounced /liʀ/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “leer.”
What is the difference between lire and la lecture?
Lire = to read (the verb)
La lecture = reading (the activity or noun)
Example:
J’aime faire de la lecture. (I like reading.)
Je lis le journal. (I read the newspaper.)
