Livre is undoubtedly the most common way to say "book" in French. But just like in English, the world of literature and reading offers a rich vocabulary beyond a single word.

Whether you're a passionate reader, a student exploring French texts, or simply looking to enrich your vocabulary, knowing these nuances will make your French sound much more natural and expressive.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to say "book" in French, so you can always find the perfect term for your literary adventures!

The standard 'book' – livre

The standard "book" – livre

Livre is the most common and fundamental word for "book" in French.

This noun is masculine, so you'll always use le or un with it. Its plural form is straightforward: les livres (the books) or des livres (some books).

You can use livre in any situation, from discussing a novel to a textbook or a children's story. It's universally understood.

Be careful, though! The word livre also refers to a "pound," both as a unit of weight (e.g., a pound of apples) and as a currency (e.g., the British pound sterling).

Fortunately, context almost always makes the meaning clear. When referring to a "book," livre will typically be accompanied by articles like le, un, ce (this), or possessives like mon, ton, etc. When referring to "pound" (weight), it's often followed by de + item (e.g., une livre de pommes). For currency, it's usually specified (e.g., la livre sterling).

For example, J'ai lu un bon livre (I read a good book) clearly refers to a book. However, J'ai acheté une livre de pommes (I bought a pound of apples) uses livre for weight. And C'est dix livres sterling (It's ten pounds sterling) refers to currency.

Livre appears in many common phrases, such as un livre de poche (a paperback book), un livre de cuisine (a cookbook), or le livre d'or (guest book).

Books hold a significant place in French culture, with a rich literary tradition. You'll find librairies (bookstores) everywhere, from small independent shops to large chains.

Despite the homonym, using livre for "book" is very straightforward. Just pay attention to the surrounding words and the context to avoid confusion.

💡 * J'adore lire des livres. (I love reading books.)

As-tu un bon livre à me recommander? (Do you have a good book to recommend to me?)

Ce livre est très intéressant. (This book is very interesting.)

Elle a emprunté trois livres à la bibliothèque. (She borrowed three books from the library.)

Le livre est sur la table. (The book is on the table.)

The 'notebook' or 'exercise book' – cahier

The 'notebook' or 'exercise book' – cahier

When you need to refer to a 'notebook' or an 'exercise book' in French, the most common and direct term you'll use is cahier.

A cahier is typically what students use for taking notes, doing exercises, or keeping track of their lessons in school, college, or language classes. It's the standard term for a bound collection of blank or lined pages for writing.

While both are notebooks, a cahier usually implies a larger, more substantial book for academic or extended writing. A carnet, on the other hand, often refers to a smaller notebook, a pocket-sized journal, or a pad of tickets.

You'll often hear phrases like un cahier de brouillon (a rough notebook/draft book) or un cahier de textes (a homework diary/planner, specifically for school assignments).

In French schools, students frequently organize their subjects with different cahiers for each class, making it a fundamental item in any student's fournitures scolaires (school supplies).

💡 * J'ai oublié mon cahier de maths à la maison. (I forgot my math notebook at home.)

Pouvez-vous me prêter un cahier et un stylo ? (Can you lend me a notebook and a pen?)

Les élèves écrivent leurs devoirs dans leur cahier. (The students write their homework in their notebooks.)

Ce cahier est rempli de mes notes de cours. (This notebook is full of my class notes.)

J'ai besoin d'acheter un nouveau cahier pour le français. (I need to buy a new notebook for French.)

The 'textbook' – manuel

When referring to a textbook in French, the most common and accurate term you'll encounter is manuel. This word is central to academic and learning contexts.

The word manuel is masculine, so you'll use un or le before it. Its plural form is manuels, simply adding an 's' at the end (e.g., les manuels).

Manuel specifically denotes a book used for instruction or study, typically in an academic setting. Think of it as a schoolbook, a course book, or an instructional guide.

While livre is the general term for any book, manuel is more precise, referring only to a book designed for teaching and learning. All manuels are livres, but not all livres are manuels.

It's worth noting that manuel can also be an adjective meaning manual (e.g., travail manuel - manual labor) or a noun for a handbook or guide in other contexts, but its primary association as a 'textbook' is key for French learners.

💡 * J'ai oublié mon manuel de mathématiques à la maison. (I forgot my math textbook at home.)

Les élèves doivent acheter un nouveau manuel d'histoire. (Students must buy a new history textbook.)

Ce manuel est très utile pour apprendre le français. (This textbook is very useful for learning French.)

Nous avons besoin de manuels pour la prochaine leçon. (We need textbooks for the next lesson.)

Ouvre ton manuel à la page 25. (Open your textbook to page 25.)

The 'comic book' – bande dessinée (BD)

The French term for 'comic book' or 'graphic novel' is bande dessinée, often abbreviated to BD.

Literally, bande dessinée translates to 'drawn strip' or 'drawn band', reflecting its visual and sequential nature.

In French-speaking cultures, BDs hold a significant place, often regarded as the 'ninth art' and enjoyed by all ages, not just children.

From classic series like Tintin and Astérix to more contemporary graphic novels, the world of BDs is incredibly rich and diverse.

💡 * J'adore lire des BDs le week-end. (I love reading comic books on weekends.)

As-tu déjà lu Tintin ? C'est une BD classique. (Have you ever read Tintin? It's a classic comic book.)

La bande dessinée est considérée comme le neuvième art en France. (Comic books are considered the ninth art in France.)

Mon fils collectionne les BDs de super-héros. (My son collects superhero comic books.)

Je cherche une bonne BD à lire pour les vacances. (I'm looking for a good comic book to read for the holidays.)

The 'pocket book' – livre de poche

The 'pocket book' – livre de poche

A livre de poche literally translates to 'pocket book' and refers to a paperback edition of a book, typically smaller and less expensive than its hardcover counterpart.

These books are designed to be portable and affordable, making literature more accessible to a wider audience. They are easy to carry, fitting into bags or even larger pockets.

Often, popular novels, classics, or non-fiction works are released as livres de poche after an initial hardcover run. They are perfect for reading on public transport, during travel, or for casual reading.

The livre de poche revolutionized reading in France, making books a common item for everyday consumption rather than a luxury. It democratized access to culture and knowledge.

When looking for an affordable or travel-friendly edition of a book in French, ask for a livre de poche.

💡 * J'ai acheté un livre de poche pour mon voyage. (I bought a pocket book for my trip.)

Ce roman est enfin disponible en livre de poche. (This novel is finally available in paperback.)

Les livres de poche sont parfaits pour lire dans le métro. (Pocket books are perfect for reading on the subway.)

Tu as un bon livre de poche à me recommander ? (Do you have a good pocket book to recommend to me?)

The 'children's book' – livre pour enfants

In French, the most direct and widely understood term for a 'children's book' is livre pour enfants. This phrase literally translates to 'book for children,' clearly indicating its purpose and target audience.

While livre pour enfants is the general category, you might encounter more specific terms. An album jeunesse, for instance, typically refers to a picture book for young children, often with rich illustrations. A conte is a 'tale' or 'story,' which can also be for children but isn't exclusively so. However, livre pour enfants remains the overarching term for literature aimed at young readers.

You'll find livre pour enfants used consistently in bookstores, libraries, and publishing houses to categorize literature intended for children, from toddlers to early teens. It's the standard term used by parents, educators, and booksellers alike when discussing this genre.

Unlike some slang terms, livre pour enfants is a straightforward and unambiguous expression. There's no hidden meaning or cultural nuance that would make its usage tricky; it simply means 'a book for children.' This makes it an easy and essential phrase for any French learner.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau livre pour enfants pour ma nièce. (I bought a new children's book for my niece.)

Ce rayon est rempli de livres pour enfants. (This section is full of children's books.)

Quel est ton livre pour enfants préféré ? (What's your favorite children's book?)

Les albums jeunesse sont un type de livre pour enfants. (Picture books are a type of children's book.)

Elle lit souvent des contes et des livres pour enfants à ses élèves. (She often reads tales and children's books to her students.)

The 'picture book' – album

In French, the word album is frequently used to refer to a picture book, particularly those for children. While it can also mean a photo album or a stamp album, in the context of literature, it directly translates to 'picture book'.

The word album is consistently masculine in French, requiring the use of un album or l'album. It's a versatile term covering various collections of images or items, but its strong association with a 'picture book' for kids is key.

💡 * Mon enfant adore lire son nouvel album illustré. (My child loves reading their new illustrated picture book.)

Ce petit album raconte l'histoire d'un ours polaire. (This little picture book tells the story of a polar bear.)

J'ai acheté un bel album pour mon neveu. (I bought a beautiful picture book for my nephew.)

L'album de famille est plein de souvenirs. (The family album is full of memories.)

The 'e-book' – un/le livre numérique

The “e-book” – un/le livre numérique

In French, the most common and standard term for an e-book is un livre numérique.

Livre means 'book', and numérique means 'digital' or 'numeric'. Together, they literally translate to 'digital book'.

While livre électronique is also technically correct, livre numérique is overwhelmingly preferred in everyday usage and official contexts. You might also hear the anglicism 'e-book', but it's less common than the French term.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau livre numérique hier.

Beaucoup de bibliothèques proposent des livres numériques en prêt.

Préfères-tu lire des livres physiques ou des livres numériques ?

Ce livre numérique est disponible sur plusieurs plateformes.

The 'recipe book' – livre de recettes

The most common and direct way to say 'recipe book' in French is livre de recettes.

Breaking down the phrase, livre means 'book' and recettes is the plural of 'recipe'. Thus, it literally translates to 'book of recipes'.

As livre is a masculine noun, un livre de recettes is a masculine phrase. This term is universally understood and widely used across all French-speaking regions to refer to a cookbook.

💡 * J'ai acheté un nouveau livre de recettes italiennes. (I bought a new Italian recipe book.)

Ma grand-mère m'a donné son vieux livre de recettes. (My grandmother gave me her old recipe book.)

Ce livre de recettes contient des plats délicieux. (This recipe book contains delicious dishes.)

Tu as un bon livre de recettes végétariennes à me recommander ? (Do you have a good vegetarian recipe book to recommend to me?)

Are there other ways to say 'book' in French?

Are there other ways to say “book” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “book” in French. But French, like any language, is rich with synonyms, from formal terms to more casual or even specialized vocabulary this author might not even be aware of!

You can also explore different contexts, like “comment dire livre en argot” (how to say book in slang) or by specific genres like “livre de poche” (paperback book) or “bande dessinée” (comic book).

You might find some interesting synonyms for livre (book) on this list. Of course, always check a word’s precise meaning and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to refer to books, depending on the context or style.

And if you’re looking for specific terms for different kinds of books or literary works in French, the WordReference entry for livre is an excellent place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is a perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Julien Green: Un livre est une fenêtre par où l'on s'évade. (A book is a window through which one escapes.)

9 ways to say "book" in French