lire

to read

verb LEER Common

Usage Note

Lire is an irregular verb whose past participle is lu. The expression entre les lignes — 'to read between the lines' — is used identically in French and English. Lire can also mean to read aloud (lire à voix haute), and the derived noun lecture means 'reading,' not 'a lecture' — a classic false friend.

Examples

"Elle lit un roman policier."

Natural Translation

She is reading a detective novel.

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