French word

exemplaire

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛgzɑ̃plɛʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncopy

Example

J'ai acheté un exemplaire du roman hier.

I bought a copy of the novel yesterday.

Illustration for exemplaire (copy)

More examples

Je dois rendre un exemplaire à la bibliothèque demain.

I have to return a copy to the library tomorrow.

Core concept

A single book copy held in the hand, one member of a larger print run.

Common phrases

  • lire un exemplaire

    read a copy

  • rendre un exemplaire

    return a copy

  • trouver un exemplaire

    find a copy

Similar words

livre: A written volume assembled for reading.
copie: A duplicate reproducing the content of an original or another copy.
édition: A distinct version of a book marked by its editing, binding, or publication date.

Definition in French

Une seule copie physique d'une œuvre imprimée appartenant à une même édition.

Word origin

French exemplaire comes from Latin exemplum through medieval forms related to exemplaris, and it came to denote an individual copy as well as a model.

Usage tips

  • The singular and plural are pronounced alike, while the plural adds -s in writing: un exemplaire and des exemplaires.

Other meanings

  • specimennoun
  • exemplaryadjective

Word lists with this word