French word

lettre

Pronunciation

IPA/lɛtʁ/

Meaning

  • feminine nounletter

Example

J'ai reçu une lettre ce matin.

I received a letter this morning.

Illustration for lettre (letter)

More examples

Elle a lu la lettre et a souri.

She read the letter and smiled.

Core concept

A written message on a sheet, addressed so that it can reach another person.

Common phrases

  • écrire une lettre

    write a letter

  • recevoir une lettre

    receive a letter

  • envoyer une lettre

    send a letter

Similar words

courrier: Mail items such as letters and postcards delivered by postal service.
message: A short message or note often exchanged through chat or social media.
e-mail: An electronic document sent over the internet and read in an inbox.

Definition in French

Papier ou message écrit, souvent personnel, envoyé à quelqu'un pour communiquer des nouvelles, des pensées ou des demandes.

Word origin

French lettre developed from Latin littera through Old French and preserved the link between a written character, a document, and a personal written message.

Usage tips

  • Lettre can also mean an alphabet letter, so context distinguishes une lettre de sa grand-mère from la lettre A.

Word lists with this word