French word

lui

Pronunciation

IPA/lɥi/

Meaning

  • pronounhim

Example

Je lui donne le livre.

I give him the book.

Illustration for lui (him)

More examples

Je veux lui parler ce soir.

I want to speak to him tonight.

Core concept

A single person stands at the receiving end of an action directed to that person.

Common phrases

  • lui parler

    speak to him

  • lui dire

    tell him

  • lui donner

    give him

Similar words

leur: Refers to several people as the recipients of something given or communicated.
le: Refers directly to a person or thing affected by an action.
y: Refers to a place or subject introduced by à, often meaning there.
lui-même: Emphasizes that the person himself is being referred to.

Definition in French

S'emploie à la troisième personne comme complément d'objet indirect pour remplacer un complément introduit par « à » lorsqu'il se rapporte à une personne.

Word origin

French lui continues Old French lui, which developed from Latin illui, a dative form of ille meaning 'that one'.

Usage tips

  • For a person introduced by à, French uses lui for one person and leur for more than one, while y replaces à for a place or thing.

Other meanings

  • herpronoun

Related words

Word lists with this word