Learning how to say everyday items in different languages can be fun and helpful. One common item people often need to know how to say is “notebook.” If you’re ever in a French-speaking country, or simply talking to someone who speaks French, it’s useful to know the word for “notebook.” In this article, we’ll explore how to say “notebook” in French and give you some other ways to express it.
Knowing how to use different phrases and responses can also help you sound more fluent. Whether you are a student learning French or just curious about the language, this guide will give you some great tools. Let’s begin with the basics and expand your vocabulary with different ways to say “notebook” in French.
Ways to Say “Notebook” in French
In French, there are several ways to say “notebook.” Depending on the context or type of notebook, you can use different terms. Here’s a list of ways to say “notebook” in French, along with their pronunciations, meanings, and example sentences to help you understand better.
1. Cahier
Pronunciation: (ka-yay)
Meaning: This is the most common word for “notebook.” It refers to a regular notebook, often used in school or for writing.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai oublié mon cahier à la maison. (I forgot my notebook at home.)
- Elle a écrit dans son cahier toute la journée. (She wrote in her notebook all day.)
2. Carnet
Pronunciation: (kar-nay)
Meaning: “Carnet” is a smaller, often personal notebook. It can be used for journals or notes.
In a Sentence:
- J’écris tous mes rêves dans mon carnet. (I write all my dreams in my notebook.)
- Mon carnet de voyage est plein de souvenirs. (My travel notebook is full of memories.)
3. Bloc-notes
Pronunciation: (blok-not)
Meaning: A “bloc-notes” is a notepad or a small notebook, often used for taking quick notes or messages.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai pris des notes dans mon bloc-notes. (I took notes in my notepad.)
- Le bloc-notes est posé sur la table. (The notepad is on the table.)
4. Agenda
Pronunciation: (ah-zhend-ah)
Meaning: This word usually refers to a notebook or planner used for scheduling or organizing tasks.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit tous mes rendez-vous dans mon agenda. (I wrote all my appointments in my planner.)
- Mon agenda est plein de meetings cette semaine. (My planner is full of meetings this week.)
5. Livre de notes
Pronunciation: (leev ruh duh noht)
Meaning: This is a less common way of saying “notebook,” often used when referring to a notebook where specific notes are written. It can be translated as “book of notes.”
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit toutes mes leçons dans mon livre de notes. (I wrote all my lessons in my notebook.)
- Mon livre de notes est bien rangé. (My book of notes is neatly organized.)
6. Notepad
Pronunciation: (noht-pahd)
Meaning: This word is borrowed directly from English and is often used in French to refer to a small, simple notebook or pad of paper used for writing.
In a Sentence:
- Il a écrit son numéro sur un notepad. (He wrote his number on a notepad.)
- J’ai pris des idées dans mon notepad. (I wrote down ideas in my notepad.)
7. Cahier de brouillon
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh broo-yohn)
Meaning: This phrase refers to a “scrap notebook” or a “rough notebook,” which is often used for sketching or taking rough notes.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai dessiné dans mon cahier de brouillon. (I drew in my scrap notebook.)
- Utilise un cahier de brouillon pour faire des calculs. (Use a rough notebook for your calculations.)
8. Journal
Pronunciation: (zhoor-nahl)
Meaning: “Journal” is typically used for a diary or a personal notebook where you can write down daily events or thoughts.
In a Sentence:
- Je note mes pensées dans mon journal tous les soirs. (I write my thoughts in my journal every night.)
- Mon journal est plein de souvenirs. (My journal is full of memories.)
9. Cahier scolaire
Pronunciation: (ka-yay skol-air)
Meaning: This is a “school notebook,” typically used by students for taking notes in class.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit mes devoirs dans mon cahier scolaire. (I wrote my homework in my school notebook.)
- Mon cahier scolaire est presque plein. (My school notebook is almost full.)
10. Livre de bord
Pronunciation: (leev ruh bor)
Meaning: “Livre de bord” means “logbook.” It is a notebook used for keeping records, especially on ships or airplanes.
In a Sentence:
- Le capitaine a noté la météo dans le livre de bord. (The captain wrote down the weather in the logbook.)
- Ils ont écrit chaque étape du voyage dans le livre de bord. (They wrote each stage of the journey in the logbook.)
11. Cahier de texte
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh tekt)
Meaning: A “cahier de texte” is a homework notebook or an assignment notebook, often used by students.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit mes devoirs dans mon cahier de texte. (I wrote my homework in my homework notebook.)
- N’oublie pas de remplir ton cahier de texte. (Don’t forget to fill in your assignment notebook.)
12. Carnet de croquis
Pronunciation: (kar-nay duh kroo-kee)
Meaning: This refers to a sketchbook or a drawing notebook, often used by artists.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a dessiné un portrait dans son carnet de croquis. (She drew a portrait in her sketchbook.)
- Mon carnet de croquis est rempli de dessins. (My sketchbook is filled with drawings.)
13. Cahier de recette
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh ruh-set)
Meaning: This is a recipe notebook, where you can write down cooking instructions or recipes.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai noté ma recette dans mon cahier de recette. (I wrote down my recipe in my recipe notebook.)
- Mon cahier de recette contient mes plats préférés. (My recipe notebook contains my favorite dishes.)
14. Cahier de classe
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh klass)
Meaning: A “cahier de classe” is a class notebook, used for taking notes during lessons.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai pris des notes dans mon cahier de classe. (I took notes in my class notebook.)
- Le professeur a écrit au tableau pendant que nous écrivions dans nos cahiers de classe. (The teacher wrote on the board while we were writing in our class notebooks.)
15. Bloc-notes adhésif
Pronunciation: (blok-not ah-day-zeef)
Meaning: This refers to a sticky notepad, commonly used for writing short notes or reminders that can be stuck on surfaces.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit une note dans mon bloc-notes adhésif. (I wrote a note in my sticky notepad.)
- Place ton bloc-notes adhésif sur le frigo. (Place your sticky notepad on the fridge.)
16. Cahier de journaux
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh zhoor-no)
Meaning: A “cahier de journaux” refers to a newspaper or journal notebook, where daily records are kept.
In a Sentence:
- Il a écrit des nouvelles dans son cahier de journaux. (He wrote news in his journal notebook.)
- J’ai lu son article dans le cahier de journaux. (I read his article in the journal notebook.)
17. Carnet d’adresses
Pronunciation: (kar-nay dah-dress)
Meaning: A “carnet d’adresses” is an address book, where contact information is written.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai mis son numéro dans mon carnet d’adresses. (I put his number in my address book.)
- Mon carnet d’adresses est plein de contacts. (My address book is full of contacts.)
18. Cahier d’écriture
Pronunciation: (ka-yay day-kree-tur)
Meaning: This refers to a writing notebook, often used for practicing handwriting.
In a Sentence:
- Les enfants écrivent dans leur cahier d’écriture. (The children write in their writing notebooks.)
- J’utilise mon cahier d’écriture pour améliorer mon écriture. (I use my writing notebook to improve my handwriting.)
19. Carnet de voyage
Pronunciation: (kar-nay duh vwah-yahzh)
Meaning: A travel journal or travel notebook, where people write down experiences during trips.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit chaque jour dans mon carnet de voyage. (I wrote every day in my travel journal.)
- Mon carnet de voyage contient des souvenirs de Paris. (My travel journal has memories of Paris.)
20. Cahier d’archives
Pronunciation: (ka-yay dar-sheev)
Meaning: This refers to an archival notebook, where important documents or notes are stored for future reference.
In a Sentence:
- Les anciens documents sont dans le cahier d’archives. (The old documents are in the archival notebook.)
- J’ai mis ces rapports dans le cahier d’archives. (I put these reports in the archival notebook.)
21. Carnet de notes personnelles
Pronunciation: (kar-nay duh noht per-soh-nell)
Meaning: A personal notes notebook, typically used for jotting down thoughts or reminders.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai écrit mes objectifs dans mon carnet de notes personnelles. (I wrote my goals in my personal notes notebook.)
- Mon carnet de notes personnelles est rempli de rêves. (My personal notes notebook is filled with dreams.)
22. Livre de mathématiques
Pronunciation: (leev duh ma-teh-ma-teek)
Meaning: While this literally means “math book,” it can also refer to a notebook used for math-related work or notes.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai résolu des problèmes dans mon livre de mathématiques. (I solved problems in my math notebook.)
- Elle a écrit des équations dans son livre de mathématiques. (She wrote equations in her math notebook.)
23. Bloc-notes de réunion
Pronunciation: (blok-not duh ray-oo-nee-yon)
Meaning: A meeting notepad, often used during discussions or conferences to write down ideas.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai pris des notes dans mon bloc-notes de réunion. (I took notes in my meeting notepad.)
- Il a écrit les points importants dans le bloc-notes de réunion. (He wrote the important points in the meeting notepad.)
24. Cahier de projet
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh proh-zhey)
Meaning: A project notebook, often used to organize and plan tasks or steps for a specific project.
In a Sentence:
- Nous avons écrit nos idées dans notre cahier de projet. (We wrote our ideas in our project notebook.)
- Mon cahier de projet contient des étapes importantes. (My project notebook contains important steps.)
25. Cahier de comptabilité
Pronunciation: (ka-yay duh kohm-tah-bee-lee-tay)
Meaning: An accounting or bookkeeping notebook used to track finances and budgets.
In a Sentence:
- J’ai enregistré toutes les dépenses dans mon cahier de comptabilité. (I recorded all expenses in my accounting notebook.)
- Elle a vérifié les chiffres dans le cahier de comptabilité. (She checked the numbers in the accounting notebook.)
Other Ways to Say “Notebook” in French
Below is a table with other ways to say “notebook” in French. Each term is accompanied by its pronunciation, meaning, and example sentence. These alternatives offer a variety of options for different situations, allowing you to be more specific and precise when using the word “notebook” in French.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Carnet de notes | (kar-nay duh noht) | A notebook for taking notes or recording ideas. | J’ai utilisé mon carnet de notes pour prendre des idées. (I used my notebook to take notes.) |
| Cahier d’exercices | (ka-yay dayz-air-sees) | A workbook, often used for exercises and practice. | Elle a terminé tous les exercices dans son cahier d’exercices. (She finished all the exercises in her workbook.) |
| Bloc-notes spiralé | (blok-not spira-lay) | A spiral-bound notepad or notebook. | J’ai écrit mes pensées dans mon bloc-notes spiralé. (I wrote my thoughts in my spiral-bound notepad.) |
| Cahier de laboratoire | (ka-yay duh lah-boh-rah-twar) | A notebook for lab work or experiments. | Il a pris des notes dans son cahier de laboratoire. (He took notes in his lab notebook.) |
| Carnet d’observations | (kar-nay d’ob-ser-va-syon) | A notebook used for observations or tracking details. | Elle a noté des observations dans son carnet d’observations. (She wrote observations in her observation notebook.) |
| Cahier de bord | (ka-yay duh bor) | A logbook or notebook used for detailed records. | Le capitaine a inscrit les événements dans le cahier de bord. (The captain recorded the events in the logbook.) |
| Carnet de croisière | (kar-nay duh krwah-zee-air) | A cruise or travel notebook. | J’ai écrit mes aventures dans mon carnet de croisière. (I wrote about my adventures in my cruise notebook.) |
| Cahier de commentaires | (ka-yay duh kom-ahn-tehr) | A notebook for writing comments or feedback. | L’élève a écrit ses commentaires dans le cahier de commentaires. (The student wrote their comments in the feedback notebook.) |
| Carnet de planification | (kar-nay duh plah-nee-fi-kah-syon) | A planning notebook for organizing tasks. | Utilise ton carnet de planification pour organiser ta semaine. (Use your planning notebook to organize your week.) |
| Bloc-notes magnétique | (blok-not mag-nay-teek) | A magnetic notepad, often used for quick notes that can be stuck to metal surfaces. | J’ai écrit un message sur le bloc-notes magnétique du réfrigérateur. (I wrote a message on the magnetic notepad on the fridge.) |
| Cahier de poésie | (ka-yay duh poh-eh-zee) | A poetry notebook, used for writing poems. | Il a écrit ses poèmes dans son cahier de poésie. (He wrote his poems in his poetry notebook.) |
| Carnet de suivi | (kar-nay duh swee-vee) | A tracking notebook, often used for progress or health logs. | J’ai noté mes progrès dans mon carnet de suivi. (I recorded my progress in my tracking notebook.) |
| Cahier de lecture | (ka-yay duh lehk-toor) | A notebook used for recording reading notes or reflections. | Elle a écrit ses réflexions dans son cahier de lecture. (She wrote her reflections in her reading notebook.) |
| Livre de croquis | (leev duh kroo-kee) | A sketchbook, often used for drawing. | J’ai dessiné un paysage dans mon livre de croquis. (I drew a landscape in my sketchbook.) |
| Carnet de bord numérique | (kar-nay duh bor noo-meh-reek) | A digital logbook or digital notebook. | Il a enregistré tout dans son carnet de bord numérique. (He recorded everything in his digital logbook.) |
| Carnet de réflexions | (kar-nay duh ray-flek-syon) | A notebook for writing down reflections or personal thoughts. | J’écris toutes mes réflexions dans mon carnet de réflexions. (I write all my reflections in my reflection notebook.) |
| Bloc-notes de bureau | (blok-not duh boo-roh) | A desk notepad or small notebook kept on a desk. | J’ai laissé un bloc-notes de bureau sur la table. (I left a desk notepad on the table.) |
| Cahier de révisions | (ka-yay duh ray-vee-zyon) | A revision notebook, commonly used by students for studying. | Elle a révisé pour l’examen dans son cahier de révisions. (She reviewed for the exam in her revision notebook.) |
| Livre de notes techniques | (leev duh noht tek-neek) | A technical notebook, often used for scientific or technical notes. | Il a écrit ses observations dans son livre de notes techniques. (He wrote his observations in his technical notebook.) |
Response to “Notebook” in French
When someone says “notebook” in French, there are various ways to respond depending on the situation. Whether you are at school, in a meeting, or simply having a casual conversation, knowing how to reply appropriately can make communication easier. Below are some common responses you might use when someone refers to a “notebook” in French.
1. “Tu as ton cahier?”
Pronunciation: (too ah ton ka-yay?)
Meaning: “Do you have your notebook?” This is a simple question you might ask a friend or classmate to check if they have their notebook with them.
In a Sentence:
- “Tu as ton cahier?” (Do you have your notebook?)
- “Non, j’ai oublié mon cahier à la maison.” (No, I forgot my notebook at home.)
2. “J’ai oublié mon carnet.”
Pronunciation: (zhay oo-blee-ay mon kar-nay)
Meaning: “I forgot my notebook.” This is a casual way to tell someone that you don’t have your notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “J’ai oublié mon carnet.” (I forgot my notebook.)
- “Ne t’inquiète pas, j’ai pris un autre cahier.” (Don’t worry, I brought another notebook.)
3. “Là, j’écris dans mon cahier.”
Pronunciation: (lah, zay-kree dahn mon ka-yay)
Meaning: “I’m writing in my notebook.” You can use this phrase when you want to let someone know you are currently writing in your notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “Là, j’écris dans mon cahier.” (I’m writing in my notebook.)
- “Je dois finir cette page dans mon cahier.” (I have to finish this page in my notebook.)
4. “Est-ce que tu as un autre cahier?”
Pronunciation: (ehs-kuh too ah uhn oh-truh ka-yay?)
Meaning: “Do you have another notebook?” This is useful if you need an extra notebook or are asking to borrow one.
In a Sentence:
- “Est-ce que tu as un autre cahier?” (Do you have another notebook?)
- “Désolé, je n’ai qu’un seul cahier.” (Sorry, I only have one notebook.)
5. “Je l’ai noté dans mon carnet.”
Pronunciation: (zhuh lay noh-tay dahn mon kar-nay)
Meaning: “I wrote it down in my notebook.” This response is useful when telling someone that you’ve written something in your notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “Je l’ai noté dans mon carnet.” (I wrote it down in my notebook.)
- “Tu peux vérifier dans mon carnet.” (You can check in my notebook.)
6. “Peux-tu me passer ton cahier?”
Pronunciation: (puh too muh pah-say ton ka-yay?)
Meaning: “Can you pass me your notebook?” This is a polite way to ask someone to lend you their notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “Peux-tu me passer ton cahier?” (Can you pass me your notebook?)
- “Je dois vérifier quelque chose dans ton cahier.” (I need to check something in your notebook.)
7. “J’ai noté tout dans mon cahier.”
Pronunciation: (zhay noh-tay too dahn mon ka-yay)
Meaning: “I wrote everything down in my notebook.” This is helpful when you want to assure someone that you have all the information in your notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “J’ai noté tout dans mon cahier.” (I wrote everything down in my notebook.)
- “Tu peux trouver les réponses dans mon cahier.” (You can find the answers in my notebook.)
8. “Tu as un joli cahier!”
Pronunciation: (too ah uhn zho-lee ka-yay)
Meaning: “You have a nice notebook!” This is a compliment you can give to someone whose notebook looks nice or well-kept.
In a Sentence:
- “Tu as un joli cahier!” (You have a nice notebook!)
- “J’aime la couverture de ton cahier.” (I like the cover of your notebook.)
9. “Je dois acheter un nouveau cahier.”
Pronunciation: (zhuh dwah ah-shuh-tay uhn noo-voh ka-yay)
Meaning: “I need to buy a new notebook.” You can use this phrase when you need to get a new notebook because yours is full or damaged.
In a Sentence:
- “Je dois acheter un nouveau cahier.” (I need to buy a new notebook.)
- “Mon cahier est plein, je dois en acheter un autre.” (My notebook is full, I need to buy another one.)
10. “Où est ton cahier?”
Pronunciation: (oo eh ton ka-yay?)
Meaning: “Where is your notebook?” This is a simple question you can ask someone if you can’t find their notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “Où est ton cahier?” (Where is your notebook?)
- “Je ne trouve pas mon cahier.” (I can’t find my notebook.)
11. “Je préfère écrire sur un carnet.”
Pronunciation: (zhuh pray-fehr ay-kre sur uhn kar-nay)
Meaning: “I prefer to write in a notebook.” This response is useful when sharing your preference for using a notebook over other types of writing materials.
In a Sentence:
- “Je préfère écrire sur un carnet.” (I prefer to write in a notebook.)
- “J’aime avoir un carnet pour chaque sujet.” (I like to have a notebook for each subject.)
12. “As-tu un cahier avec des lignes?”
Pronunciation: (ah-too uhn ka-yay ah-vek day leen-yuh?)
Meaning: “Do you have a notebook with lines?” This can be used when asking about a specific type of notebook, for example, one with lined paper.
In a Sentence:
- “As-tu un cahier avec des lignes?” (Do you have a notebook with lines?)
- “Oui, j’ai un cahier avec des lignes.” (Yes, I have a notebook with lines.)
13. “Je vais écrire dans ce cahier maintenant.”
Pronunciation: (zhuh vayz ay-kre dahn suh ka-yay mahn-ten-ah)
Meaning: “I’m going to write in this notebook now.” You can use this sentence when you are about to start writing in your notebook.
In a Sentence:
- “Je vais écrire dans ce cahier maintenant.” (I’m going to write in this notebook now.)
- “Attends, je vais d’abord écrire dans mon cahier.” (Wait, I’ll write in my notebook first.)
Exercise to Practice “Notebook” in French
Here is a list of 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences using the different ways to say “notebook” in French. Fill in each blank with the appropriate word from the list of ways to say “notebook” that we covered earlier. Afterward, I will provide the answers along with the meanings of each sentence.
Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences:
- J’ai pris des notes dans mon ________.
- Tu as vu mon ________? Je l’ai perdu!
- Je vais acheter un nouveau ________ pour mes dessins.
- Elle a écrit ses idées dans un ________ de croquis.
- Je vais noter toutes les informations dans mon ________.
- Mon ________ est plein, je dois en acheter un autre.
- Nous avons utilisé un ________ pour écrire tous les détails de notre projet.
- Je préfère utiliser un ________ pour mes leçons de mathématiques.
- Est-ce que tu peux me prêter ton ________? J’ai oublié le mien.
- J’ai pris un rendez-vous dans mon ________.
- Le professeur m’a demandé de remettre mon ________ pour vérifier mes réponses.
- Je garde ce ________ pour écrire mes réflexions personnelles.
Answers:
- cahier
(I took notes in my notebook.)
Meaning: The sentence is talking about taking general notes, likely in a regular notebook. - cahier
(Have you seen my notebook? I lost it!)
Meaning: Asking if someone has seen the notebook because it was lost. - cahier
(I’m going to buy a new notebook for my drawings.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook used for drawing or sketching. - carnet
(She wrote her ideas in a sketchbook.)
Meaning: Referring to a smaller notebook used for sketches and drawings. - livre de notes
(I’m going to write down all the information in my book of notes.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook where specific notes are written. - cahier
(My notebook is full, I need to buy another one.)
Meaning: Referring to a regular notebook that is full. - cahier de projet
(We used a project notebook to write down all the details of our project.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook for planning or recording project details. - cahier scolaire
(I prefer to use a school notebook for my math lessons.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook typically used in school for notes or lessons. - cahier
(Can you lend me your notebook? I forgot mine.)
Meaning: Asking to borrow a general notebook. - agenda
(I wrote an appointment in my planner.)
Meaning: Referring to a planner or schedule notebook used for appointments. - cahier
(The teacher asked me to hand in my notebook to check my answers.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook that contains work to be checked by a teacher. - carnet de réflexions
(I keep this reflection notebook to write my personal thoughts.)
Meaning: Referring to a notebook where you write down personal reflections or thoughts.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored many ways to say “notebook” in French. From cahier to carnet, each term has its own specific use depending on the situation. By learning these different words, you can sound more fluent and confident when speaking French, especially in school or everyday conversations.
Whether you’re asking for someone’s notebook, describing your own, or responding to a question about one, knowing the right word for the context is key. Practicing these terms and their correct usage will help you communicate better and expand your vocabulary in French. Keep using these words in real-life situations, and soon you’ll feel comfortable switching between them depending on what kind of notebook you’re talking about.