How to Say ‘The library rooms are often taken on Wednesdays.’ in French
Les salles de la BU sont souvent prises le mercredi.
leh sahl duh lah bay-U sohn soo-VAHN preez luh mehr-kruh-DEE
[leh sahl duh lah bay-U sohn soo-VAHN preez luh mehr-kruh-DEE]
🇫🇷 In France: Many French schools have no classes on Wednesday afternoons. That makes it a popular study slot, which is why library rooms fill up.
Phrase Breakdown
Les salles de la BU
leh sahl duh lah bay-U
The university library rooms
This is the subject of the sentence. Say it in one smooth group.
Les salles de la BU sont calmes.
The university library rooms are quiet.
Words in this phrase
Les
[leh]
the
Used before plural nouns to denote particularity.
Les années passent vite.
The years pass quickly.
salles
[sahl]
rooms
Rooms used for a purpose, like study rooms.
Les salles sont fermées le dimanche.
The rooms are closed on Sundays.
de
[duh]
of
Expressing the relationship between part and a whole.
Un verre de lait.
A glass of milk.
la
[lah]
the (feminine singular)
Definite article used before a feminine singular noun.
La réservation est déjà confirmée pour samedi soir.
The reservation is already confirmed for Saturday evening.
BU
[bay-U]
university library
Abbreviation of 'bibliothèque universitaire'.
La BU ouvre à huit heures.
The university library opens at eight.
sont souvent prises
sohn soo-VAHN preez
are often taken
The verb group. Pronounce the 'z' sound in 'prises'.
Les tables sont souvent prises.
The tables are often taken.
Words in this phrase
sont
[sohn]
are
"Sont" is the plural form of "être," meaning "are."
Les relations sont parfois un bon indicateur de la culture d'entreprise.
Relationships are sometimes a good indicator of company culture.
souvent
[soo-VAHN]
often
An adverb meaning frequently or many times.
Je fais souvent du roller après l'école.
I often go skating after school.
prises
[preez]
taken / booked
Feminine plural past participle of 'prendre'; here meaning occupied.
Toutes les places sont prises.
All the seats are taken.
le mercredi.
luh mehr-kruh-DEE
on Wednesdays.
'Le' plus a day means 'every Wednesday'. Your voice falls at the end of the sentence.
J'ai cours le mercredi.
I have class on Wednesdays.
Words in this phrase
le
[luh]
on (with days)
Before a weekday, 'le' means every such day, i.e. on Wednesdays.
Le lundi, j'ai sport.
On Mondays, I have sport.
mercredi
[mehr-kruh-DEE]
Wednesday
The third day of the week in France; days are not capitalized in French sentences.
Je vais à la piscine mercredi.
I'm going to the pool on Wednesday.
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