France uses metric, when do they use "la livre"?

Kate D.B2Kwiziq community member

France uses metric, when do they use "la livre"?

In Germany "ein Pfund" (a pound) is used for 500 gm (one pound = approx. 454 gm). Do the French use "une livre" this way? If not, what would they sell by the pound instead of by the kilo?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi kate,

In France , une livre = 500g = half a kilo

so you might ask for :

une livre d'abricots, une livre de tomates.

You will also hear -

Une demi-livre de beurre = 250g butter

Hope this helps!

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

That's interesting, I had no idea that this happened in France and Germany. I suppose in Quebec it will be an actual pound though?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Alan,

I have found an interesting page detailing what the Québécois do which seems to be a mixture of both, probably because they live in a bi-lingual country and have had to adapt to both systems ...

https://pvtistes.net/forum/vie-quotidienne-et-questions-diverses/45426-les-poids-et-les-mesures-au-quebec.html

 

France uses metric, when do they use "la livre"?

In Germany "ein Pfund" (a pound) is used for 500 gm (one pound = approx. 454 gm). Do the French use "une livre" this way? If not, what would they sell by the pound instead of by the kilo?

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