Le relevé de compteur est exact.

Le means the. It shows that we are talking about a specific meter reading, not just any meter reading in general.

So:

• Le relevé de compteur = the meter reading
• Un relevé de compteur would mean a meter reading

In this sentence, Le makes it sound like a particular reading is being discussed.

Here, relevé is a noun meaning reading, record, or statement, depending on context.

In Le relevé de compteur, it means the meter reading.

This is a useful word because relevé can appear in other contexts too:

• un relevé bancaire = a bank statement
• un relevé de notes = a transcript / grade report
• un relevé de compteur = a meter reading

So the exact English translation depends on the context.

This is a very common question.

de compteur is being used in a sort of category label: meter reading. It tells you what kind of reading it is.

So:

• un relevé de compteur = a meter reading

If you said du compteur, that would more strongly mean of the meter, referring to a specific meter.

Compare:

• un relevé de compteur = a meter reading
• le relevé du compteur = the reading of the meter

In many practical contexts, both may be understandable, but relevé de compteur is the standard expression for the general idea of a meter reading.

Compteur usually means meter or counter, depending on context.

In this sentence, it means a utility meter, such as:

• an electricity meter
• a gas meter
• a water meter

So relevé de compteur is the reading taken from that meter.

Because relevé is a masculine noun.

In French, adjectives usually agree with the noun they describe:

• masculine singular: exact
• feminine singular: exacte

Since le relevé is masculine singular, the adjective stays exact.

If the noun were feminine, you would use exacte.

Here, exact means accurate, correct, or exact.

So Le relevé de compteur est exact means the reading is accurate.

In English, exact often means perfectly precise, while accurate may sound more natural in this context. In French, exact works well here to mean that the reading is correct.

Because exact is being used as an adjective after être.

The structure is:

• subject
  • être
    • adjective

So:

• Le relevé de compteur = subject
• est = is
• exact = accurate / exact

This is very normal in French, just like in English:

• The meter reading is accurate

Est is the third-person singular present tense of être (to be).

So:

• je suis = I am
• tu es = you are
• il / elle / on est = he / she / one is

Here, Le relevé de compteur is singular, so French uses est.

No. Here it is a noun, not a verb.

That can be confusing because relevé can also be the past participle of relever.

But in this sentence, le relevé clearly functions as a noun because it is introduced by the article le.

So:

• le relevé = the reading / the statement / the record

A simple pronunciation guide is:

luh ruh-luh-vay duh kohn-tuhr ay egzakt

A few helpful notes:

• Le is often pronounced lightly, almost like luh
• relevé ends with an ay sound
• de is usually a short duh
• compteur has a nasal sound in com
• est is usually pronounced ay before a following adjective
• exact often begins with a gz sound: egzakt

A more French-like IPA pronunciation is:

/lə ʁəlve də kɔ̃tœʁ ɛ ɡzak/

Yes, you could, and it would mean something like The reading of the meter is accurate.

The difference is mainly one of phrasing:

• Le relevé de compteur est exact = the standard idea of the meter reading
• Le relevé du compteur est exact = emphasizes the reading of the specific meter

So both can make sense, but relevé de compteur is a very natural fixed expression for meter reading.

Yes. Depending on the nuance, French might also use:

• correct = correct
• précis = precise
• juste = accurate / right

But exact is perfectly good here and clearly means the reading is accurate.

The choices are similar but not identical:

• exact = exact, accurate, correct
• correct = correct, acceptable
• précis = precise, detailed
• juste = right, accurate

So exact is a solid, natural choice in this sentence.