French language

Wokisme, vegan: The ‘new’ words added to French dictionary

The latest edition of the dictionary has taken decades to create and publish

‘Chauffer son char’: Québécois French phrases added to Google Translate

The new update includes idiosyncratic phrases and words unique to Québec

Spotify announces new audiobook offer in France

The move is the company’s first non-English-speaking offer in Europe

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Google translate adds Occitan, Breton and minor French languages

The automatic system features hundreds of new dialects after a major update

READER TIPS: How long should it take to learn French?

The US government says it should take 600-750 classroom hours - but do our readers agree?

How can I learn ‘business French’ to improve job prospects?

Many jobs require will require people to be fluent in the local language

Do Britons have a right to a translator in a French court?

We look at whether the state has provisions for non-French speakers

Tricks to get the gender of nouns correct in French

Working out the genders of nouns in French can be one of the most difficult parts of the language to navigate

Are there age restrictions on language tests for French nationality?

France’s new immigration law has introduced stricter language requirements for both nationality and residency cards

Informal synonyms for everyday French words

Spoken French is very different to the language you learn in the classroom

Films and TV shows to improve your French in March

You can widen your vocabulary from the comfort of your own sofa, or by taking a trip to the cinema

When do you say ‘un’ après-midi and when ‘une’ après-midi in French?

Is one version wrong or do they mean different things?

Interesting social media accounts for French learners in 2024

Social media is a great place to turn for some short sharp language practice

6 films and series for February to improve your French

Dramas, thrillers, and cult comedies all make this month’s list

Updated: readers share their French film and TV recommendations

Dramas, thrillers, and a soap opera all make list of most-loved watches in France

What is a ‘MOOC’ and how can it help you learn French for free?

The courses, some of which are run in association / link with the French government, are available to anyone with an internet connection

France’s tug-of-war between its regional languages and official French

How dozens of languages evolved over centuries to become a source of pride despite efforts to stamp them out

Five films or series to watch on Netflix to help boost your French

Watching with subtitles can help improve your comprehension skills

Meet Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, the guardian of the French language

Holding the highest position at the Académie francaise, d’Encausse explains which French book every learner should read, how anglicism impact French and the importance of grammar…

Seven French films you can watch this month with subtitles

May will see the Cannes Film Festival take place, so what better time to dip into French cinema?

French language defenders sue Notre-Dame over English translations

Campaigners argue only translating the cathedral’s signs into English promotes dominance of that language

La dictée: How a spelling test took over France

A simple dictation exercise for schoolchildren was central to the construction of the French nation

These 10 songs can help you improve your French

Listening to music is a good way to work on your French without even trying

‘To master the French language, grasp how it differs from English’

English was heavily influenced by French after the Norman Conquest but do not be fooled says Nick Inman

French tests, more workers: France’s immigration bill begins debate

Ministers want to make it harder to stay in France long-term if you do not speak French – but also to cut down on queuing at prefectures for those who do

‘Madame Macron right to resist gender neutrality in French language’

Commentator Simon Heffer explores ‘le wokisme’ and why he agrees with the First Lady

‘The French are right to reject Anglo-Saxon work culture’

French people are sick of American and British buzzwords threatening hard-won workers’ rights, argues columnist Nabila Ramdani

Jsp, Jtm: How many of these French text shorteners can you work out?

We look at abbreviations which are often used in texts in France

Language classes, motorway tolls: Tips for saving money in France

Five ways to save money in France, from paying less at swimming pools to improving your language skills for free...

Five reasons to learn French – and why they may help you pick it up

Writer-teacher Nick Inman explains why motivations matter above all else when learning a language

Why am I finding it so hard to become fluent in French?

Writer-teacher Nick Inman shares his continuing struggles to pick up the language nearly two decades after moving to France

Do you need a language certificate to obtain a French residency card?

The government has recently stated that multi-year cartes de séjour should be conditioned on a certain level of French proficiency

Woody Allen’s new film to be ‘entirely in French’ and filmed in Paris

The filmmaker said work will begin in the capital in September and revealed that the casting is completely French

We get on with French neighbours so why do they use ‘vous’ with us?

A French member of our team looks at the subtle differences between the use of ‘tu’ and ‘vous’

Five tips to mastering the French language when you move to France

Learning French as an adult can be difficult - five readers share their experience of what worked for them

Discover not so appetising origins of the French saying ‘bon appétit’

Surprisingly, this famous phrase was not initially used to wish your guests an enjoyable meal

Three favourite Belgian phrases sneaking into the French language

From Belgian French, Flemish and Wallon, listen out for these linguistic interlopers as they might not mean what you think

Bâton de pèlerin: double meaning of Macron's pilgrim’s staff

This ancient phrase, inspired by travellers, has a double meaning

How do you express irritation in French but in a polite way?

This little French word is a true shapeshifter and, in certain situations, a life saver

Être aux abois: A French expression to describe facing difficulties

The term was recently used by a French presidential candidate to accuse President Emmanuel Macron of being ‘desperate’

The history and uses of the fun French phrase ‘à gogo’

We go back to 15th century France, the first disco venue and then wartime Scotland to find stories ‘à gogo’

Ça me gonfle!: How to express your irritation (or love) in French

It is no secret that the French love using slang in everyday conversations. We look at one multi-purpose verb that helps them to express irritation, exaggeration and even love

Seven ways to say ‘I’m tired’ in French and their unusual origins

Show off your French language skills with some interesting phrases, from past and present, to express how tired you are

Five facts to help learn which French words are masculine or feminine

The baffling world of masculine and feminine French nouns, their rules and exceptions. Did you know some can be both?

Chépa, Chui: Six French ‘slurred’ words you may find hard to recognise

French people run some everyday words together, making it hard for non-natives to identify phrases that in reality they do know. We give examples

Do you learn French with French films or TV shows? Here are three tips

We sample services - including a slow news service in French - that can help learners who do not want to rely on more traditional means and grammar courses

Le Havre, Le Mans: How do these French place names work with à or de?

We look at the rules on contracting city and town names with articles and delve into their linguistic origins

Discover unused French words removed from dictionary and lost in time

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘chape-chute’ or the verb ‘monseigneuriser’? These old-fashioned words have been deemed to have fallen out of common usage

Cocorico, ouah ouah: How animal sounds differ in French and English

There is also a range of verbs to describe the sounds animals make, all quite different to English

Académie Française opposes new French identity card as it uses English

The traditional custodians of the French language have asked the prime minister to suspend the card and say they will take the issue to court if no action is taken

I stutter when I speak French

I am new to France and have been studying French at home as we plan to live here permanently but every time I try to speak in a real environment I get nervous and stutter and eventually revert to English. Do you have any tips? G.L.

How new arrivals in France can learn language

I am moving to France soon and would like advice on free French language tuition or help towards funding lessons. I believe the state offered this. Is it possible and, if so, how can I start the process?

How do I write the date in numbers in French?

The convention is as in the UK: day/month/year

‘En avoir ras-le-bol’ - A French expression you may hear today

Le Pen supporters are said to have ‘ras-le-bol’ with her… We look at what this means

Schéma, rétablissement: 30 Covid-related terms you may hear in France

From getting a test to showing your health pass, there are a whole host of words that have entered our vocabulary since the start of the pandemic

Fans celebrate France’s highest-ever score at Eurovision

Barbara Pravi’s performance saw the country come second overall, with its best result in 30 years, prompting fans - including President Macron - to celebrate the almost-victory

France adopts historic law to protect its regional languages

It opens up the possibility of teaching in schools being carried out in regional languages for the majority of the school day

French Netflix hits like Lupin can boost language skills

Many English-speakers prefer to watch shows such as Lupin and Dix Pour Cent in the original French with subtitles rather than the dubbed version

10 tips for speaking better French

Nick Inman asked three French friends for their tips on speaking French more fluently

French linguist Alain Rey dies aged 92

Mr Rey loved language and was best-known as one of the original creators of the Le Robert dictionary

French you don’t learn at school: machin

Finally, the French word for 'thingy'

New French words: hipstérisation, antivax and infox

New words added to Le Petit Larousse dictionary for 2021 describe lifestyle, politics and fake news.

Nonbinary pronoun ‘they’ sparks French language debate

A debate has been sparked in France over the lack of an official gender-neutral French word for “they” and “them”, after the pronoun “they” was voted Word of the Year 2019 in the United States.

French language notes – November 2019

Use your loaf in Breton art of talking gibberish

French toddler Fañch permitted Breton spelling of name

A Breton toddler named Fañch has been officially allowed to keep the “ñ” on his name, after the French Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that it was legal.

Words that change meaning from feminine to masculine

Gender matters in French – get it wrong and it can lead to serious misunderstandings.

French Language notes - June 2019

A l’aise, Blaise... and other names to drop

Dictionaries find the mot juste to add to language

Online search engines are being used more often, but France’s leading dictionaries still give a snapshot of the current state of the language.

Women can be la cheffe, la docteure

A woman docteur can now officially be called la docteure after the Académie Française voted in favour of the feminisation of job titles.

Language is a castle for exploring, not attacking

Sponsored feature: “And one-to-one courses are an excellent method to try.” So says Claire Campbell, a professional teacher with an Oxford degree and years of experience in language teaching. The castle idea is suggested by the fortress of Quéribus, which looks down on the picturesque village of Cucugnan, where she welcomes students of all ages to take language courses of a week or two, for one person or two, as required.