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The ultimate source of information about French: a regularly-updated, alphabetical listing of every feature on the Learn French at About site: lessons, articles, tests, sound files, links, and more.

updated 18 September 2013

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A - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter A

A - Prefix
The French prefix a, known as a privatif (privative a), is added to adjectives and nouns to indicate negation or deprivation, and becomes an in front of a vowel or h.

À - Preposition
Everything you need to know about the French preposition à.

À - Verbs with à
One of the trickier aspects of French grammar for many students is the use of prepositions, especially when there doesn't seem to be any logical English equivalent. Take a look at this list of verbs which require the preposition à in front of an infinitive.

À cause de
If you don't know what the French expression à cause de means, it's because you haven't read this lesson.

À chacun son goût
What does the French expression à chacun son goût mean? Learn all about it here.

À la bonne franquette
What does the French expression à la bonne franquette mean? Learn all about it here.

À la fois
It's time to learn what the French expression à la fois means - click to read my lesson.

À la française Forum
A bilingual forum where you can practice your French, ask questions, and debate with French speakers from around the world.

À la limite
What does the French expression à la limite mean? Learn all about it here.

À la rentrée
What does the French expression à la rentrée mean? Learn all about it here.

À la rigueur
What does the French expression à la rigueur mean? Learn all about it here.

À la une
What does the French expression à la une mean? Learn all about it here.

À la vôtre
What does the French expression à la vôtre mean? Learn all about it here.

À l'étage
What does the French expression à l'étage mean? Learn all about it here.

À l'hôtel
Beginning-level dialogue between a hotel receptionist and a guest.

À mon avis
What does the French expression à mon avis mean? Learn all about it here.

À peine
What does the French expression à peine mean? Learn all about it here.

À peu près
What does the French expression à peu près mean? Learn all about it here.

À poil
What does the French expression à poil mean? Learn all about it here.

À rebours
What does the French expression à rebours mean? Learn all about it here.

À tes souhaits
What does the French expression à tes souhaits mean? Learn all about it here.

Abbreviations and Acronyms
VTT, TGV, DEUG... Feel like you're lost in alphabet soup? Acronyms abound in the French language, especially in newspapers, on the news, and in political discussions. You might not be able to learn every French acronym and abbreviation, but you can get a good head start by memorizing this list of the most common ones.

Absoudre
Conjugations for the French verb absoudre

Académie française
The Académie française is an organization which regulates the French language by determining standards of acceptable grammar and vocabulary, as well as adapting to linguistic change by adding new words and updating the meanings of existing ones. Read this introduction to the purpose, statutes, history, evolution, and membership of l'Académie française.

Acadia defined
What is Acadia?

Acadie du sud - South Acadia defined
What is Acadie du sud / South Acadia?

Accelerative Integrated Method
The foreign language teaching methodology known as Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) uses gestures, music, dance, and theater to help students learn.

Accent - Tips on improving your French accent
Learning French is one thing; speaking with a great accent is another. While it's not the easiest thing in the world, it's certainly not impossible to develop a decent French accent. Here are some ideas to help you improve your French pronunciation.

Accented Capitals
You may have heard that capital letters are not supposed to be accented, when in fact whether or not to use accents on capital letters is entirely up to you. Most of the time they are not essential, and thus most French speakers leave them off. However, there are two instances where I recommend always using accents on capital letters.

Accents
There are four different meanings of "accent" which are relevant to anyone studying French: the accent marks on letters, non-native accents, regional accents, and the accentuation of French words. This page on French accents includes links to resources pertaining to all of these meanings.

Accents
What do all of those funny àççênts mean, and how can I type them without a French keyboard?

Accents and variations
French varies from country to country and from region to region. Learn about and listen to some of the accents you might encounter in France.

Accents are important
Think accents don't matter when writing or typing in French? Think again! There are dozens of French word pairs which are spelled (though not always pronounced) the same other than accents. To avoid confusion, you should always distinguish between these "accent homographs" by using the correct accents.

Accents - Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: accents

Accents de France
French varies from country to country and from region to region. Learn about some of the accents you might encounter in France in this audio report from LaGuinguette.

Accents, La Révolte des
La Révolte des Accents is a fictional tale about a problem that's all too real: the disappearance of accents in written French. Learn about this wonderful book, its author, and his linguistic crusade in this listening comprehension exercise.

Accepting and Refusing - Lettres d'emploi - French Job Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

Accessories - French for Beginners
French for beginners: clothing vocabulary

Accommodations - French for Beginners
French for beginners: travel vocabulary - accommodations

Acronyms and Abbreviations
X, v.o., PCV... Feel like you're lost in alphabet soup? Acronyms abound in the French language, especially in newspapers, on the news, and in political discussions. You might not be able to learn every French acronym and abbreviation, but you can get a good head start by memorizing this list of the most common ones.

Actuellement
Do you know if actuellement actually means "actually"? Learn about this potential French mistake.

Adjectives
Lessons on the types, meaning, placement, and usage of French adjectives.

Adjectifs occasionnels ~ Faux Adjectives
In French, there are a number of words which are not actually adjectives but may be used as adjectives. These "occasional adjectives" or "faux adjectives" are always invariable - they do not agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. There are three different types of words that may be used as adjectives.

Adjectives with special forms
Since French adjectives usually have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number, most of them have up to four forms. But there are several French adjectives that have an additional variation: a special form that is used when the adjective precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute H.

Adjective and pronoun pairs
French has six types of adjectives with corresponding pronouns, meaning that the adjective plus noun can be replaced by an equivalent pronoun. Take a look at this table to get an idea of how these adjectives and pronouns fit together.

Adult Education
You're never too old to start learning French!

Adults learning French - Tips
Learning French as an adult is not the same thing as learning it as a child. Adults tend to learn by comparing it to their native language and often want to know why something is said a certain way in the language. However, adults have an advantage in that they choose to learn a language for some reason and being interested in learning something is very helpful in one's ability to actually learn it. It is not impossible for anyone to learn French, no matter what their age. It's never too late!

Advanced French Grammar
Advanced French grammar lessons

Advanced French Listening Exercises
Resources to help advanced French speakers perfect their oral comprehension.

Advanced French Mistakes
If you speak French at an advanced level, congratulations! You may not be fluent yet, but you're definitely on your way. Nonetheless, there are probably a few concepts you can use a bit of help with. Oftentimes these are small details that don't affect your listener's comprehension, but mistakes are mistakes and if you want to be fluent you need to avoid them. Here are the ten most common French mistakes and difficulties for advanced speakers, with links to lessons.

Advanced Past Tenses
The difference between the two main French past tenses, the passé composé and the imparfait, is a constant struggle for many French students. In the basic lesson on le passé, you learned about the fundamental differences between these two tenses. In this more advanced lesson, you will learn about the particularities of certain verbs, including those that are usually in the imperfect and those that have different meanings depending on which tense is used.

Advanced Pronunciation
Resources to aid advanced French speakers in perfecting their pronunciation.

Advanced French Reading Exercises
Resources to help advanced French students practice and perfect their reading skills.

Advanced French Resources
Lessons and resources for advanced French speakers.

Advanced French Speaking Resources
Links to help advanced French students perfect their speaking skills.

Advanced French Tests
Advanced French students can challenge themselves with these tests.

Advanced French Tools
Most language experts agree that immersion is the best way to learn a language, and this is doubly true for advanced French speakers. Upon reaching an advanced level, it's essential for students to use authentic, French-only materials whenever possible: a grammar book with explanations in French, a French-only dictionary, and plenty of audio of French spoken at normal speed. The following resources are written by (and often for) native French speakers. I myself use nearly every one of them daily.

Advanced French Vocabulary
Vocabulary lessons for advanced French students.

Advanced French Writing Resources
Resources and writing exercises for advanced French students.

French Advent Calendar
Celebrate the Christmas and New Year's holiday season with this online French Advent calendar. Each day has a different seasonal term, Christmas carol, game, and gift idea.

Adverbial French Adjectives
By now you know that French adjectives normally agree with the nouns they modify, but you've probably seen a few cases where they don't. There are a number of French adjectives which are often used as adverbs (that is, they modify verbs rather than nouns), and when used in this way, these "adverbial adjectives" are invariable.

Adverbs
Learn how to recognize, form, and use French adverbs.

Adverbs - Test
Test on forming and using French adverbs.

Adverbs of Frequency
Learn about French adverbs of frequency.

Adverbs of Manner
Learn about French adverbs of manner.

Adverbs of Place
Learn about French adverbs of place.

Adverbs of Quantity
Learn about French adverbs of quantity.

Affective Accent
In English, speakers emphasize words simply by saying them louder, but this is not the case in French. French speakers use the affective accent to provide emphasis, usually to express an emotion.

African French Dialects
French-related regional languages and dialects in Africa

-age - French Suffix
The French suffix -age can be added to verbs or nouns to make new nouns (which are always masculine) and has a couple of possible meanings.

Agreement
Agreement is arguably one of the most difficult aspects of the French language. This summary of the different types of agreement includes links to detailed lessons on each grammatical point.

Agreement with French Compound Verbs
If you've already studied le passé composé nbsp; you know that certain French verbs have to agree with their subjects. In addition, you may know that this is true for all compound verb tenses and moods. What you may not be aware of is that some verbs require agreement not with the subject of the sentence, but with the direct object. This issue of agreement can be rather tricky; this lesson is a thorough but (hopefully) accessible explanation.

Agreement with verbs of perception
The rules of agreement for verbs of perception in the compound tenses are a bit different than for other verbs. Rather than agreeing with the direct object, as for most verbs conjugated with avoir in the compound tenses, verbs of perception only require agreement when the subject precedes the verb.

Ah bon ?
What does the French expression ah bon mean? Learn all about it here.

AI / AIS - French Pronunciation
The letters AI in French can be pronounced in one of three ways: like the E in "bed," more or less like the A in "gave," and like the A in "father." Learn more with this detailed lesson and sound files.

AIL / AILLE - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combinations AIL and AILLE.

Aimer
Aimer is one of the most common French verbs. It is a regular -ER verb, requires avoir in the compound tenses, and can mean "to like" or "to love." There is a little bit of a trick to using aimer correctly with people and direct object pronouns which you will learn about in this lesson.

Ainsi, Alors, Donc; Après, Ensuite, Puis - "Then" in French
The English word "then" has two distinct meanings: one related to consequence and the other to time. These two meanings translate differently into French, and the various synonyms further complicate matters. The French words ainsi, alors, and donc are commonly used to explain the consequences or effect of an action. In contrast, après, ensuite and puis are used to indicate the order of events. This lesson should help you to understand the difference between all of these terms and thus use them correctly.

Airport Terms ~ À l'aéroport
Planning to fly to France or another French-speaking country? This airport vocabulary will help you make reservations, buy tickets, negotiate the airport, and get on the plane. After studying the list of terms, see how you do on the quiz.

Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, France
I recently visited Aix-en-Provence and Marseille - read about my adventures.

Albi photo gallery
Albi is a medieval city located about 50 miles north-east of Toulouse. Known for its Toulouse-Lautrec museum and spectacular Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile and located on the banks of the Tarn River, Albi is a pleasant place to spend the day.

Album de photos / Arbre généologique
Making a photo album or family tree is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is perfect as a short-term activity for beginning to low-intermediate students.

Alcohol in Morocco
Although alcohol is forbidden in Islam, it is widely available in Casablanca and other Moroccan cities. Learn about how alcohol is viewed and consumed here in Casablanca.

À l'écoute de la langue française
If you want to learn French in the comfort of your own home, this program might be just what you need. This self-study French class, available on CD-ROM, is divided into beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. The explanation and examples for each lesson are available on audio, and each lesson also includes practice exercises with corrections.

All about Any
The English word "any" has numerous French translations, depending on what it means and whether it is used as an adjective, pronoun, or adverb.

All about Arriver
Arriver is one of the most common French verbs. It's a regular -ER verb but takes être in the compound tenses. Arriver literally means "to arrive," but is also used in some idiomatic expressions and as an impersonal verb.

All About Avoir
Avoir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to have." However, it is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions and as an auxiliary verb.

All about Chercher
Chercher is a regular -ER verb and means "to look for." Chercher is commonly used like its English counterpart, but there are a few aspects that make it a little tricky. This lesson explains which verb mood to use with chercher, the meaning of chercher followed by an infinitive, and a few essential expressions with chercher.

All about Comme
The French word comme can be a conjunction, adverb, or part of an adverbial phrase and is one of the most common French words.

All about Comment
The French adverb comment can be interrogative or exclamative and is one of the most common French words. Learn how to use comment to mean "how" and "what" as well as which uses of "how" in English are not translated by comment in French.

All about Croire
Croire is one of the most common French verbs. It's irregular in conjugation and literally means "to believe," and is also used in many idiomatic expressions.

All About Devoir
The French verb devoir has a number of different meanings related to concepts like obligation and probability. Learn about the different uses and meanings of this common French verb.

All about Dire
Dire is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation, means "to say" or "to tell," and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions.

All About Être
Être is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to be." Être is also used in some idiomatic expressions and as an auxiliary verb for compound tenses and the passive voice.

All about Faillir
Faillir is a very interesting and useful French verb. It is irregular in conjugation and does not have an English equivalent; the simplest translation is "to almost do something.

All About Faire
Faire is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to do" or "to make." It is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions and in the causative construction.

All about Falloir
Falloir is an irregular impersonal French verb that is better known in its conjugated form: il faut. Falloir means "to be necessary" or "to need," and may be followed by the subjunctive, an infinitive, or a noun.

All about finir
Finir is one of the most common French verbs. It is a regular -ir verb that sometimes causes difficulty for French students in the passé composé.

All About Gender
What is gender? How is it used? This index of gender lessons covers everything related to grammatical gender.

All about Jouer
Jouer is a very common and useful regular -ER French verb. It means "to play" both transitively and intransitively, and it needs different prepositions depending on what exactly is being played.

All about Laisser
Laisser is a regular -er verb that means "to leave." It is also found in numerous expressions and is commonly used as a semi-auxiliary as well as a pronominal verb.

All about Mettre
Mettre, which means "to put," is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions.

All about Paraître
Paraître is a very common and useful French verb. It is irregular in conjugation, can be impersonal, and means "to appear" or "to seem."

All about Partir
Partir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation, requires être in the compound tenses, and has different meanings depending on the preposition that follows.

All about Passer
Passer is a very common and useful French verb. It is a regular -ER verb but may be conjugated with avoir or être in the compound tenses, depending on whether it is transitive or intransitive.

All About Penser
Penser is a regular -ER verb and means "to think." Penser is commonly used like its English counterpart, but there are a few aspects that make it a little tricky. This lesson explains which verb mood to use with penser, the difference between penser à and penser de, the meaning of penser followed by an infinitive, and a few essential expressions with penser.

All About Pouvoir
The verb pouvoir has a number of different meanings, depending mainly on the tense and mood it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this common French verb.

All about Prendre
Prendre, which means "to take," is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions.

All about Que
The French word que, which contracts to qu' in front of a vowel or mute h, has numerous uses and meanings. This lesson includes links to detailed information on each use of que.

All About Savoir
The verb savoir has several different meanings, depending mainly on the tense it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this common French verb.

All about Sembler
Sembler is a very common and useful French verb. It is a regular -ER verb, can be personal or impersonal, and may be followed by the subjunctive.

All about Si
The French word si can be an adverb or a conjunction. Either way, si has several meanings and is used in numerous French constructions.

All about Sortir
Sortir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and may require either être or avoir in the compound tenses, depending on whether it means "to go out" or "to take out."

All about Tenir
Tenir is an irregular -IR verb and usually means "to hold" or "to keep." Tenir has a number of other meanings, including some which depend on the preposition that follows.

All About Venir
Venir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to come." It is also used in some idiomatic expressions and to conjugate the recent past.

All about Voir
Voir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation, means "to see" in most senses of the word, and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions.

All About Vouloir
The verb vouloir has several different meanings, depending mainly on the tense and mood it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this common French verb.

Aller
Conjugations for the French verb aller

Aller - Expressions
Learn some of the expressions that use the verb aller.

Aller - French verb To Go
Learn how to use the French verb aller

Alliance française
Anyone who is interested in French has almost certainly seen references to the Alliance française throughout my site and the internet in general, or heard about it in French class. But what is the Alliance française and why is it such a big deal? Here's everything you need to know.

Alphabet - L'Alphabet français
French for beginners: the French alphabet

Amener - Emmener - Apporter - Emporter - To Take / To Bring
Learn the difference between the French verbs amener, emmener, apporter, and emporter

Amener - Emmener - Apporter - Emporter - Test
Test yourself on the French verbs amener, emmener, apporter, and emporter

Americans in Paris
Tourism in France took a major hit in 2003, but times are changing once again. Learn about Americans in Paris - what they like to do, and what Paris is doing for them - in this listening comprehension exercise.

AN - Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: French nasal vowels - AN

An and Année - French expressions
Here's a handy list of French expressions with an and année.

An vs Année, Jour vs Journée, Matin vs Matinée, Soir vs Soirée
There are two French words for year (an, année), day (jour, journée), morning (matin, matinée), and evening (soir, soirée). This lesson will teach you how to tell these confusing pairs apart.

Un ange passe
What does the expression un ange passe mean? Learn all about it here.

Les Anges dans nos campagnes
"Les Anges dans nos campagnes" is a traditional French Christmas carol, which was long ago translated into English as "Angels We Have Heard On High."

Les Anglais sont arrivés
What does the familiar French idiomatic expression les Anglais sont arrivés mean? Learn all about it here.

L'anniversaire de Tintin
Tintin is a world-renowned Belgian comic strip. This intermediate/advanced listening exercise includes a sound file, transcript, and translation of a discussion of Tintin and its creator.

Anti-Frenchism is Alive and Well
Lately I've felt that the spate of anti-French sentiment in the US had died down a bit, or maybe I've just become immune to it. Then I read a blatantly francophobic article and felt compelled to respond.

Anxiety - Overcoming speaking anxiety
Shyness apart, if you feel nervous when speaking French, it's probably due to a lack of confidence in your skills: you don't feel you have the grammar, vocabulary, and/or pronunciation needed in order to express yourself. The obvious solution is to improve your French, and this site is filled with resources to help you do just that. Beyond lessons and learning, however, there are other ways to increase your confidence and feel more comfortable speaking French.

Any
The English word "any" has numerous French translations, depending on what it means and whether it is used as an adjective, pronoun, or adverb.

Aphereses / Abbreviations
An apheresis, or aphaeresis, is a word which is shortened by dropping one or more syllables at the beginning of the word, and sometimes adding an extra sound at the end. Aphereses are often informal and are less common in French than apocopes.

Apocopes / Abbreviations
It is very common in French for long words to be abbreviated by dropping one or more syllables at the end, and, in some instances, then adding an -o, such as dico, ordi, and métro. There are some apocopes which are so old that they are normal register, but most are informal or familiar, so use them with caution.

Appeler sous les drapeaux
What does the French expression appeler sous les drapeaux mean? Learn all about it here.

Appeler un chat un chat
What does the French expression appeler un chat un chat mean? Learn all about it here.

Apprendre, Enseigner, Instruire, Éduquer - To Teach in French
There are four French verbs that mean "to teach": apprendre, enseigner, instruire, éduquer - learn to tell them apart.

Apprendre, Enseigner, Instruire, Éduquer - Test
Test on the four French verbs that mean "to teach."

Approximate numbers
When you want to make an estimate or take a guess, you can use approximate French numbers, like dizaine, douzaine, vingtaine, and more.

Apps - Free French Apps
If you're looking for free French apps, you're in luck: there is a wide variety, from dictionaries to learning programs. Check out these useful-sounding mobile applications related to French.

Après vs derrière
Learn the difference between French prepositions après et derrière.

A priori
Learn about the Latin expression a priori as it is used in French.

Architecture Quiz
Test your knowledge of architecture in francophone countries.

Are you a Francophile?
Take this little quiz to find out how much or little of a Francophile you are.

Are you a French fanatic?
Do you adore French and France, almost to (or perhaps well beyond) the point of fanaticism? This quiz will tell you whether you qualify as a French fanatic (but remember, it's just for fun).

Argot
More than 70 words and expressions ranging from informal to vulgar. Each word has a definition, sample sentences, and related words, and most also include a pronunciation guide and sound file.

Arles and Les Baux, France
I visited Arles and Les Baux in Provence - read about my adventures.

Arriver - French Expressions
The French verb arriver literally means "to arrive," and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to come to power, arrive safe and sound, and turn up at the worst possible moment with list list of expressions with arriver.

All about Arriver
Arriver is one of the most common French verbs. It's a regular -ER verb but takes être in the compound tenses. Arriver literally means "to arrive," but is also used in some idiomatic expressions and as an impersonal verb.

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe
What does the French expression arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe mean? Learn all about it here.

Articles - Articles français
French articles are sometimes confusing for French students, because they have to agree with the noun they modify and because they don't always correspond to articles in other languages. Take a look at this lesson for detailed explanations, tips, and comparisons of French definite, indefinite, and partitive articles.

Art Quiz
Test your knowledge of art

Asseoir
Conjugations for the French verb asseoir

Assimilation
Assimilation is a pronunciation phenomenon which causes consonant sounds to change according to the sounds that surround them. More specifically, assimilation occurs when voiced and unvoiced sounds are combined. Because it can be difficult to pronounce voiced and unvoiced sounds together, one or the other is assimilated: either a normally voiced consonant becomes unvoiced or a normally unvoiced consonant becomes voiced.

French Astronomy Vocabulary
Learn French vocabulary related to astronomy to talk about planets, stars, and other celestial objects.

Attacher lundi avec mardi
What does the French expression attacher lundi avec mardi mean? Learn all about it here.

Attributive Adjectives ~ Adjectifs épithètes
Attributive adjectives describe or emphasize some characteristic of the noun they modify. The defining characteristic of attributive adjectives is that they are joined to the noun they modify - immediately preceding or following it with no verb in between.

AU - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters AU

Au cas où
What does the French expression au cas où mean? Learn all about it here.

Au contraire
What does the French expression au contraire mean? Learn all about it here.

Au fait
What does the French expression au fait mean? Learn all about it here.

Au fur et à mesure
What does the French expression au fur et à mesure mean? Learn all about it here.

Au lieu de
What does the French expression au lieu de mean? Learn all about it here.

Au pif
What does the French expression au pif mean? Learn all about it here.

Au restaurant ~ At the Restaurant
Beginning-level French dialogue between a waiter and customer.

Audio Dictionary
The French audio dictionary contains more than 2,000 alphabetical entries, each with a French word or expression, sound file, English translation, and links to additional or related information. (The terms have been culled from their original homes in assorted vocabulary and pronunciation lessons across my site, which makes this a slightly eclectic but very useful range of vocabulary.)

Audio Lab
This site includes more than 2,000 sound files (in .wav format) which you can use to work on your French pronunciation and listening skills. Improve your French with these resources.

Audio Magazines
French audio magazines are excellent learning tools, providing authentic French listening practice on a variety of topics. Of the five that I am familiar with, two are online and one is free.

Audio Resources
You can learn a lot of French grammar using the internet and books, but if you want to be able to understand others and make yourself understood, you need to work on your listening and speaking skills. These French audio resources can help.

Autant vs Tant
The French words tant and autant are both adverbs of quantity, but their meanings and uses are different. Autant means as much/many and is usually used in comparisons. Tant means so much/many and tends to be used to intensify. Take a look at this summary table for more details.

Avant vs devant
Learn the difference between French prepositions avant et devant

Avantages et inconvénients
What does the French expression avantages et inconvénients mean? Learn all about it here.

Avec
Learn about the French preposition avec

Avoiding the subjunctive
The subjunctive is a fairly difficult verb mood for many students of French. Between the conjugations and deciding when to use it, the subjunctive can be very tricky. Although the subjunctive is commonly used in French, there are numerous ways to avoid it.

Avoir
Conjugations for the French verb avoir

Avoir, Être, Faire
Beginning lesson: Learn to conjugate and use the French verbs avoir, être, and faire.

Avoir - Expressions
Expressions with the French verb avoir

Avoir du chien
What does the French expression avoir du chien mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir du pot
What does the French expression avoir du pot mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir l'air
What does the French expression avoir l'air (de) mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir l'esprit de l'escalier
What does the French expression avoir l'esprit de l'escalier mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir le cafard
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir le cafard mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir les chevilles qui enflent
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir les chevilles qui enflent mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir un chat dans la gorge
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir un chat dans la gorge mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir un cheveu (sur la langue)
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir un cheveu sur la langue mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir un petit creux
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir un petit creux mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir un poil dans la main
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir un poil dans la main mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir une dent contre quelqu'un mean? Learn all about it here.

Avoir une faim de loup
What does the idiomatic French expression avoir une faim de loup mean? Learn all about it here.

À vs De
The difference between the French prepositions à and de

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B - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter B

Baby Names
There are hundreds of common French first names. Some of them look just like their English counterparts, others are fairly similar, and still others may be uniquely French. These pages include more than 200 of the most popular French names, along with their pronunciation and English equivalents.

Baby Talk
French has quite a bit of "baby talk" or "kiddie speak" - words and expressions which are usually used by children or when talking to children. Even if you don't talk to kids in French, this informal language is important to recognize, as baby talk can also be found in jokes and in conversations with good friends. Lesson includes sound files.

Back to School - French Class
The new school year is just around the corner - time to start dusting off last year's French notes and figuring out whatever happened to that beat-up old dictionary. To help you get back into the French mood - pun intended - here are some links to general information about French, lessons, online resources, and recommended tools and supplies. Whether it's time to start thinking about a formal evaluation of your French level, figuring out what kind of job you can use your French in, or upgrading to a bigger dictionary, this page has everything you need to get back into French.

Banking + Money Vocabulary
A basic introduction to French vocabulary related to money and banking, with links to more detailed sources.

Barcelona, Spain
I recently visited Barcelona, Spain - read about my adventures.

Basic French Listening
Even if you've just started learning French, you need to listen to as much as possible. The problem is that most French listening is at least intermediate level, which are far too difficult for beginners. Here are some simple French sound files dealing with basic topics like numbers and traveling.

Basic French Vocabulary - Crossword puzzle
Crossword puzzle: basic French vocabulary.

Basic French Vocabulary - French for Beginners
French for beginners: basic French vocabulary.

Basketball Vocabulary in French
French basketball vocabulary

Bastille Day - French National Holiday
The French national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Do you know what this event represents? When the French observe this holiday in mid-July, what ideals are they celebrating? Learn all about Bastille and listen to the Marseillaise in this article.

Battre
Conjugations for the French verb battre

To Be - Être, Avoir, or Faire
Even though être is the French equivalent of "to be," there are certain expressions in which you have to use avoir or faire to translate "to be." See how well you know them with this test.

"Beaucoup d'entre vous êtes..."
What's wrong with saying beaucoup d'entre vous êtes? Learn about this French mistake.

"Beaucoup des"
What's wrong with saying beaucoup des? Learn about this French mistake.

Beaujolais Nouveau
Take part in this annual wine celebration.

de Beauvoir, Simone
Simone de Beauvoir was one of France's most beloved authors and an early French feminist. Learn about her life and work in this listening comprehension exercise from Champs-Élysées audiomagazine (read my review).

Before You Buy a French Dictionary
Like all reference materials, dictionaries can be pretty expensive. However, with any luck they'll last you for a few years, so it's in your best interest to invest in something that's appropriate for your level and needs. Here are some things to keep in mind when buying a French dictionary.

Before You Know It
If you are looking for an interesting new way to learn French vocabulary, there's a free program that can help. The educational software company Transparent Language has developed a program called Before You Know It, the "Lite" version of which is freeware.

Beginning French Dialogue
Practice your French listening ability with this beginning-level French dialogue featuring greetings and introductions and your choice of speeds: regular and slow.

Beginning French Grammar
Beginning French grammar lessons and links.

Beginning French Listening Comprehension
Work on your French listening comprehension with these exercises. Each exercise includes a sound file of one chapter of an upper-beginning-level story, plus a study guide and short quiz. There is also a transcript and a full translation of the audio, which you can use to better understand the sound file.

Beginning French Listening Exercises
Resources to help beginning French students develop listening comprehension.

Beginning French Mistakes
When you start learning French, there's a lot to remember - new vocabulary, all kinds of verb conjugations, strange spelling... just about everything is different. It's normal to make mistakes, but it's in your best interest to try to fix them as soon as possible. The longer you make the same mistake, the harder it will be for you to get it right later on. With this in mind, this article discusses ten of the most common French mistakes made by beginners, so that you can fix these problems right from the beginning.

Beginning French Pronunciation
French, like English, can be very difficult in terms of pronunciation, due to intricacies like silent letters, multiple sounds for a single letter, and endless exceptions to whatever rules you find. This simplified pronunciation chart can help you get a good idea about how to pronounce new words.

Beginning French Reading Exercises
Links to exercises aimed at beginning French students.

Beginning French Resources
Links, lessons, and resources for beginning French students.

Beginning French Speaking Resources
Useful links for beginning students to work on their French speaking skills.

Beginning French Tests
Assorted tests for beginning French students.

Beginning French Tools
A selection of resources for beginning students, including a dictionary, a few grammar selections, a video, an extensive tape/CD program, and some non-fiction to distract and reinspire students when fatigue or irritation sets in. Don't let the "fun factor" of some of these products fool you - they are all useful tools for French students and teachers.

Beginning French Verbs
Links to verb exercises and resources for beginning French students.

Beginning French Vocabulary
Lessons on vocabulary for beginning French students.

Beginning French Writing Resources
Links, exercises, and resources to help beginning students improve their writing skills.

Beginning-Level French Proficiency Test
Test yourself on beginning French vocabulary and grammar - fill in the blanks, choose the best translation, or answer each question.

Beginning Readers
Are you or your students ready to try reading in French? Here is a selection of French readers for beginning to intermediate students, including short stories, novel exerpts, non-fiction, and poems chosen or written especially with beginning students in mind.

Best Way to Learn French?
Students always ask, "what's the best way to learn French?" Unfortunately, the best way to learn French may not be the affordable way to learn French or the practical way to learn French. Read this article to learn about the best way to learn French as well as the runners-up.

Bien - French Expressions
The French word bien literally means "well" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say really, good talker, we'll see, and more with this list of expressions with bien.

Bien dans sa peau
What does the French expression bien dans sa peau mean? Learn all about it here.

Bien-dire audiomagaine
Bien-dire is a bi-monthly French magazine published in France, and is suitable for low-intermediate to advanced French learners.

Bien entendu
It must be understood that bien entendu is a common French expression, so learn all about it here.

Bien sûr
Of course you need to know what the French expression bien sûr means - click to learn all about it.

"Bienvenu !"
What's wrong with this? Learn about this French mistake.

Bienvenue and Welcome
Introduction to the Learn French at About site

Biking Vocabulary in French
Biking Vocabulary in French, from your About.com Guide to French

Bilingual Audio Book: Les Portes Tordues
A unique book aimed at upper beginning and intermediate students: bilingual story, grammar review, and audio book all rolled into one. The audio has only been recently been published, so take a moment to read my updated review.

Bilingual Books
I don't like to read translations, because I believe that something is lost when literature is translated out of its original language. However, bilingual books (sometimes called dual-language books) are a great way to enjoy literature when your language skills aren't quite good enough to read the original. The following books are French classics that include the original French as well as an English translation, so that you can compare them as you read.

Bilingual dictionaries
When buying a bilingual dictionary, you need to consider your language proficiency and what you'll be using the dictionary for. It's also important to keep in mind that bilingual dictionaries are a great tool, but they can have discrepancies, both major and minor. Their main weakness is in offering words that are no longer used.

Bilingual dictionaries - Tips
Bilingual dictionaries are essential tools for second language learners, but using them correctly requires more than just looking up a word in one language and picking the first translation you see. There's a lot more to bilingual dictionaries than meets the eye, so check out these pages to learn how to get the most out of your bilingual dictionary.

Bilingual and Multilingual Dictionaries
French bilingual and multilingual dictionaries

Bilingual Education
Links and resources

Biography of Laura K. Lawless - French Language Guide
Biography of your guide to the Learn French at About site.

Bissextil
This French word is very useful once every four years.

Bistrots à Paris
Cafés have long been a Parisian institution, but they have changed a great deal over the years. Learn more in this listening comprehension exercise from Champs-Élysées audiomagazine (read my review).

Blague à part
What do the French expressions blaque à part and sans blague mean? Learn all about them here.

Body Vocabulary - French for Beginners
French for beginners: the body

Boire
Conjugations for the French verb boire

Les Bois de Paris
Listening comprehension activity: discussion about two important parks in Paris. Pay attention to the description and history as you listen. Sound file provided by Champs-Élysées French audiomagazine (read my review).

Bon
If you want to make your French sound more, well, French, one place to start is with your vocabulary. In French classes, you tend to learn the most common, basic terms. Bon is one such example, but there are numerous synonyms to choose between, in both normal and informal registers. Take a look at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "good."

Bon - French Expressions
The French word bon literally means "good" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say tit for tat, cushy job, bright and early, and more with this list of expressions with bon.

Bon vs Bien, Mauvais vs Mal
Learn all about these confusing pairs.

Bon vs Bien, Mauvais vs Mal - Test
Test your understand of bon, bien, mauvais, and mal.

Bon appétit
What does the French expression bon appétit mean? Learn all about it here.

Bon débarras !
What does the French expression Bon débarras ! mean? Learn all about it here.

Bon gré mal gré
Like it or not, you should know how to use the French expression bon gré mal gré.

Bon marché
What does the French expression bon marché mean? Learn all about it here.

"Bon matin"
What's wrong with saying bon matin? Learn about this French mistake.

Bonne année et bonne santé !
What does the French expression Bonne année et bonne santé ! mean? Learn all about it here.

Bon rapport qualité-prix
What does the French expression bon rapport qualité-prix mean? Learn all about it here.

Book Review: Collins Robert French Dictionary
A review of Beryl T. Atkins' Collins Robert French Dictionary.

Book Review: Dog Trots Globe: To Paris and Provence
If you're interested in reading a cute, traveling dog tale as barked to her owner, check out Chula Wula d'Augue's Dog Trots Globe: To Paris and Provence. Chula describes the best parts of exploring France at ground level, and with the French love of dogs, this is a varied list.

Book Review: France Without Reservations
A review of Maurice K. Thompson's book France Without Reservations.

Book Review: French Lessons
A review of Alice Kaplan's autobiography French Lessons.

Book Review: French or Foe?
A review of Polly Platt's book French or Foe?

Book Review: How Proust Can Change Your Life
A review of Alain de Botton's How Proust Can Change Your Life.

Book Review: Le Petit Prince
A review of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's book Le Petit Prince.

Book Review: Street French Slang Dictionary & Thesaurus
A review of David Burke's book Street French.

Book Review: A Year in Provence
A review of Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence.

Books by Peter Mayle
Anyone interested in France or French is certain to have read Peter Mayle's best-selling "A Year in Provence." Did you know that he has written about other things too? In addition to two Provence sequels, Peter Mayle has written three novels set in Provence and a couple of books on other topics. If you're looking for something funny and interesting to read, any of these books will fit the bill.

Books on French Food
This mix of fact and fiction will teach you everything you could ever want to know about French cuisine: what it is, when it began, who helped it along the way, why it's so good, how to make it, and where to find the best of the best.

Books on Living and Working in France
If you dream of living and working in France, you have to plan ahead. Even if you're a citizen of the European Union, it's extremely unlikely that you'll be able to move to France and have everything fall into place. There are permissions to be acquired, paperwork to be filled and filed, and many important cultural differences to be aware of. These books can help you make your dream come true.

Books on Tape
Shop for French books on tape.

Bouche - Expressions
La bouche - the mouth - is used in dozens of French expressions. Learn how to say mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, my mouth is watering, food bills, burdens on society, top secret, to simper, and more with this lesson.

Bouche bée
What does the French expression bouche bée mean? Learn all about it here.

Bourg St-Maurice and Avignon, France
I recently went whitewater rafting in France - read about my adventures.

Bout - Expressions
The French noun un bout can mean tip, end, or bit, and is used in all kinds of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say fingertips, from one end to the other, through and through, to the limit, and more with this list of French expressions with bout.

Branches of French Linguistics
Links to the various branches of French linguistics

Building Sentences
Building sentences is French class filler or warm-up activity. Students practice verb conjugations or word order by putting together words or sentences on individual index cards.

Business Letters - Corréspondence commerciale
Tips and formulas to help you write all kinds of business letters in French.

Business Letters - Miscellaneous Formulas
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

Business Letters - Pre-Closing Formulas
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

BYKI
If you are looking for an interesting new way to learn French vocabulary, there's a free program that can help. The educational software company Transparent Language has developed a program called Before You Know It, the "Lite" version of which is freeware.

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