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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 14 April 2008
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter A
À - Preposition
Everything you need to know about the French preposition à
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
Simple 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.
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 áççênts 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.
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
Lessons on the types, meaning, placement, and usage of French
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.
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 Spelling
Advanced French
students will benefit from these links on in-depth French spelling
issues.
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 Verbs
Links to verb
lessons and resources for advanced French students.
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
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,
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.
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.
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 Vocabulary ~ À l'aéroport
Planning to fly to France or another French-speaking country? Study this aiport
vocabulary to help you get your ticket and on the plane.
Aix-en-Provence
and Marseille, France
I recently
visited Aix-en-Provence and Marseille - read about my
adventures.
À la française
Forum
A bilingual forum where you can practice your French, ask questions, and
debate with French speakers from around the world.
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 généalogique
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.
À l'hôtel
Beginning-level dialogue between a hotel receptionist and a guest.
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 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
Simple 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 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."
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.
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.
Les apéritifs
Learn about the French custom of drinking apéritifs in this interview.
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.
What does the French expression à poil mean? Learn all about it here.
Un appartement à Paris
Living in Paris is expensive. In this interview, you'll hear some of the
expressions you might need when renting or buying an apartment, and learn about
some of the pros and cons of cohabitation.
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.
Après vs derrière
Learn the
difference between French prepositions après et
derrière.
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
Simple 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.
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
Audiobook: Balade en France
Balade en France is a collection of 18 French travel articles in audiobook format. Read my review of this combination travel guide, cultural study, history book, and French language course.
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.
Audiomagazine: Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées is an audiomagazine aimed at intermediate and
advanced French students, but is versatile enough to be used by independent
students, homeschoolers, teachers, travelers, or anyone else who is interested
in additional French listening practice. Click here to read my in-depth review
of this first-rate French learning tool.
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.
Au restaurant ~ At the
Restaurant
Beginning-level French dialogue between a waiter and customer.
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
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
Simple 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 un petit creux
What does the French expression avoir un petit creux mean? Learn all about it here.
À
vs De
The difference between the French prepositions à and de
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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.
Balade en France Audiobook
Balade en France, from the publisher of Champs-Élysées
audiomagazine, is a collection of 18 French travel articles in audiobook format. Read my review of this combination travel guide, cultural study, history book, and French language course.
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
Simple 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.
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 Spelling
Links to help
beginning French students with spelling.
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-dire Audiomagaine
Bien-dire is a bi-monthly French magazine published in France, and is suitable
for low-intermediate to advanced French learners.
"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
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).
Body Vocabulary - French for Beginners
French for
beginners: the body
Boire
Simple 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
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 matin"
What's wrong with saying bon matin? Learn about this French mistake.
Book Review: Collins Robert French
Dictionary
A review of Beryl T. Atkins' Collins Robert French Dictionary.
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.
Bookstore
Books and
resources for French students and teachers.
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.
In this sound file from Fluent French Audio, a French bouquiniste defines and describes his shop.
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.
