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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 02 June 2013

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

Eating and Shopping in France
Eating in France can be an adventure. There is a staggering range of food choices, from different types of restaurants to specialty food shops, not to mention that most French of food places, le marché. For those of us not lucky enough to be born into the wonderful world of French cuisine, new help is at hand in the form of a French audiobook.

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

Economics Quiz
What do you know about the francophone world economy? Find out with this quiz.

"Écouter à la radio"
What's wrong with saying écouter à la radio? Learn about this French mistake.

Écrire
Conjugations for the French verb écrire

Écrire en français - Writing in French
Try these exercises and tips to improve your French writing skills

Écrivains francophones - Francophone Writers
Links to francophone writers

Editing and Proofreading Tips
Whether you're checking over homework, proofreading a paper, or verifying a translation, there are certain key problem areas to watch out for. This is not a definitive list by any means, but it indicates areas of confusion and common mistakes caused by differences between French and English and includes links to more detailed explanations and examples. Before you turn anything in, check the following areas of your work.

Editor / Proofreader - Jobs Using French
Put your French skills to work as an editor or proofreader.

Education
Learn about the French educational system, find a school, or use these resources to non-traditional French classes and learning.

Educational Sites for Kids
French learning links especially for kids

-ée - French Suffix
The French suffix ée can be added to nouns or verbs to make new nouns and has a number of possible meanings.

EI - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters EI.

EIL / EILLE - French Pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the French letter combinations EIL and EILLE.

Elections - 2007
In April and May 2007, France will choose a new president, but at the moment there are some problems with the normal electoral process, including an important candidate not yet meeting the requirements to be on the ballot. Learn more in this listening comprehension exercise.

Elle m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout
If there's any possibility that you are suffering from unrequited love, you might want to learn the expression Elle m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout.

Emergency and Disaster Vocabulary
Hopefully you'll never be in a situation where you need to use French emergency vocabulary, but if you ever do, you'll be glad you took the time to memorize this list of French vocabulary for both medical and non-medical emergencies.

Employment
Put your French skills to work. These links will help you find language-related jobs and information on working in francophone countries. Isn't it about time you started making some money back from all those French classes?

Employment in Europe
French language-related employment in Europe

E muet
There are no stressed syllables in French; however, the unaccented E is sometimes "unstressed." That is, it disappears in spoken French. Learn how to recognize the E muet and when (not) to pronounce it.

En
Everything you need to know about the French preposition en.

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

En and Y
Learn about the French pronouns y and en.

En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil
What does the French expression En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil mean? Learn all about it here.

En deux temps, trois mouvements
What does the French expression en deux temps, trois mouvements mean? Learn all about it here.

En effet
What does the French expression en effet mean? Learn all about it here.

En fait
What does the French expression en fait mean? Learn all about it here.

En retard
What does the French expression en retard mean? Learn all about it here.

En souffrance
What does the French expression en souffrance mean? Learn all about it here.

En vouloir à quelqu'un - Ne m'en veux pas
What does the French expression en vouloir à quelqu'un mean? Learn all about it here.

Enchaînement
Enchaînement is the phenomenon whereby the consonant sound at the end of a word is transfered to the beginning of the word that follows it.

Encore vs Toujours
The French adverbs encore and toujours can be confusing, because they each have several meanings that partially overlap. After studying this lesson, you'll remember the differences toujours.

Encyclopedias
Links to online French encyclopedias

Encyclopédie de verbes - French Verb Encyclopedia
Includes more than 80 verbs conjugated into all of the simple tenses as well as hundreds of similarly-conjugated verbs. Simply click on a verb for conjugations, special features, verb lessons, common idiomatic expressions, and more.

English Singulars and French Plurals
Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular or uncountable in English but plural or countable in French.

Entre
Learn about the French preposition entre.

Entre - Expressions
The French preposition entre usually means "between" or "among" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say briefly, tipsy, at dusk, and more with this list of expressions with entre.

Entre chien et loup
What does the French expression entre chien et loup mean? Learn all about it here.

Entrer - Expressions
The French verb entrer literally means to enter. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases. Learn how to join, to drop in, to turn forty, to get in touch, to be taken into consideration, and other common French expressions with entrer.

Envoyer
Conjugations for the French verb envoyer

Envoyer sur les roses
What does the French expression envoyer sur les roses mean? Learn all about it here.

En vs Dans
Learn the difference between the French prepositions en and dans

-ER Verbs
Learn how to conjugate regular -er French verbs

-ER verbs - Irregular
There are a lot of French verbs that end in -ER and there are a lot of irregular French verbs, but there is only one irregular -ER verb. However, there are three groups of -ER verbs that have some irregularities.

Escape to Provence
Much has been written about the South of France, but there is still more to be said, as Escape to Provence amply shows. This true story centers around the lives two women, one American and one British, who lived for some time together in the South of France. It's not quite right to call it a story, more a tapestry of stories about life, love, war, peace, and friendship.

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

Essential Faux Amis
French and English have hundreds of cognates (words which look and/or are pronounced alike in the two languages). Here are the most common false cognates in French and English.

Essential French Phrases - Social Niceties
When traveling to France - or anywhere else, for that matter - it's important to follow the local customs. A big part of this is knowing what to say in different social situations. Take a look at these essential French phrases related to social niceties.

Est-ce que
One of the most common French expressions, est-ce que, has no meaning in and of itself. Learn all about this essential interrogatory phrase.

-et / -ette - French suffix
The French suffix -et and its feminine -ette is a diminutive that can be added to nouns, verbs (to make nouns), adjectives, and names.

Et j'en passe
What does the French expression et j'en passe mean? Learn all about it here.

Et patati et patata
What does the French expression et patati et patata mean? Learn all about it here.

Être
Conjugations for the French verb être

Être - 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.

Être à côté de la plaque
What does the French expression être à côté de la plaque mean? Learn all about it here.

Être en train de
What does the French expression être en train de mean? Learn all about it here.

"Être intéressé dans"
What's wrong with saying être intéressé dans? Learn about this potential French mistake.

Être sur son trente et un
What does the French expression être sur son trente et un mean? Learn all about it here.

Être verbs
Learn which French verbs use être to form the passé composé and the other compound tenses

Être verbs - Test
Test on French verbs that use être to form the passé composé

Être, Avoir, or Faire - "To Be" in French
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.

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

EUIL - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combination euil (as in feuille) in this lesson with sound files.

Euphony
In French, there are rules about maintaining euphony; that is, agreeable or harmonious sound. French is a very musical language because it tends to flow from one word to the next with no hiatus (pause). In situations where euphony doesn't happen naturally, French requires that sounds be added or words changed.

European French Dialects, Patois, and Regional Languages
French-related regional languages and dialects in Europe

Everyday French phrases
Not all vocabulary is created equal. There are some French phrases that you will hear literally every day, multiple times a day, and odds are that you should be using them that often too. Here are some truly essential everyday French phrases.

Exchange Programs
Studying overseas or hosting a student are great ways to learn French.

Exclamations
Exclamations are words or phrases that express a desire, an order, or a strong emotion. There are several different French grammatical structures that can be used as exclamations.

Exclamative Adjectives - Adjectifs exclamatifs
Exclamative adjectives are placed in front of nouns to express admiration, astonishment, indignation, or another strong sentiment, and take the same form as French interrogative adjectives: quel, quels, quelle, quelles. Learn how to exclaim in French with this lesson.

Exclamative Adverbs
Exclamative adverbs are placed in front of clauses to indicate shock, disbelief, awe, or some other strong emotion felt by the speaker. There are five French exclamative adverbs: comme, que, qu'est-ce que, ce que, and combien.

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

Experiences Hosting Exchange Students
Have you ever thought of hosting a foreign exchange student?  Are you hesitant because you have some unanswered questions?  This article answers the questions most frequently asked about our experiences.

Expressing Gratitude
There are many different ways to express gratitude in French, from a simple thank you to ultra-polite expressions of appreciation. There's also a common dilemma about whether to use de or pour when thanking someone for something. Take a look at this lesson to learn the formulas.

Expressing Opinions
If you want to have a debate in French or discuss your opinions, you need to know the relevant vocabulary and expressions. This page offers suggestions for offering, supporting, asking for, and avoiding opinions in French.

Expressing Pleasure - Lettres commerciales - French Business Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

Expressing Regret - Lettres commerciales - French Business Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

Expressing Surprise - Lettres commerciales - French Business Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!

Expressions, Proverbs, and Clichés
Learn more ways to express yourself with this growing list of French expressions, proverbs, and clichés.

Expressions of the Week
Idiomatic French expressions analyzed and explained. Learn what they mean, how to pronounce and use them, and more in this weekly feature.

Expression of the Week Quiz
Whether you've been faithfully reading the expression of the week, or just have a knack for expressions, see how well you do with this quiz on French expressions.

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

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

Expressions with Arriver
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.

Expressions with Avoir
Expressions with the French verb avoir

Expressions with bien
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.

Expressions with bon
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.

Expressions with Bouche
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. 

Expressions with Bout
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.

Expressions with Casser / Se Casser
The French verbs casser and se casser literally mean to break, and are also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about breaking someone, boring someone stiff, warning someone, making an omelette by breaking eggs, and more.

Expressions with Champ
The French noun un champ literally refers to a field. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases. Learn how to say "the coast is clear," "at every opportunity," "to run away," and more with this lesson. 

Expressions with Chat
The French word chat refers to a cat or the game of tag, and is also used in various idiomatic expressions as well as three proverbs. Learn how to call a spade a spade, let sleeping dogs lie, give up, and more with this list of expressions with chat.

Expressions with Chercher
The French verb chercher literally means to look for or to search for. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to look for a fight, look everywhere for something, look for words, and more.

Expressions with Chose
The French word chose is usually feminine and means "thing." It is used in a number of idiomatic expressions, and can also be masculine, with a somewhat different meaning.

Expressions with Claquer
The verb claquer literally means to slap or to bang. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions, including snapping one's heels or fingers, slamming the door, pulling a muscle, and more.

Expressions with Comprendre
The French verb comprendre normally means "to understand," but also has a few other meanings, and is used in some expressions. Learn how to make yourself understood, catch on quickly, take a joke, and more with this list of expressions.

Expressions with Coup
The French noun un coup literally refers to a shock or blow. It is also used in dozens of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases.

Expressions with dans
The French preposition dans means "in" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say at first, towards the end, to faint, and more with this list of expressions with dans.

Expressions with De
Expressions with the French preposition de.

Expressions with Demander
The verb demander literally means to ask and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to ask for assistance, to ask for a favor, to ask to speak to someone, and more with this lesson.

Expressions with Dire
The French verb dire literally means "to say" or "to tell" and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about telling someone off, putting words in someone's mouth, and much more with this list of expressions.

Expressions with Donner
The French verb donner literally means to give, and is also used in nearly a hundred idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about the TV being on full-blast, making someone believe something, hitting one's head, sounding the alarm, giving in, devoting oneself to something, and much more.

Expressions with Entre
The French preposition entre usually means "between" or "among" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say briefly, tipsy, at dusk, and more with this list of expressions with entre.

Expressions with Faire
Expressions with the French verb faire

Expressions with Falloir
The impersonal French verb falloir literally means to be necessary or to need and is used in some idiomatic French expressions.

Expressions with finir
The regular -ir verb finir is used in a variety of French expressions. Learn how to say never-ending, it will end in disaster, finally, and more with this list of expressions with finir.

Expressions with Fois
The French word fois is feminine and is equivalent to one meaning of time. It's also used in a number of idiomatic expressions.

Expressions with français
Français is French for "French" and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to speak terrible French, buy French wine, and perfect your French with this list of expressions with français.

Expressions with France
Of course you know that la France means "France," but are you aware that this country's name is also used in some idiomatic expressions? Learn how to say ordinary people, the rich, and more with this list of expressions with France.

Expressions with "French"
There are dozens of expressions in English which contain the word French... but are these things actually French? Take a look at this list with the French equivalents and their literal translations - you might be surprised.

Expressions with Jour and Journée
Here's a handy list of French expressions with jour and journée.

Expressions with Laisser
The French verb laisser can mean "to leave," or it can mean one of dozens of other things, depending on the idiomatic expression it's used in. Learn to talk about leaving someone in the lurch, letting oneself go, living for the day, making a good impression, allowing oneself to be persuaded, and more with this lesson.

Expressions with mal
The French word mal literally means "badly" or "wrong" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say headache, seasickness, work hard, and more with this list of expressions with mal.

Expressions with Matin and Matinée
Here's a handy list of French expressions with matin and matinée.

Expressions with mauvais
The French word mauvais literally means "bad" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say mean trick, weed, ill repute, and more with this list of expressions with mauvais.

Expressions with meilleur
The French word meilleur literally means "better" or "best" and is found in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say best wishes, cheaper, might makes right, and that's not all with this list of expressions with meilleur.

Expressions with Mettre and Mise
Idiomatic expressions must be memorized, since their meanings are often impossible to decipher by translating the individual words. Learn dozens of French expressions that contain mettre, se mettre, or mise.

Expressions with Monter
Monter literally means to go up, and has various additional meanings and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions relating to transportation and all kinds of literal and figurative upward movement.

Expressions with N'importe...
The indefinite expression n'importe can be followed by an interrogative in order to designate an unspecified person, thing, or characteristic: n'importe qui, n'importe quel, n'importe où.... Learn these expressions and more with this lesson.

Expressions with Numbers
There are quite a few confusing pairs and difficult expressions related to numbers in French: second/deuxième, en premier/au premier/de premier, tiers/troisième....

Expressions with Pain
The French word pain means "bread" and is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions. Be sure to look at page 2: translations of all different kinds of French breads.

Expressions with Paraître
The French verb paraître literally means to appear or to seem, and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say apparently, to die, to publish, and more with this list of expressions with paraître.

Expressions with Parler
The French verb parler means to talk or to speak, and is used in many idiomatic French expressions. Learn how to speak fluently, talk shop, use sign language, and meet one's match with this list of expressions with parler.

Expressions with Pas
The French word pas has a number of meanings and is found in many French expressions. Learn about making blunders, taking the initiative, advancing at leaps and bounds, and more with this lesson.

Expressions with Passer
The French verb passer usually means to pass, and is also used in many idiomatic expressions.

Expressions with Payer
The French verb payer literally means to pay (for). It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to pay in kind, pay for the damages, pay out of one's own pocket, and more.

Expressions with penser
The French verb penser means "to think" and is used in many expressions. Learn how to say remind me, it's well thought out, not likely, and more with this list of expressions with penser.

Expressions with Perdre
The verb perdre literally means "to lose." It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to talk about losing consciousness, losing interest, losing one's mind, and much more.

Expressions with Plus
The French word plus is used in many essential expressions - learn all about it here.

Expressions with Pour
The French preposition pour usually means "for," and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say my mistake, a waste of time, so to speak, and more with this list of expressions with pour.

Expressions with Pouvoir
The French verb pouvoir means "to be able to" and is also used in various idiomatic expressions.

Expressions with Prendre
The French verb prendre has several different meanings, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.

Expressions with Raconter
The French verb raconter, to tell, is used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about telling lies, telling one's life story, talking on and on, and more with this lesson.

Expressions with Rendre
The verb rendre has many meanings on its own, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.

Expressions with rien
The French pronoun rien usually means "nothing," and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say for no reason, not a chance, worthless, and more with this list of expressions with rien.

Expressions with Rouler
Rouler literally means to roll, to wheel along, or to con, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about rolling on the ground laughing, rolling out dough, getting swindled, going 80 km per hour, and more useful expressions with this lesson.

Expressions with Sans
The French preposition sans literally means without and is also used in a number of expressions.

Expressions with Savoir
The French verb savoir means "to know," and is used in many idiomatic French expressions.

Expressions with Se Faire
Expressions with the French verb se faire

Expressions with Soir and Soirée
Here's a handy list of French expressions with soir and soirée.

Expressions with Sonner
The verb sonner literally means to ring and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to talk about ringing bells, ringing ears, ringing hollow, and more with this lesson.

Expressions with Sur
Expressions with the French preposition sur

Expressions with Temps
The French word le temps literally means "time" or "weather," and is used in many idiomatic French expressions. Find out how to say in the meantime, in due time, to pause, my mistake, and much more in this list of French expressions.

Expressions with Tenir
The verb tenir has several meanings on its own, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.

Expressions with Tirer
The French verb tirer usually means to pull, but it has numerous other meanings and is also used in many different idiomatic expressions.

Expressions with Tomber
The French verb tomber means "to fall" and is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions. Tomber usually needs être as the auxiliary verb, but there are a few meanings for which it needs avoir.

Expressions with Tour
The French word tour has different meanings depending on whether it's masculine or feminine, and is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions.

Expressions with Trouver
The French verb trouver literally means to find, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about seeing fit to do something, fainting, meeting one's match, and more with this list of expressions with trouver.

Expressions with Venir
There are many expressions with the French verb venir.

Expressions with Vivre
Vivre usually means to live or to be alive, but in idiomatic expressions it has such wide-ranging meanings as to move with the times, to go through a crisis, to know how to behave, and to straighten someone out. Study this list of expressions for more uses of the verb vivre.

Expressions with Voir
The French verb voir literally means "to see," and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about seeing stars, not seeing a thing, and much more with this list of expressions.

Expressions with Vouloir
The French verb vouloir literally means to want, and is used in many idiomatic French expressions. Learn how to say no offense, whether you like it or not, to be dead set on, and more with this list.

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

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.

Faire - 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.

Faire - Expressions
Expressions with the French verb faire

Faire + Infinitive
The causative construction faire + infinitive is used to describe when someone/something has something done, causes something to happen, or makes someone do something.

Faire cadeau
What does the French expression faire cadeau mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire du lard
What does the French expression faire du lard mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire d'une pierre deux coups
What does the French proverb faire d'une pierre deux coups mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire le pont
What does the French expression faire le pont mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire les quatre cents coups
What does the French expression faire les quatre cents coups mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire (un) demi-tour
What do the French expressions faire un demi-tour and faire demi-tour mean? Learn all about them here.

Faire un temps de Toussaint
What does the French expression faire un temps de Toussaint mean? Learn all about it here.

Faire une croix dessus
What does the idiomatic French expression faire une croix dessus mean? Learn all about it here.

Fais gaffe !
What does the French expression fais gaffe ! mean? Learn all about it here.

Fais voir
What does the French expression fais voir mean? Learn all about it here.

Fake a French accent
I love the beautiful accent that the French have when they speak English, and sometimes it's fun or even useful to imitate it. If you're an actor, comedian, or grand séducteur, you can learn how to fake a French accent with this in-depth look at how the French speak English.

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.

Falloir - French Expressions
The impersonal French verb falloir literally means to be necessary or to need and is used in some idiomatic French expressions.

False Cognates
Words that look very similar in French and English might have very different meanings, so watch out!

Family - French for Beginners
French for beginners: family members

Family Feud
Play Family Feud in French class - it's easy to set up, a fun way to review vocabulary and grammar in any language class, and can be adapted for all levels.

FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions about learning French, from your About.com Guide

Faux Adjectives ~ Les adjectifs occasionnels
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.

Faux Amis
Words that look very similar in French and English might have very different meanings, so watch out!

Favorite French expressions
All French expressions are useful, but we use some more than others because they offer just the right nuance or are particularly fun to say. What are your favorite French expressions?

Favorite French towns
France is an incredibly beautiful and varied country. There are lovely cities and towns in every region - which is your favorite? Share travel tips, restaurant recommendations, and photos of your favorite place in France.

Une Femme ministre de la Défense
Listening comprehension activity: interview with Michèle Alliot-Marie, the first woman to head the French Department of Defense. Pay attention to her personal details, experiences, and recent activities. Sound file provided by Champs-Élysées French audiomagazine (read my review).

Fête de la Lumière
In France, 2 February is known as la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or crêpe day. It's customary to eat crêpes and do some fortune telling, and now there's a fun game for French classes too.

Fête des fleurs, Hyères, France
On 5 and 6 April 2008, the southern French city of Hyères hosted its annual flower festival with an open day event at SICA (Société d'intérêt collectif agricole) / Marché aux fleurs d'Hyères. 500 growers produce over 180 million flowers a year, making it the largest flower market in France and the fourth largest in Europe. With information booths, wine and flower tasting, and a flower parade, it was a fascinating look at this colorful aspect of the Hyérois community.

Fête du Citron
Menton's citrus celebration brings tons of citrus and hundreds of thousands of people to town every year.

Fête du Muguet
Le premier mai est une journée spéciale en France. C'est la Fête du Travail et la Fête du Muguet.

Fickle French Adjectives
There are a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on where they are placed. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.

Fiction Set in France
I find that books about France, whether fiction or non-fiction, pique my appetite for travel more than anything else. I love writers who weave culture and language into their stories and memories. Of course, the best books are probably those written in French, but since not everyone reads well enough to survive Germinal, here's a list of my favorite English-language novels set in France.

Figure-toi
What does the French expression figure-toi mean? Learn all about it here.

Fillers and Warm-Up Activities
Most language teachers find that there is a bit of dead time during class. This may occur at the beginning of class, as the students are arriving; at the end of class, as they are thinking about leaving; and right in the middle of class, when transitioning from one lesson to another. During this dead time, the best option is to spend five or ten minutes on a short, interesting activity.

Find it!
Other ways to find pages on this site, including search tips, a topical index, and a chronological list of additions.

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.

Finir conjugations
Conjugations for the French verb finir

Finir expressions
The regular -ir verb finir is used in a variety of French expressions. Learn how to say never-ending, it will end in disaster, finally, and more with this list of expressions with finir.

First Day Teaching Tips
What should you do on the first day of French class? Students may be new to language learning or coming back from vacation, so is it better to have some fun or dive right into grammar and vocabulary? Take a look a these excellent suggestions shared by teachers.

Five Senses
Learn French words and verbs related to the five senses, as well as some French vocabulary related to the sixth sense.

Flash card software - 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.

Floral'Hyères
In 2010, the first Floral'Hyères was held in downtown Hyères, France. The most spectacular aspect of this biannual celebration was the flower parade, with 10 flower bedecked floats accompanied by singers, dancers, and other performers.

Fluency - What is fluency?
One of the questions that I get asked all the time is "How long will it take me to speak French fluently?" Unfortunately, the answer to this question is difficult for several reasons. Read this article to learn the "what, where, when, and why" of fluency.

Fois - French Expressions
The French word fois is feminine and is equivalent to one meaning of time. It's also used in a number of idiomatic expressions.

Le fond de l'air est frais
If warmer temperatures make you think it's time for summer clothes, you might want to reconsider with the French expression le fond de l'air est frais.

Food - French for Beginners
French for beginners: food

Food and Drink
Learn about the cuisine and spirits of francophone cultures.

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

Foreign Language Week
It's National Foreign Language Week! Don't keep putting off your dreams of learning a new language; this is your chance to get started with free lessons online at About.com. There are also articles on everything from setting up a bilingual home to figuring out if you are fluent.

Foreign Service - Jobs Using French
The Foreign Service needs your language skills.

Formal negation
There are three negative structures particular to formal French. While they are not unheard of in spoken French, they are most commonly found in writing, especially literature.

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

Se fourrer le doigt dans l'œil
What does the French expression se fourrer le doigt dans l'œil mean? Learn all about it here.

Fractions and Ordinal Numbers
The majority of French ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) and fractions are the same word, but there are a few exceptions. Take a look (and listen) at this lesson for a complete explanation. 

Français - French Expressions
Français is French for "French" and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to speak terrible French, buy French wine, and perfect your French with this list of expressions with français.

France - French Expressions
Of course you know that la France means "France," but are you aware that this country's name is also used in some idiomatic expressions? Learn how to say ordinary people, the rich, and more with this list of expressions with France.

France Fights Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast
In an impressive show of vitriol against the recent American renaming of "freedom fries" and "freedom toast," French president Jacques Chirac fights back. At a press conference moments ago, Chirac presented President George Bush with a severe list of demands.

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

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

Francophiles: Gifts
Wondering what to buy for the French lover on your list? Someone who really loves French probably already has a good dictionary and grammar book, so here are some gifts that will thrill your favorite Francophile.

Francophone Culture Tests
Test your knowledge of French and francophone cultures with these diverse quizzes.

Francophonie
Francophonie is the phenomenon of speaking French. Learn about le monde francophone: who speaks French, where in the world it is spoken, why this is so important. Links to francophone organizations, events, and other information.

Francophonie project
Researching a francophone region or country and writing a report or country study is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is perfect as a long-term activity for intermediate and advanced students, though it can also be adapted for beginners.

Franglais
Is it a dialect... or just bad French? Learn about this blend of French and English.

Franglais, and other French crimes
Franglais has long been spoken in France, and the simplification of French spelling that takes place on the internet doesn't help matters, but a recent advertising campaign has taken the massacre of French to a whole new level.

Free in French
The English word "free" can be an adjective, adverb, verb, or noun and has a number of different meanings, which can make it difficult to translate free into French. Take a look at this lesson on how to say free in French.

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.

French 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.

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, quiz, and gift idea.

The French-American Relationship - Conversations françaises : Les Relations transatlantiques
From the publisher of Champs-Élysées audiomagazine comes a brand-new product ideal for anyone wondering what the French think of the United States or why the Iraq war contributed to a spate of anti-Frenchism. This bilingual audiobook comprises three interviews with prominent French intellectuals about the relationship between France and the United States - read my review.

French and France - Vocabulary
When talking about France, the French like to use a variety of terms rather than constantly repeating français and la France. Here are the most common synonyms for French and France as well as some related vocabulary that will come in handy when discussing France à la française.

French and Computers
Assorted resources for using French on the computer and internet.

French-Canadians petition for recognition of their language
Standard French is considered to be Parisian French as spoken by the middle classes - but not for long, if French-Canadians have anything to say about it. (April Fool's joke)

French-Canadian Terms
Definitions for some terms about the French language in relation to Canada.

French Class Phrases
To help students use as much French as possible in the classroom, here is a list of essential words and phrases related to comprehension and typical classroom requests, with sound files.

French Club Tips and Ideas
Are you thinking about creating your own French club or looking to spice up one you already attend? This isn't as daunting as it sounds - all you need to do is find a meeting place and some members, decide on meeting frequency, and plan a few interesting activities. This article can help you find the way.

French Culture
French culture links and information

French Culture Books
There's more to language learning than vocabulary lists and grammar rules - culture is an essential element. Since language reflects culture and vice versa, fluency implies an understanding of both. If you don't know anything about wine, the Tour de France, or the French Revolution, your French is missing some context. Fill in the gaps with these books about the rich French culture.

French Dialects, Patois, and Regional Languages in France
French-related regional languages and dialects in France

French Dictionary Software
If you spend a lot of time reading/writing French, especially on the computer, having a good French dictionary program (or two) can make life a lot easier. I recently purchased several French dictionary programs and already can't remember what life was like without them. Based on my own preferences as well as extensive research, here are the best French dictionary programs you can buy.

French-English / English-French Dictionary
This French-English dictionary is somewhat limited, with only 75,000 terms, but it's a good place to start.

"French" Expressions
There are dozens of expressions in English which contain the word French... but are these things actually French? Take a look at this list with the French equivalents and their literal translations - you might be surprised.

French fanatic quiz
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).

French Flash Cards
Studying endless lists of French vocabulary can get tedious, which doesn't do language students - or their teachers - any good. One way to make learning vocabulary more interesting and interactive is with the use of flash cards. This article has information and tips on creating French flash cards and putting them to good use.

French Foes
Selected lessons on grammar and other language issues that are particularly difficult for students of French, including more than a dozen confusing pairs or groups of French words, expressions, and grammatical structures.

French Food Books
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.

French for Beginners
French for beginners: lessons, tips, and activities

French for Beginners Course
Sign up for my new French for Beginners Course weekly newsletter - 20 weeks of lessons on beginning French grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, along with study tips and related information.

French for Beginners Forum
The perfect place to practice and ask all of your questions.

French for Kids
Kid-safe French sites with all kinds of fun activities like French songs, games, communities, pen pals, and much more. There are sites both for kids that already speak French and for those who would like to learn.

French for Kids - Teaching Resources
Lessons on the alphabet and counting to help teachers and parents teach their kids French. These pages are specially designed with colorful graphics to attract your kids' interest while you play the sound files.

French Gifts
Suggested French gifts for kids; beginning, intermediate, and advanced students; translators; and teachers.

French in English
The English language has been shaped by a number of other languages over the centuries, and most English speakers know that Latin and German were two of the most important. What a lot of people don't realize is how much the French language has influenced English. Learn about how French has affected English vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.

French IPA Symbols
French pronunciation is represented by a relatively small number of IPA characters, so in order to transcribe French phonetically, you just need to memorize those.

French is Better than... Everything!
Why French is better than chocolate, shopping, and anything else you can think of!

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

French Language Holiday Gift Guide
Suggested French gifts for kids; beginning, intermediate, and advanced students; translators; and teachers.

French Learning Software
Software can be an interesting addition to your language study. While not a replacement for a teacher or conversation partner, software can help you improve your listening and reading comprehension as well as learn vocabulary, grammar, and even, thanks to speech recognition technology, pronunciation. If you're looking for an interesting way to get more French practice and improve your skills, check out my recommendations for French learning software.

French Lessons
A review of Alice Kaplan's autobiography French Lessons.

French Magnetic Poetry
Magnetic poetry is a fun little tool you can use to learn and practice French. 500 magnets with words and parts of words help you to express yourself in a unique and creative way.

French mistakes
It might be trite, but it's definitely true: we all make mistakes. Take a look at these pages to learn to avoid as many common French mistakes as possible.

French Mistake of the Week
Mistakes will always be made in French, and now you can learn from them. In this feature, I analyze and explain a different French mistake every week.

French Only
In French classes, teachers usually want to encourage students to speak only in French. Practice makes perfect and the more French students speak in class the more they will learn and remember. However, it can be difficult to enforce French only. Here are a variety of creative and effective techniques.

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

Common French Phrases
Take a look at this list to learn some of the most useful and common French phrases, with links to more detailed information and sound files.

French Plurals and English Singulars
Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular or uncountable in English but plural or countable in French.

French Polls
The About French site is now seven years old, and I'd love to know more about the people who use it. I've created a series of 10 polls with questions about your French learning and your use of this site - you can respond to any number of them and then see the results for each individual poll.

French Presidential Elections - 2007
In April and May 2007, France will choose a new president, but at the moment there are some problems with the normal electoral process, including an important candidate not yet meeting the requirements to be on the ballot. Learn more in this listening comprehension exercise.

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

French Proficiency Test - Intermediate
Test yourself on intermediate French vocabulary and grammar.

French Quiz of the Day
Take a different French quiz every day.

French Search Engines
If you do a lot of internet searches related to French-speaking countries or their products, consider using a French-language search engine, as it may yield more relevant results than your default search engine.

French Singulars and English Plurals
Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular, uncountable, or invariable in French but are plural or countable in English.

French-Speaking Celebrities
If your students don't see any point in learning French, maybe Jodie Foster and Johnny Depp can help: we've compiled a list of famous non-native French speakers around the world - if your students know how many cool people speak French, they might realize how cool French really is!

French-Speaking Countries
French is spoken officially in 33 countries.

French-Speaking Country Internet Codes
Every country in the world has an official two-letter country code for use on the internet. These codes are used in website addresses and emails, and can therefore tell you where a website is located. In addition, they can be used to perform country-specific searches. Here are the country codes for French-speaking countries.

French Teacher Supply Stores
French teachers often need to supplement the textbook with movies, posters, and other classroom supplies. Here are some good sources of materials for French teachers.

French-Themed Celebrations
For Francophiles, any time is a good time to celebrate French, but there is one holiday in particular that cries out for a French-themed party: Bastille Day. Here are some ideas for a party with some French panache.

French Tongue Twisters - Les Virelangues
Tongue twisters, known as virelangues in French, are words or phrases which are repeated as quickly as possible as a test of the speaker's ability to correctly pronounce the succession of similar sounds. For French students, les virelangues provide an interesting insight into the French language as well as a way to practice phrases which are difficult even for native speakers.

French Travel Guides
Here is a collection of useful books for anyone traveling to France. In addition to the guide books you would expect from such a list, a phrase book and two audio books are also included.

French Verb Conjugation
Conjugation refers to the five possible inflections of a verb. Once you've made a choice from each of these five, you have a conjugation or inflection. Some factors make it difficult to figure out the subject to conjugate for.

French Verb Conjugator
With all of the simple conjugations for more than 1,200 verbs, my French verb conjugator is a great tool for students and teachers alike. Type the verb or select it from a list, click conjugate, and see everything you need to know.

French Vocabulary in English
Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of words and expressions from French. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and expressions have retained their "Frenchness" - a certain je ne sais quoi which speakers tend to be much more aware of. Here, then, is a list of French terms commonly used in English.

French vs English
French and English are related languages, so there are some similarities. Perhaps more importantly, however, there are a number of differences, both major and minor, between French and English. Here are some brief explanations with links to further information.

French Webquest
A webquest is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. Here are tips on how to do a webquest, as well as numerous topics and sample questions to consider.

French Week
Organized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), National French Week is a celebration of French language and francophone cultures. If you are a French teacher, National French Week is the perfect opportunity to organize in-class and/or extracurricular events for current or potential students. Take a look at this page for some ideas with links to additional information.

French Wine ~ Le vin français
French wine is considered by many (notably the French) to be the best wine there is. Whether you agree or not, French wine is certainly *among* the best, so check out this page for information and links.

French Women Don't Sleep Alone - Book Review
French women are so chic! Trying to pin down and explain their je ne sais quoi is Jamie Cat Callan's goal in her book French Women Don't Sleep Alone.

French Words and Expressions Used in English
Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of words and expressions from French. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and expressions have retained their "Frenchness" - a certain je ne sais quoi which speakers tend to be much more aware of. Here is a list of French terms which are commonly used in English.

Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about learning French, from your About.com Guide

Fruit - French for Beginners
French for beginners: fruit

Fun stuff
When you're tired of studying French, take a break with these fun sites that I've found on the net. There are games, jokes, comics, tongue twisters, and more.

Furniture - French for Beginners - Vocabulary
Learn how to say chair, bed, desk, and all of that other stuff you've got lying around the house.

Future
Learn to conjugate the French future tense.

Future - Test
Test yourself on the French future tense

Future - Usage
Learn how to use the French future tense

Future Perfect - Formation
Learn how to conjugate the French future perfect.

Future Perfect - Test
Test yourself on the French future perfect.

Future Perfect - Usage
Learn how to use the French future perfect.

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