Sitemap - Learn French at About
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 February 2012
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
E - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter E
Easy French Poetry Podcast
Easy French Poetry Podcast is a French conversation podcast about poetry.
This unique project combines listening practice with an analysis of French
poetry and is ideal for high-intermediate French students, though any level
student from low-intermediate to advanced can benefit from listening to French
poetry read by a native French speaker.
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
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.
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.
-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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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
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 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.
