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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 13 January 2013
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
T - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter T
To Take
The English verb to take has several French equivalents. Learn the difference between prendre,
amener, and all the rest.
Tant vs Autant
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.
Tant mieux
What does the French expression
tant mieux mean? Learn all about it here.
Tant pis
What does the French expression
tant pis mean? Learn all about it here.
Tant qu'elle chante, elle vit
Tant qu'elle chante, elle vit : apprendre le français grâce à l'héritage de
Carole Fredericks is a unique resource for French speakers of all levels and
ages, as well as anyone interested in music. Teachers in particular will find
this product useful, as it offers interesting possibilities for French classes.
To Teach - Apprendre,
Enseigner, Instruire, Éduquer
There are four French verbs that mean 'to teach': apprendre,
enseigner, instruire, éduquer - learn to tell them apart.
Teacher - Jobs Using French
Share your French skills with others - become a teacher.
Teacher's Guide - Les portes tordues
Les portes tordues is an upper-beginning-to-intermediate-level,
bilingual audio/grammar book (read
my review). Author Kathie Dior has kindly shared some ideas for using it in
the classroom - please feel free to print this out and use it in your French
class.
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.
Teaching Combined-Level French Classes
Budget cuts and low interest in language are always bad news for French
teachers, and one common solution is to combine
different levels of French classes, particularly levels 3 and 4. While
this is fine for the school budget, it can be very tricky for French teachers to
meet the needs of both levels. Here are some ideas to keep your sanity while
making the class interesting for your students.
Teaching Resources
There are lots of great resources on the net for French teachers. I've linked to the best ones I've found - feel free to tell me about other French sites so that we have the most comprehensive list out there.
Teaching Resources for Youths
Resources for teaching French to youths - lesson plans, ideas, inspiration, and more.
Teaching Resources - French for Kids
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.
Teaching Software
Software to help you teach French.
Teaching Tips - First Day
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.
Tel, Telle, Tels, Telles
The French word tel can be a qualifying adjective, an indefinite adjective,
or an indefinite pronoun, and is also used in a number of expressions and
conjunctions, making it an extremely versatile and useful French word.
Television
Watch the news from francophone countries
Temporal Adverbs
Learn how to recognize, form, and use French adverbs.
Temporal Prepositions
Learn the difference between the various French temporal prepositions
Temporal Prepositions - Test
Test on French temporal prepositions
Temporal words and phrases
Talking about time requires a fair amount of vocabulary. Here are dozens of
French words and expressions related to time, including periods of time, points in time,
relative time, and frequency.
Temps - French Expressions
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.
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.
Tenir - French Expressions
The verb tenir has several meanings on its own, and is also used in a number of
idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.
Tenir le coup
What does the French expression tenir le coup mean? Learn all about it here.
Tennis Vocabulary
If you love watching annual tennis tournaments like Wimbledon and the French
Open, you'll want to learn some French vocabulary related to tennis.
French Terms of Endearment
French has all kinds of interesting terms of endearment, including a rather odd
assortment of barnyard animals. Check out this list of French terms of
endearment to use with your loved ones (both romantic and familial).
Test of the Day
Take a different French quiz every day.
Tests
Assorted tests on French grammar, verbs, vocabulary, and more.
Learning French is one thing, but French on the internet - in chatrooms and forums - or via text messaging or email can seem like a completely different language. Fortunately, help is at hand. Here are some common French abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols to help you communicate via text.
TH - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters TH
French Thanksgiving Vocabulary
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in France, so here is some French vocabulary
related to the American holiday.
Think French
Think French is an online French audiomagazine suitable for intermediate
French learners - read my
review.
Threads - French Class Practice
This is a detailed practice exercise for working on si clauses in the French classroom.
TI - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters TI
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras
What does the French proverb un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras mean? Learn all about it here.
Time - French for Beginners
French for beginners: telling time
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.
Tips on using bilingual dictionaries
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.
Tips to avoid poorly written translations
Reliable translators are hard to find. The more specialized your work, the more difficult it will be for you to find a qualified translator. Here are some useful tips to help you avoid poorly written translations.
Tirer - Expressions
The French verb tirer usually means to pull,
but it has numerous other meanings and is also used in many different idiomatic
expressions.
Tirer plus
vite que son ombre
What does the French expression
tirer plus vite que son ombre mean? Learn all about it here.
Tirer une carotte
What does the idiomatic French expression tirer une carotte mean? Learn all about it here.
Le Tiret et le trait d'union
Hyphens and m-dashes are important in both English and French, but they are
considerably more common in the latter. This lesson explains when, why, and
how to use hyphens and m-dashes in French.
Titles
The rules for the capitalization of French titles are
quite complicated; so complicated, in fact, that I have been
unable to find a definitive system. This lesson looks at the three different
schools of thought.
Toast pour le nouvel An
Toast pour le nouvel An is a French song that celebrates the New Year.
Today in Francophone History
Learn about today's famous francophone birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and other milestones.
Toiletries - Articles de toilette
Do you know the French vocabulary related to washing, putting on make-up, and shaving?
Learn how to talk about toiletries in French.
Tomber - French Expressions
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.
Tomber dans la marmite
What does the French expression tomber dans la marmite mean? Learn all about it here.
Tomber dans le panneau
What does the French expression tomber dans le panneau mean? Learn all about it here.
Tomber dans les pommes
What does the French expression tomber dans les pommes mean? Learn all about it here.
"Tomber en amour"
What's wrong with saying tomber en amour? Learn about this French
mistake.
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.
Tonic Accent
In French,
each syllable of a word and each word is pronounced with the same emphasis, except for the
final syllable of each rhythmic group. In
order to emphasize a specific word in French, you can use the accent tonique.
Tools for Kids
Encouraging your kids to learn French at a young age is, in my opinion, one of the best things that you can do for them. Humans are born with an amazing capacity for language, but as we grow up, we gradually lose the capability to hear and produce sounds in languages we are not exposed to. The earlier a new language is introduced, the better our odds of eventually being fluent and having a good accent. The problem is that kids won't be happy with some dull, text-only grammar book - they need pictures, sounds, and interaction. I've scoured the internet for fun and interesting resources for kids - here are my favorites.
Tools for Translators
Maybe more than anyone else, translators need good tools. Some of them are obvious (like dictionaries), but others may be less so to inexperienced or untrained translators. Here is a list of the translation books without which I simply could not work. This list is for French-English and English-French translators, but can easily be adapted for other language combinations.
Top 100 French Words
What are the most common French words? Here are the top 100, with links to
lessons.
Top Expressions Lessons
Idiomatic expressions are key to language learning. When you learn French, it can seem like there is always more grammar to learn, but in fact grammar lessons are finite. Expressions, on other hand, are virtually endless. No matter how much you study, it sometimes feels like there are always a couple of new expressions in whatever you read. To help you learn some of the most common
French expressions, I've put together a list of the top 15 lists of French
expressions on my site.
Toulouse photo gallery
Toulouse, also known as la Ville rose (Pink Town), is the fourth largest city in
France. Located in the southwest of France, within a few hours of the Atlantic
Ocean, the Mediterreanean Sea, and the Spanish border, Toulouse is a beautiful
town filled with friendly people and interesting architecture.
Top Gestures
My lessons on French gestures are among the most popular pages on my site,
partly because gestures are so frequently used when speaking French, and partly
because many gestures are not commonly taught in French classes. Among the
dozens of gestures and facial expressions in my lessons, there are ten that
really stand out.
When you start learning a foreign language, you'll have a head start if you're already familiar with grammar terms related to things like parts of speech in your own language. If you don't know these terms, you'll have more trouble learning French, because grammar is a key component in language study. My French Grammar Glossary can help you understand dozens of grammatical terms, but to give you a head start, I've complied this list of the essentials with links to more info.
Top listening exercises
There are over a hundred listening exercises on this site, ranging from simple
dialogues to in-depth listening comprehension exercises. The most visited
listening pages tend to be those that offer practical advice or discuss someone
or something famous. Here are the 15 most popular French listening exercises on
this site.
Top Pages
Week after week, there are certain pages on my site - mostly indexes to
particular types of lessons - that consistently get high traffic. To make it
easier for my readers to find these popular pages, I've put them together into a
handy top 10 list that you can bookmark for future reference.
Top Verb Lessons
French verbs can be difficult, and certain verb lessons on my site get visited
over and over. For some people, certain verb concepts just don't sink in the
first (or second or third) time they are learned, or continue to cause confusion
even after years of study. To make it easier for you to find the French verb
lessons you need, here are the most commonly visited French pages on my site. If
you need to review any of these, know that you are not alone!
Top French Verbs
Of the thousands of French verbs, there are a few that get used far more than the rest, so you need to make sure that you know what they mean and how to use and conjugate them. Here's everything you need to know about the ten most common French verbs: what they mean, how to conjugate and use them, and useful expressions with each of them.
Top 10 Verbs - Conjugation
Test
Test yourself on the conjugations of the top 10 French verbs: aller, avoir,
dire, être, faire, falloir, pouvoir, savoir,
voir, and vouloir.
Toujours vs Encore
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.
La Tour Eiffel
Intermediate/advanced listening comprehension exercise based on a report on visitors to the Eiffel
Tower.
Tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche
What does the idiomatic French expression tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche mean? Learn all about it here.
Tout - Tous - Toute - Toutes
The French word tout can be a noun, pronoun, adjective, or adverb, and can take
four different forms. Learn all you need to know about tout.
Tout as an adjective
Learn how to use tout as an adjective.
Tout as an adverb
Learn about tout used as an adverb.
Tout as a noun
Learn how to use tout as a noun.
Tout as a pronoun
Lesson on using tout as a pronoun.
Tout - Test
Test your skills on the French word tout.
Tout à coup
What does the French expression tout à coup mean? Learn all about it here.
Tout à fait
What does the French expression
tout à fait mean? Learn all about it here.
Tout à l'heure
What does the French expression tout à l'heure mean? Learn all about it here.
Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or
What does the French proverb tout ce qui brille n'est pas or mean? Learn all about it here - especially if you think it should be "tout ce qui brille n'est pas d'or."
Tout de suite
What does the French expression tout de suite mean? Learn all about it here.
Tout d'un coup
What does the French expression tout d'un coup mean and how it is
different from tout à coup? Learn all about it here.
Translating French Verbs
French has quite a few different tenses and moods, which come in two forms: simple (single word)
and compound. Translating French verbs into English, and vice
versa, can be difficult for several reasons. This lesson should help you understand how French and English verb forms match up.
Translation
Whether you're a translator or someone in need of a translation, you'll find everything you need right here: links to translation agencies, freelance translators, online translators, and other related links.
Translation and Interpretation
Translation and interpretation are the ultimate jobs for people who love
language. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings about these two fields,
including the difference between them and what kind of skills and education they
require. This article is an introduction to the fields of translation and
interpretation.
Translation and Interpretation at MIIS
The graduate program in translation and interpretation at Monterey Institute
Translation and Interpretation Organizations
Translation and interpretation organizations
Translation and Interpretation Schools
French translation and interpretation schools
Translation Journals
French translation journals
Translator / Interpreter - Jobs Using French
The ultimate jobs for language lovers.
Transportation - French for Beginners
French for beginners: travel vocabulary - transportation
Transportation in Morocco
Read about our adventure with local and intercity travel.
Travel
The best way to learn a language is to travel to (or better yet - live in) a French-speaking country. These resources will help you plan and get the most out of your trip to France, Canada, or any other francophone country.
Travel French newsletter
Taking a trip to France or another francophone country? My six-week Travel French newsletter is just the thing - learn the essential French vocabulary and phrases you may need during your trip, from making reservations and eating at restaurants to getting around and dealing with emergencies.
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.
Travel to Africa
Travel information for Africa
Travel to Belgium
Travel information for Belgium
Travel to Canada
Travel information for Canada
Travel to the Caribbean
Travel information for the Caribbean
Travel to Europe
Travel information for Europe
Travel to France
Travel information for France
Travel to Louisiana
Travel information for Louisiana
Travel to the South Pacific
Travel information the South Pacific
Travel to Switzerland
Travel information for Switzerland
Travel / Tourism
/ Hospitality - Jobs Using French
You can use your French skills in the travel sector.
Travel Brochure, Poster,
Sticker - French Project
Creating a travel brochure, poster, or bumper sticker related to a French-speaking country or region is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is a short- to medium-term activity for any level of French student.
Travel Vocab - French for Beginners
French for beginners: travel vocabulary
Trempé comme une soupe
What does the idiomatic French expression trempé comme une soupe mean? Learn all about it here.
Très
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. The adverb très is one example of a very common word that can be
replaced by any of a number of
synonyms, in both normal and informal registers. Take a look
at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "very," and be sure
to note the differences in intensity.
Trouver - French Expressions
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.
Trouver son bonheur
What does the French expression trouver son bonheur mean? Learn all about it here.
Trouvez-le
! Find it!
Other ways to find pages on this site, including search tips, a topical index,
and a chronological list of additions.
True Cognates
At long last - a list of true French/English cognates. The 1,700 words on these
pages are spelled (although not pronounced) identically in French and English
and are true or semi-true cognates. Take a look at this list to discover just
how much vocabulary is shared between French and English.
Tu et je - French Mistake
What's the correct way to say "you and I" in French? The answer might surprise
you - read this lesson to learn how to avoid this potential French mistake.
Tu vs Vous - French for Beginners
French for beginners: tu and vous both mean you; how do you know which one to use?
Tu vs Vous - Test
Test yourself on the difference between tu and vous.
Tu m'étonnes
You might think you know what the French expression tu m'étonnes means,
or you might be surprised. Learn all about it here.
"Tu ne fais pas ça"
What's wrong with saying tu ne fais pas ça to mean "you just don't do that"? Learn about this French mistake.
Tu ne manques pas d'air
What does the French expression tu ne manques pas d'air mean? Learn all about it here.
"Tu peux s'asseoir"
What's wrong with this? Learn about this French mistake.
Tu te rends compte !
What does the French expression tu te rends compte ! mean? Learn all about it here.
Twelve Days of French
Hopefully both useful and fun, "12 Days of French" is (rather
loosely) based on the
song "12 Days of Christmas" and includes practical gift suggestions
for French lovers on any gift-giving occasion: Christmas, Chanukah, birthdays....
Typical 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.
Typing French Accents
You don't need software or a special
keyboard to type accented letters - everything you need to know is
right here.
Typing French Accents - Codes
Any computer can type accented letters - here is the chart of keys to do it.
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
U - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter U
U vs OU
The letter u is one of the most difficult sounds in the French language, at
least for English speakers. In addition, English speakers often find it
difficult to distinguish between u and ou. Here are some tips and numerous sound
files to help you hear and say the difference.
UE - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters UE.
UEIL - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combination
ueil (as in accueil)
in this lesson with sound
files.
UI - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters UI.
UIL / UILLE - French Pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combinations
UIL and UILLE in French with this
lesson and sound files.
UN - Pronunciation
Lesson on French pronunciation: French nasal vowels - UN.
Un vs L'un
What's the difference between un and l'un? Isn't the second one kind of
redundant? Learn about when and why to use l'un in place of un in this lesson.
Un de ces quatre matins
What does the French expression un de ces quatre matins mean? Learn all about it here.
Université Laval defined
What is the University of Laval?
Useful French verbs
Even after nearly a decade of French classes and numerous visits to France,
there were some verbs that I didn't use until I moved here and was immersed in
the language and culture. Some I had never learned, while others just seemed
unusual or unnecessary. In case you're in the same boat, here are a
dozen French verbs that I find essential in France, even if my French teachers didn't seem to think so.
Uses of Devoir
Learn how to use the French verb devoir
Uses of Être
How to use the French verb être
Uses of Pouvoir
Learn how to use the French verb pouvoir
Uses of Vouloir
Learn to use the French verb vouloir.
Using 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.
US States
Learn how to say each of the US states in French.
US States and Canadian
Provinces: Gender Quiz
Do you know which US states and Canadian provinces are masculine and which are feminine? Take this quiz to find out, or click the lesson links to learn the French names for each state and province.
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
V - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter V
Vacation in Europe - Hotels and Restaurants
Information about some of the hotels and restaurants we enjoyed during our trip to Europe.
Valoir
Conjugations for the French verb valoir
Valoir le coup / Ça vaut le coup
What does the French expression valoir le coup / ça vaut le coup mean? Learn all about it here.
In French, capitalization is sometimes variable. Direction words, nationalities, titles, and proper nouns may or may not be capitalized depending on how they are used.
Vegetables - French for Beginners
French for beginners: vegetables
Vegetarianism in France
There is a growing movement toward vegetarianism in France, including restaurants, cooking classes, and B+Bs that cater not only to foreign tourists, but also the French themselves. So if you're a vegetarian heading to France, you don't need to worry about finding enough to eat - just check out these places and resources.
Vendre
Conjugations for the French verb vendre
Vendre la peau de l'ours (avant de l'avoir tué)
What does the French expression vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué mean? Learn all about it here.
Venir
Conjugations for the French verb venir
Venir - Meanings and Uses
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.
Venir - Expressions
There are many expressions with the French verb venir.
Verb Books
There are many, many French verb books in existence, which
offer explanations and conjugations for hundreds - sometimes thousands - of
verbs. In my mind, there are only three contenders for your French reference
library.
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.
Verb Conjugations (Improving)
Conjugating French verbs in a workbook or letter is one thing, but remembering individual verb conjugations when you're speaking is another matter entirely. Here are some tips to help you get better at conjugating French verbs.
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.
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.
Verb lessons - top 10
French verbs can be difficult, and certain verb lessons on my site get visited
over and over. For some people, certain verb concepts just don't sink in the
first (or second or third) time they are learned, or continue to cause confusion
even after years of study. To make it easier for you to find the French verb
lessons you need, here are the most commonly visited French pages on my site. If
you need to review any of these, know that you are not alone!
Verbs - Verbes français
French for beginners: French verbs
Verbs - most common
Of the thousands of French verbs, there are a few that get used far more than the rest, so you need to make sure that you know what they mean and how to use and conjugate them. Here are lessons and conjugations for the most common French verbs.
Verbs and Indirect Object Pronouns
In French, à plus a person can usually be
replaced by an indirect object pronoun that gets placed in front of the verb
(e.g., Il me parle).
However, a few French verbs and expressions do not allow a preceding indirect
object pronoun - instead, they require that you keep the
preposition after the verb, and follow it with a stressed pronoun.
Verbs of perception
Verbs of perception are verbs which, logically enough, indicate a perception or
sensation. There are six common French verbs of perception, and they may be
followed by a noun or an infinitive.
Verbs used with Sports
Sports Vocabulary in French, from your About.com Guide to French
Verbs with à
Verbs that need the French preposition à
Verbs with de
Verbs that use the French preposition de
Verbs with no preposition
French verbs that don't need a preposition
Verbs with Prepositions
Many French verbs require a certain preposition in order for the meaning
of the verb to be complete, and unfortunately the
prepositions required for French verbs are often not the same as the ones
required by their English counterparts. In addition, some verbs that do
require a preposition in English don't take one in French, and vice versa. Learn
all about French verbs with prepositions and then take the test.
Verbs with sur
Verbs that take the French preposition sur
Verb Timeline
A timeline of the French verb tenses with links to lessons.
Verlan - French Slang
Verlan is a form of French slang that consists of playing
around with syllables, kind of along the same lines as pig Latin. Verlan is actively spoken in France - many words have
become so commonplace that they are used in everyday French.
Vers and Envers
Learn how to use the French prepositions vers and envers.
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is the most visited site in Europe. Learn more about
this grand château and the restoration it's undergoing.
Le viaduc de Millau
Le viaduc de Millau was completed in 2004. Learn about the construction and safety mechanisms of the Millau viaduct in this listening comprehension exercise from
Champs-Élysées audiomagazine (read my review).
Views on Americans
The atrocities committed in New York and Washington, D.C. on 11 September
2001 inspired me to think about Moroccan perceptions of the United States and its people. This article discusses not only reaction to the terrorism, but also historical and personal perspectives on Americans.
Virelangues - Tongue Twisters
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.
Visite
de jumelage - Burnley/Vitry-sur-Seine
Learn about 'town twinning' and read about a recent twinning
trip to France.
Visit, Visitor, To Visit
There are a number of French equivalents for the English verb 'to visit' and
nouns 'visit' and 'visitor.' Read my lesson and then try the quiz.
Vive la France !
What does the French expression
Vive la France ! mean? Learn all about it here.
Vive
le vent
The French Christmas carol "Vive le vent" is sung to the tune of
"Jingle Bells."
Vivre
Conjugations for the French verb vivre
Vivre
vs Habiter
The French verbs habiter and vivre both mean to live, but are used in
different circumstances. You won't be able to live with yourself if you
don't learn how to use them both.
Vivre - Expressions
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.
Vivre d'amour et d'eau fraîche
What does the French expression vivre d'amour et d'eau fraîche
mean? Learn all about it here.
Vocabulary
Everything you can think of to help increase your vocabulary! Lists, lessons, quizzes, and even a word of the day newsletter.
Vocabulary and Pronunciation for Beginners
French for beginners: vocabulary and pronunciation
Vocabulary Lessons - Top 15
Vocabulary is one of the keys to language. When people talk about fluency, they usually include some reference to the minimum number of words that one must know. I must have at least 200 vocabulary lessons on my site, but some are much more popular than others. To make it easier for you to find these essential French vocabulary pages, I've put them together into a handy top 15 list that you can bookmark for future reference.
Vocabulary Related to French and France
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.
Vocabulary Related to National
Holidays and Patriotism
In honor of the 4th of July (American Independence Day) and the 14th of July
(Bastille Day / French Independence Day), here is a list of French vocabulary
related to the French and American national holidays.
Vocabulary Related to Soccer and the World Cup
On Sunday, 9 July, France faced Italy in the 2006 World Cup Final. Here is a
list of French vocabulary related to soccer and the World Cup. Allez les Bleus !
Vocabulary Improvement Tips
Words, words, words! Languages are made up of words,
and French is no exception. Here are all kinds of French vocabulary lessons,
practice ideas, and tips to help you get better at learning and remembering
French words.
Voice
Voice is one of the five inflections involved in conjugating French verbs. It
indicates the relationship between the subject and verb.
Voilà
Even though voilà is just one word, it has so many possible meanings - most of which require multiple words in the English equivalents - that I've decided to treat it as an expression. Learn all about it here.
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.
Voir - Expressions
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.
Vol de nuit
Vol de nuit, one of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's most famous novels, is now
available as an audiobook so that you can work on your French listening
comprehension while enjoying a classic French novel.
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ?
It's often heard in songs and movies, but what does the French
expression
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir
really mean?
Vouloir
Conjugations for the French verb vouloir
Vouloir - 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.
Vouloir - French Expressions
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.
Vouloir Pouvoir Devoir
Learn about the French verbs vouloir, pouvoir, and devoir.
Vouloir Pouvoir Devoir - Test
Test yourself on the French verbs vouloir, pouvoir, and devoir.
Vous vs Tu - French for Beginners
French for beginners: tu and vous both mean you; how do you know which one to use?
Vowels - Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: French vowels
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
W - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter W
Warm-Up Activities and Fillers
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.
Ways to practice French
I live in a non-francophone country and I'm losing my French. What can I do?
Weather - French for Beginners
French for beginners: weather
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.
What do you think of the Learn French at About Language site?
Please tell me what you think of the French Language site so that I can improve it for you!
"What" in French
French learners often have trouble deciding how to
translate "what" into French. Should it be que or quoi, or maybe that pesky quel? Understanding the difference between these terms is critical to
knowing how to use them correctly.
What Is the 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.
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.
What is French? Facts and Figures about the French Language
How many French speakers are there? Where is French spoken? In which
international organizations is French an official language? Read this introduction to some facts and figures about the
French language.
What is Islam?
A look at the religion practiced in Morocco
What is Ramadan?
Learn about this month-long celebration.
Why I Love Paris
What is so wonderful about the City of Lights?
Why are
you learning French? (poll)
For school, work, family, fun? Let us know!
Why learn French
(article)
There are all kinds of reasons to learn a foreign language in general, and
French in particular.
Why learn French? (links)
Looking for ways to inspire your students or yourself? Look no further! These links will help you to explain the benefits and joys of learning and speaking French to your students - or yourself.
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.
Wine pronunciation
If you love French wine but hate ordering it, here's a page that can help.
This list of French wines and related vocabulary includes sound files to help
you pronounce the names of French wines.
Wine tasting vocabulary
There is a whole science devoted to wine, called oenology, that analyzes
everything from making it to tasting it. The latter is the most
important part for consumers, so here are some
wine tasting terms to help you talk
about what you're drinking.
Women in Morocco
The situation of women in Morocco is somewhere between
that of women in the West and those in conservative
Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia. Read my observations of Moroccan women and their place in society.
Women's Clothing - Vêtements de femme
French for beginners: clothing vocabulary
Word of the Day
A new French word every day, with pronunciation, examples of usage, and related words.
Word Order -
Dual-Verb Constructions
The order of words in a French sentence can be very confusing, due to
dual-verb constructions, object
and adverbial pronouns, and negative structures. Learn how to string them all
together
Word Order - Imperative
The word order of imperatives is a typical pitfall: the order changes
depending on whether the command is affirmative or negative. Get your commands
in order by studying this lesson.
Word Order -
Inversion
The order of words in a French sentence can be very confusing, due to
dual-verb constructions, object
and adverbial pronouns, and negative structures. Inversion further complicate
matters, so check out this lesson to straighten out your questions.
Word Order - Verbs of perception
Word order with French verbs of perception depends on whether the infinitive
has a subject and/or object and whether these are nouns or pronouns.
Worst
French mistake
We've all made plenty of French mistakes over the course of our language
learning, but some are far worse than others. You know what I'm talking about:
the ones where we inadvertently embarrassed or even insulted someone, just by
using the wrong word. It could be fun, interesting, and possibly even cathartic
to share the stories of the worst French mistakes we ever made, so don't be shy
- share your worst French mistake, and we can all learn to avoid these
treacherous French pitfalls.
Writing in French
Activities and resources to work on your French writing skills, as well as
criteria used by various agencies to determine French proficiency.
Writing Skills
Various official standards for the determination of French writing skill proficiency.
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
X - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter X
XC - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters XC
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
Y - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter Y.
Y and En
The French adverbial pronouns y and en are so tiny that one might
think their role in a sentence is not very important, but in fact quite the
opposite is true. They are both extremely important in French.
Y and En - Test
Quiz on the French pronouns y and en.
The Year in French
Saying what year it is or when something happened can be a bit tricky
because French has two different words that mean "year." In addition,
for certain years, there are two different ways to say the actual
numbers. Here's everything you need to know about the year in French.
A Year in Provence
A review of Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence.
Yes in French
Saying yes is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check
out this lesson to learn how to say yes, yeah, sure, and more.
You might be a Francophile if ...
Are you a Francophile? Do you think about and in French all day
long? What does it mean to be a French fanatic, and is there a cure? Share your
French thoughts with other Francophiles.
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
Z - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter Z
