Collins Robert French Unabridged Dictionary
Reviewed by Laura K. Lawless

Guide Rating -

Once you realize that you're serious about learning French, the first thing you need to do is buy a good dictionary. Pocket dictionaries are fine in the beginning, but they are, of course, limited by their size. When you decide that it's time to invest in a comprehensive tome, you can't go wrong with the HarperCollins Robert French Dictionary. This is the best bilingual dictionary I've found in my 13 years of French study. I bought an earlier edition in 1997 and quickly realized that it was the best investment I've ever made in my French studies.

With more than 800,000 entries and 2,000 pages, you can be sure that you'll find the words and expressions you need. The HarperCollins Robert French-English and English-French dictionary lists both American and British English, including a great deal of slang, idioms, and technical vocabulary. No need to worry about making any faux pas : symbols abound to indicate which words are familiar, vulgar, archaic, or obsolete. A special section discusses "Language in Use," including event specific language and expressions for everything from announcements to business correspondence to debating. In the back of the book there is a section with verb tables, comparisons of French and English verbs, rules for agreement of past participles, weights and measures, and a lot more. It is easy to use and the price is right.

If you plan to continue improving your French, this is best investment you can make in yourself. You can get by with a pocket dictionary for a while, but gradually you'll find fewer and fewer of the words you seek. The HarperCollins Robert French Dictionary is the bilingual dictionary to own for anyone serious about reading, writing, speaking, and understanding French.