French Lessons and Articles
Recent French lessons, quizzes, and articles, from Learn French at About
by date | by topic
Learn about the Latin expression a priori as it is used in French.
5-24-12 - All about devoir
The
French verb devoir has a number of different meanings related to
concepts like obligation and probability. Learn about the different uses and
meanings of this common French verb: all about
devoir.
5-23-12 - Music Lingua
Music Lingua is a music-based French program for kids up to age 8 - read my review.
5-22-12 - Euil and Ueil - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combinations
euil (as in feuille) and
ueil (accueil) in these lessons with sound
files.
5-21-12 - N'importe quoi
What does the French expression n'importe quoi mean? Learn all about it here.
5-20-12 - French grammar glossary
The French grammar and pronunciation glossary provides definitions and links
to further information about each of the French verb tenses, pronouns, and
other grammatical structures, as well as information about various
pronunciation issues. If you don't know the difference between transitive and
intransitive, or direct and indirect objects, my French grammar glossary is the place to find out.
5-18-12 - J'arrive
What does the French expression
j'arrive mean? Learn
all about it here.
5-17-12 - French Preterite ~ Le Passé simple
The passé simple is the literary equivalent of the passé composé, used only in
formal writing and speech. Although you will probably never need to actually use
the passé simple, it is important and easy to recognize it. Take a look at this
lesson for passé simple conjugations of regular and irregular verbs.
5-16-12 - French Movie Vocabulary
Whether you love attending film festivals like le Festival de Cannes (which runs from 16 to 27 May this year), watching movies, or just reading reviews,
you'll want to learn some French vocabulary related to movies.
5-15-12 - Listening: La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with part 2 of this low-intermediate level
audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.
5-14-12 - Create a French Magazine ~ French Class Project
Give your students an assignment to
create a French magazine, with articles
and ads. While this project is best suited for a final project and can be
used as the basis for an end-of-term presentation, it can also be adapted
for less time - whatever fits your schedule.
5-13-12 -
Poll: How do you like your French movies?
The French love dubbed movies, but personally, I can't stand them - I'd
much rather read subtitles for any language I don't speak.
What about
you? Do you have a strong preference for one or the other?
5-11-12 - 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.
5-10-12 - Demonstrative Pronouns - Pronoms démonstratifs
Demonstrative pronouns (this one, that one, these, those) refer to a
previously-mentioned noun in a sentence. In French,
demonstrative pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify:
celui, celle, ceux, celles.
5-9-12 -
"C'est une fait"
What's wrong with saying "c'est une fait"? Learn about this French mistake.
5-8-12 - Compound tenses and moods
Conjugations for the different French verb tenses and moods can be
divided into two categories: simple and compound. This lesson explains everything you need to know about the more complicated compound conjugations.
5-7-12 - Expressions with pouvoir
The French verb pouvoir literally means "to be able to" and is also used
in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to be beside oneself, to be fed
up, to do what you can, and more with this list of expressions with
pouvoir.
5-4-12 -
Faire cadeau
What does the French expression faire cadeau mean? Learn all about it here.
5-3-12 - True Cognates
Even if you're just starting to learn French, you already know 1,700
words. True cognates are words that are spelled (although not
pronounced) identically in French and English and have the same meaning.
Take a look at this list of true cognates to discover just how much vocabulary is shared
between French and English.
5-2-12 - Lequel - French Pronoun
Lequel is arguably the most difficult French pronoun. In addition to the fact that
it belongs to two different categories of pronouns and can also be an adjective,
lequel has to agree with its
antecedent and contract with certain prepositions.
Learn everything you need to know about troublesome
lequel with this
lesson.
5-1-12 - Drinks - French Vocabulary
Eat, drink, and be merry! If you want to purchase your favorite beverage
at a restaurant, bar, or grocery store, you need to be able to say it in
French. Here's a list of the most common drinks,
with sound files. À la vôtre !
4-30-12 -
Expressions with sur
The French preposition sur means "on" and is also used in many
expressions. Learn how to say immediately, red-handed, by order, and
more with this list of expressions with sur.
4-27-12 - Je n'y suis pour rien
What does the French expression je n'y suis pour rien mean? Learn all about it here.
4-26-12 - All about avoir
Avoir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in
conjugation and literally means "to have." However, it is also used in
numerous idiomatic expressions and as an auxiliary verb - learn all
about avoir.
4-25-12 -
Past anterior
The French past anterior is the literary equivalent of the pluperfect. It is
used in literature and historical accounts to indicate an action in the past
that occurred before another action in the past. Because it is a literary
tense, you don't need to practice conjugating it, but it is important for
you to be able to recognize the past anterior.
4-24-12 - Ouil - Ouille - French pronunciation
Do you know how to say ouil and ouille in words like
fenouil and grenouille? If you pronounce them [wi] as in oui, you're mistaken - learn the correct
pronunciation for
ouil and ouille.
4-23-12 -
Expressions with
vouloir
The French verb vouloir literally means "to want" and is also used in
many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to hold a grudge, only half want
something, wish someone well, and more with this list of expressions with
vouloir.
4-20-12 - Avoir un cheveu sur la langue
What does the French expression avoir un cheveu (sur la langue) mean? Learn all about it here.
4-19-12 - The Importance of Accents
Think accents don't matter when writing or typing in French? Think again! There
are dozens of French word pairs which are spelled (though not always pronounced)
the same other than accents. To avoid confusion, you should always distinguish
between these accent homographs by using the correct accents.
4-18-12 - French Pronoun Finder
Want to learn more about a particular pronoun but don't know what type it is?
The French pronoun finder is an alphabetical list of all the different
French pronouns and includes links to the relevant lessons.
4-17-12 -
La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with this low-intermediate level
audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.
4-16-12 - 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. Learn how to talk about luck, glances, surges of anger, love at
first sight, and much more with this list of
expressions with coup.
4-13-12 - Entre chien et loup
What does the French expression
entre chien et loup mean? Learn all about it here.
4-12-12 - The Senses
Learn French words and verbs related to the
five senses, as well as some
French vocabulary related to the sixth sense.
4-11-12 - Expressions with arriver
The French verb arriver literally means "to arrive" and is also used in
many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to arrive safe and sound, to
manage to do something, to not be able to hold a candle to, and more
with this list of
expressions with arriver.
4-10-12 - Meilleur vs Mieux
Meilleur and mieux can be confusing to French students. Meilleur is the comparative and superlative form of bon (good), while mieux is the comparative and superlative form of bien (well). When translating into English, there is no difference between meilleur and mieux, hence the confusion.
4-9-12 -
Dormir sur ses deux oreilles
What does the French expression
dormir sur ses deux oreilles mean? Learn all about it here.
4-6-12 - J'en peux plus
What does the French expression
j'en peux plus mean? Learn all about it here.
4-5-12 - French Semi-Auxiliary Verbs
In addition to the auxiliary verbs avoir and être, French has a number of
semi-auxiliary verbs; that is, verbs which are conjugated in order to express various nuances of
time, mood, or aspect and are followed by an infinitive.
4-4-12 - Conditional perfect, 2nd form
The second form of the French conditional perfect is a rather strange verb
tense/mood. It is the literary equivalent of the conditional perfect and can
easily be mistaken for the pluperfect subjunctive, since they are conjugated
identically.
4-3-12 - Expressions with soir and soirée
The French words soir and soirée both mean evening and are also used in
many expressions. Learn how to say evening meal, night owl, formal wear, and more.
4-2-12 -
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.
3-30-12 - Tant pis
What does the French expression
tant pis mean? Learn all about it here.
3-29-12 - 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.
3-28-12 - All about Paraître
Paraître is a very common and useful French verb. It is irregular in
conjugation, can be used impersonally, and means "to appear" or "to seem."
3-27-12 - Verbs with sur
The French preposition sur is
required after certain French
verbs and phrases that are followed by an indirect object, but there is
sometimes no equivalent preposition in English.
3-26-12 - Les chiens ne font pas des chats
What does the French proverb les chiens ne font pas des chats mean? Learn all about it here.
Attention, dimanche en France, l'heure va changer au petit matin ! Voici l'expression qu'il vous faut pour parler de ce dérangement annuel : Heure d'été.
3-23-12 - Ce n'est pas grave
What does the French expression
ce n'est pas grave mean? Learn all about it here.
3-22-12 - Pluperfect subjunctive
The French pluperfect subjunctive is the least common literary tense - it's
the literary equivalent of the past subjunctive. Like all literary tenses,
the pluperfect subjunctive is used only in literature, historical writings,
and other very formal writing, so it is important to be able to recognize it
but chances are that you will never in your life need to conjugate it.
3-21-12 - Mnemonic être verbs
There are certain French verbs which require être as the auxiliary verb in the
passé composé, and students sometimes have a hard time remembering them. You will
eventually know instinctively which verbs take être, but in the meantime, you
might want to try one of these mnemonic devices.
3-20-12 - Dans - French Preposition
The French preposition dans usually means "in," but also has some other English equivalents, depending on the context.
Dans cannot be followed directly by a noun, but rather must be followed by an article or some other determiner.
3-19-12 - Jeter la pierre
What does the French expression jeter la pierre mean? Learn all about it here.
What does the French expression moi non plus mean? Learn all about it here.
3-15-12 - Neuter Object Pronoun - Optional Le
The French pronoun le can be a neuter object pronoun in
certain constructions. The
neuter object pronoun is optional; its usage is
formal and is most common in written French.
The French verb venir literally means "to come" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to come into the world, send for, manage to, and more with this list of expressions with venir.
3-13-12 -
Quand vs Lorsque
What's the difference between the conjunctions quand and lorsque, the similar-looking expressions
lorsque and lors
de, and the temporal terms lors de
and pendant? That's what this
lesson is all about.
3-12-12 - Mettre de l'eau dans son vin
What does the French expression mettre de l'eau dans son vin mean? Learn all about it here.
3-9-12 - On ne sait jamais
What does the French expression
on ne sait jamais mean? Learn all about it here.
3-8-12 - Past perfect
The French past perfect, or pluperfect, is used to indicate an action in
the past that occurred before another action in the past. The latter can
be either mentioned in the same sentence or implied.
3-6-12 - 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.
3-5-12 - Tomber dans le panneau
What does the French expression tomber dans le panneau
mean? Learn all about it here.
3-7-12 - All about Que
The French word que, which contracts to qu' in front of a vowel or
mute h, has numerous uses and meanings. This lesson includes links to detailed
information on each use of que.
3-2-12 - Un coup de fil
What does the French expression
coup de fil mean? Learn all about it here.
3-1-12 - French Astronomy Vocabulary
Learn French vocabulary related to astronomy to talk about planets, stars, and other celestial objects.
This French word is very useful once every four years.
2-28-12 -
Bon vs Bien
The French words bon and bien are often confused because
they have somewhat similar meanings, and because they can both be
adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. Learn about this
confusing French pair.
2-27-12 - Être à côté de la plaque
What does the idiomatic French expression être à côté de la plaque
mean? Learn all about it here.
2-26-12 - Expressions with en
The French preposition en means "on" or "in" and is also used in many
expressions. Learn how to say backward, live broadcast, in any case, and
more with this list of expressions with en.
What does the French expression tant mieux mean? Learn all about it here.
2-23-12 - French mistake: "Bon matin"
What's wrong with saying
bon matin? Learn about this French mistake.
2-22-12 - French toolbar
Install my free French toolbar in your internet browser for easy access to useful tools like a French dictionary, verb conjugator, codes for typing accents, and daily French features.
2-21-12 - French weather vocabulary
Ready to make some serious small talk? Learn how to chat about the
weather in French.
2-20-12 - Ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui
What does the French expression ce n'est pas mardi gras
aujourd'hui mean? Learn all about it here.
2-18-12 - Make a Mardi Gras Mask
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many
francophone regions. Mardi
Gras masks are a traditional part of this annual
celebration, and making them is a fun and very creative project.
What does the French expression avoir le cafard mean? Learn all about it here.
2-16-12 - Invariable Adjectives ~ Adjectifs invariables
In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in
gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree -
they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of
the noun. Many colors and most words borrowed from other languages are
invariable in French.
2-15-12 - French Mardi Gras
vocabulary
Mardi gras is an annual celebration called le mardi gras (literally, "fat
Tuesday") or le carnaval in French.
2-14-12 -
Il 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
Il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout.
2-13-12 -
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?
2-12-12 - 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).
2-11-12 -
What is the most romantic language?
Vote in our wildly unscientific
poll.
2-12-12 - French love language
If French is the language of love, what better language is there with which
to express your love? Here are some key French words and phrases related
to love, friendship, and special occasions.
2-10-12 - Figure-toi
What does the French expression figure-toi mean? Learn all about it here.
2-9-12 -
Demonstrative Adjectives - Adjectifs démonstratifs
Demonstrative
adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words used in place of
articles to indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and
number with the nouns they modify (ce, cet, cette, ces). Learn about these essential adjectives and
then take the test.
2-8-12 - French
mistake? "Beaucoup des"
What's wrong with saying
beaucoup des? Learn about this potential French mistake.
2-7-12 -
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.
2-6-12 - Attacher lundi avec mardi
What does the French expression attacher lundi avec mardi mean? Learn all about it here.
2-5-12 -
Le look - franglais
Le look and its permutations are some of my favorite franglais
terms.
2-4-12 - Par contre
What does
the French expression
par contre mean - and is it ok to use it? Click to learn all about
this expression and the great par contre debate.
2-3-12 - Conditional
The
conditional is a verb mood used for events that are not guaranteed
to occur; often they are dependent on certain conditions. The French
conditional is usually translated as "would" in English.
2-2-12 - La Chandeleur / Crêpe Day
In France, 2 February is la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or
crêpe day. It's customary to eat crêpes and do some fortune telling, and there's a fun game for French classes too.
2-1-12 - Nouveau vs Neuf
English speakers sometimes find it difficult to translate "new" into
French, due to confusion over the French words nouveau and neuf.
In fact, the French adjectives have distinctly different meanings; the problem
is actually caused by the fact that the English "new" has more than
one meaning. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to remedy. Read over this
lesson, learn the difference between
nouveau and neuf, and you
won't have any more trouble saying new in French.
1-31-12 - Only - Not Only
There are two common French equivalents for the restrictive "only" in
English: seulement and ne... que. These two terms mean essentially the same
thing, but seulement is an adverb of quantity while ne... que is a negative adverb, so they're used a bit differently
- learn more.
1-30-12 -
Appeler un chat un chat
What does the French expression appeler un chat un chat mean? Learn
all about it here.
1-27-12 - Ça ne fait rien
What does the French expression
ça ne fait rien mean? Learn all about it here.
1-26-12 - French Relative Pronouns ~ Pronoms relatifs
Like its English counterpart, a French
relative pronoun (qui, que, lequel, dont,
où) links a
dependent/relative clause to a main clause. There are no one-to-one
equivalents for these words; depending on context, the English
translation may be who, whom, that, which, whose, where, or when.
1-25-12 - Imperfect ~ Imparfait
The French imperfect (imparfait) is a descriptive past tense which indicates an ongoing state of being or a repeated or incomplete action. The beginning and end of the state of being or action are not indicated, and the imparfait is very often translated into English as "was" or "was ___-ing."
1-24-12 - Expressions with matin and
matinée
The French words matin and matinée both mean "morning" and
are also used in many expressions. Learn how to say dawn, repeatedly,
sleep late, and more with this list of
expressions with matin and
matinée.
1-23-12 - Tu ne manques pas
d'air
What does the French expression tu ne manques pas d'air mean? Learn all
about it here.
What does the French expression et j'en passe mean? Learn all about it here.
1-19-12 - Informal Negation - pas de ne
If you've ever watched French movies or television, or chatted with native
speakers, you have almost certainly heard pas (or another negative
adverb) without ne, as this is a typical characteristic of informal and
familiar French. Although it is nearly always written, ne is often
dropped in spoken French.
1-17-12 - Depuis,
Pendant, Pour
The French prepositions depuis, pendant, and—far less commonly—pour each express the duration of an event in French a little differently, with the result that many English speakers mix up depuis and pendant and overuse pour.
This lesson explains the different meanings and uses for each preposition.
1-16-12 - French mistake: "Tu peux
s'asseoir"
What's wrong with saying "tu peux
s'asseoir"? Learn about this French
mistake.
1-15-12 - Expressions with faire
The French verb faire literally means "to do" or "to make" and is also
used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to build castles in the
air, turn a deaf ear, act like a child, and more with this list of
expressions with faire.
1-13-12 - Bon marché
What does the French expression
bon marché mean? Learn all about it here.
1-12-12 - Future Tense - Le Futur
The future is one of the simplest French tenses. There is only one set of
endings, and most verbs - even those which are irregular in the present tense -
use their infinitive as the root for the future tense. After studying
this lesson, you will be able to talk about future events.
1-11-12 - Expressions with à
The French preposition à means "to," "at," or "in" and is also used in many
expressions. Learn how to say definitely, nearby, at the same time, and more
with this list of expressions with à.
1-10-12 - All about même
The extremely versatile and useful French word
même can be an
indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in
some expressions.
1-9-12 - Assimilation
Assimilation is a pronunciation phenomenon which causes consonant sounds to
change according to the sounds that surround them. More specifically,
assimilation occurs when voiced and unvoiced sounds are combined. Because it can
be difficult to pronounce voiced and unvoiced sounds together, one or the other
is assimilated: either a normally voiced consonant becomes unvoiced or a
normally unvoiced consonant becomes voiced.
1-8-12 - Buying French Supplies
I review a lot of French products for this site, from books to CDs, and
some of the best are very pricey. As a die-hard francophile, I
tend to cut other corners in order to be able to afford the very best
French tools, but since that's not always possible, I've come up with
this list of tips to
help you find your "must have" French supplies at the best possible prices.
1-7-12 - À rebours
What does the French expression
à rebours mean? Learn all about it here.
1-6-12 - Present Tense
The French present tense, called le présent
or le présent de l'indicatif, is pretty similar in usage to the English
present tense, but there are some differences. Learn all about it with
this lesson.
1-5-12 - 2012 Calendars
Keep track of your rendez-vous - check out these French-themed
calendars, including a free printable version made by yours truly.
1-4-12 - Subjunctive of irregular verbs
While not as difficult as using the French subjunctive,
conjugating the subjunctive of irregular and stem-changing verbs can be a little tricky.
1-3-12 - Galette des rois
Après toute l'excitation de Noël et du Nouvel An, il reste une dernière
tradition française intéressante : le tirage des rois. Read my
bilingual article.
1-2-12 - All about penser
Penser is a regular -ER verb and means "to think." Penser is
commonly used like its English counterpart, but there are a few aspects that
make it a little tricky. This lesson explains which verb mood to use with penser,
the difference between penser à and penser de, the meaning of penser
followed by an infinitive, and a few essential expressions with penser.
1-1-12 - Bonne Année et bonne santé
New year wishes à la française:
Bonne Année et bonne santé.
1-1-12 - New Year's Resolutions
Another new year
is almost upon us - take advantage of this annual fresh start to make a New
Year's resolution (une bonne résolution de nouvel an) regarding your French
learning.
12-31-11 - New Year's Eve
As in most countries, New Year's Eve calls for a big celebration in
France. Learn about some French New
Year's traditions and customs.
12-30-11 -
Champagne
S'il y a une chose à savoir sur cette boisson très appréciée en France
et ailleurs, c'est que le champagne vient de Champagne. Read my
bilingual article.
12-29-11 -
Faire du lard
What does the idiomatic French expression faire du lard mean? Learn all about it here.
12-28-11 - An / Année expressions
The French words an and année both mean "year" and are
also used in many expressions. Learn how to say school year, the
sixties, on average, and more
expressions with an and année.
12-27-11 - Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are a special kind of French pronoun which can only be used
with pronominal verbs. These verbs need a
reflexive pronouns in addition to a
subject pronoun because the subject(s) performing the action of the verb are the
same as the object(s) being acted upon.
12-26-11 - Kwaanza
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African identity and culture
throughout the world, particularly in the United States. It takes place
annually from 26 December to 1 January. Learn some French vocabulary related to
Kwaanza.
12-25-11 -
Christmas in France
In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by
family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor,
Midnight Mass, and le Réveillon. The celebration of
Christmas varies in
France by region.
12-24-11 - Le pastrage
Le pastrage, ou la fête des bergers, est une tradition en Provence
rurale. Read my bilingual
article.
12-23-11 - Meilleurs vœux
The French expression
meilleurs vœux can be used all year, but it's particularly
prevalent in late December and early January.
12-22-11 - Le
gros souper et ses treize desserts
Le Gros Souper est un festin typique du Noël provençal. Le 24 décembre, avant la
messe de minuit, ce repas est servi sur trois nappes blanches de grandeur
décroissante, avec trois chandeliers et trois soucoupes de blé germé de la
Sainte-Barbe. Read my bilingual article.
12-21-11 - Expressions with avoir
The French verb avoir literally means "to have" and is also used
in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to be lucky, feel blue, hold a
grudge, and more with this list of
expressions with avoir.
12-20-11 - Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival of survival and freedom that lasts for eight days
- this year, from 20 to 28 December. Learn some French vocabulary related to
this annual Jewish celebration.
12-19-11 - Christmas fun and games
Practice your French even as you celebrate Christmas with these
games and activities.
12-17-11 - Bûche de Noël
De nos jours, quand on parle de la bûche de Noël, on pense en général à un
gâteau en forme de bûche servi comme dessert. Mais saviez-vous que cette
pâtisserie symbolise une bûche véritable ? Read my
bilingual
article.
12-16-11 -
Bien dans sa peau
What does the French expression
bien dans sa peau mean? Learn all
about it here.
12-15-11 - Special Occasions
Learn how to say (and sing) happy birthday in French, and other French vocabulary for
special occasions.
12-14-11 - Marchés de Noël
En France, au milieu de la période des fêtes, il est impossible de ne
pas penser aux marchés de Noël. De nos jours, ils se trouvent un peu
partout, mais les premiers étaient en Alsace. Read my bilingual article.
12-13-11 - Verbs with de
The French preposition de is required after
certain verbs and
expressions. Note that when they are followed by a noun, there is often a
completely different preposition in English or none at all. And when
de is followed by an infinitive, the English translation may take an
infinitive or a gerund.
12-12-11 - 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.
12-10-11 - La crèche provençale
La décoration indispensable d'un Noël français est la crèche, qui se
trouve dans les églises, dans les maisons et parfois sur les places
publiques. Read my
bilingual article.
12-9-11 -
On y va
What does the French expression
on y va mean? Learn all about it here.
12-8-11 - Conditional perfect
The French conditional perfect, or past conditional, is usually used just
like the English conditional perfect: to express an action that would have
occurred in the past if circumstances had been different.
12-7-11 - Calendale
Traditionellement, les fêtes de Noël en Provence s'étendent sur presque
deux mois, du 4 décembre au 2 février, pendant la période de Calendale.
Read my
bilingual article.
12-6-11 - Directions
Do you know where you're going and how to get there? This French
vocabulary will help you give and understand directions.
12-5-11 - 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.
12-4-11 - 2012 Calendars
Keep track of your rendez-vous - check out these French-themed
calendars, including a free printable version made by yours truly.
12-2-11 - 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.
12-1-11 - Top French
Pronunciation Mistakes and Difficulties
Many students find that pronunciation is the hardest part of learning
French. The new sounds, the silent letters, the liaisons... they all
combine to make speaking French very tricky. By listening to French as
much as possible, and by studying and practicing the pronunciation
aspects that you find most difficult, you can do a lot to improve your
pronunciation. Here is a list of the top French
pronunciation mistakes and
difficulties, with links to detailed lessons and sound files.
12-4-11 - Blé de la Sainte Barbe
En Provence, la saison de Noël (dit la Calendale) commence le 4
décembre, le Jour de la Sainte Barbe.
11-30-11 - French videos
Watch French videos with French and English subtitles to work on your
French listening comprehension, and learn some new French vocabulary at
the same time.
11-29-11 - Expressions with jour and journée
The French words jour and journée both mean "day" and are
also used in many expressions. Learn how to say day off, nowadays,
update, and more expressions with jour and
journée.
11-28-11 - Possessive Adjectives
Possessive
adjectives are the words used in place of articles to indicate to whom or to what
something belongs. Their usage is similar to English, but there are some differences in form.
11-26-11 - Raconter des salades
What does the French expression raconter des salades mean? Learn all
about it here.
11-25-10 - Top French Gifts
It's officially the first day of Christmas shopping (in the US, at least), so here
are my top gift picks for the French lovers on your list, whether they are kids;
beginning, intermediate, or advanced students; translators; or teachers. Each list
has an assortment of different kinds of resources, including dictionaries, grammar
books, audio resources, software, movies, and interesting non-fiction.
11-24-11 - Noël malin
If you do any shopping in France or on French websites in the next few weeks, you'll probably
run across the expression Noël malin.
11-23-11 - French quiz: Thanksgiving vocabulary
Even though Thanksgiving isn't a French holiday, you might want to talk about it in French... but can you? Test yourself with this quiz, or take a look at the Thanksgiving vocabulary list to review.
11-22-11 - Pour - French preposition
The French preposition pour usually means "for," but has a few
other possible meanings as well.
Pour can be followed by a noun, pronoun,
or infinitive.
11-21-11 - Expressing Gratitude
in French
'Tis the season to be grateful, so it's also a good time to review the many different
ways to express gratitude
in French, including whether to follow a thank you with the preposition
de or pour. Take a look at this lesson to learn the formulas.
11-20-11 - Holidays in
France
French teachers, the holiday season is here. If you're planning to celebrate with your classes, check this page for articles, games, music, and quizzes related to Christmas, New Year's, and other French holidays.
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in France, so here is some French vocabulary and a quiz related to the American holiday.
11-18-11 - Avoir une faim de loup
What does the
idiomatic French expression
avoir une faim de loup mean? Learn all about it
here.
11-17-11 - All about Comment
The French adverb comment can be interrogative or exclamative and is one
of the most common French words. Learn
how to use comment to mean "how" and "what" as well as which
uses of "how" in English are not translated by comment in French.
11-16-11 -
Le nouveau est arrivé !
The slogan that will be heard all over France and in other wine-loving
regions this week.
11-15-11 -
Beaujolais Nouveau
A brief overview of Beaujolais Nouveau, in French and English.
11-14-11 -
Stressed
Pronouns
Stressed pronouns, also known as disjunctive pronouns, are used to emphasize a
noun or pronoun that refers to a person. There are 9 forms in French, one of
which, soi, can be very confusing for French students. Take a look at
this updated lesson to learn about French stressed pronouns in general and
soi in particular.
11-13-11 - How to 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.
11-11-11 - 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.
11-10-11 - Spelling Change Verbs
There are two groups of verbs that have spelling changes in certain
conjugations due to hard and soft vowels. These spelling change verbs are
conjugated like regular -ER verbs, except for slight spelling variations in
certain conjugations in order to maintain the correct pronunciation.
11-9-11 - Calendar
hangman
Test yourself on French calendar vocabulary with a round or two of
hangman.
Knowing how to talk about the date is essential for making reservations and appointments. Dates are a little bit different in French and English, but they're not difficult once you learn the rules and formulas.
11-7-11 - Future perfect
The French future perfect is most commonly used like the English future
perfect: to describe an action that will have happened by a specific point
in the future. But there are also three uses of the French future perfect
that don't correspond to the English future perfect.
11-5-11 - DILF DELF DALF
DILF, DELF, and DALF are official French proficiency certifications, awarded by
the French ministry of education accepted in lieu of linguistic entrance exams
around the world.
11-4-11 -
Tout à coup
What does the French expression tout à coup mean? Learn all about it here.
11-3-11 - Mistake: "Je vous avez dit"
What's wrong with
saying "je vous avez dit"? Learn about this French mistake.
11-2-11 - In- French prefix
The French prefix in- is added to adjectives, adverbs, and nouns to
create their opposites. Its pronunciation and even spelling vary
according to the word it's attached to.
11-1-11 -
La Toussaint
The 1st of November is a holiday in France.
10-31-11 - Expressions with aller
The French verb aller literally
means "to go" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to
go fishing, get to the bottom of things, go away, and more with this list of expressions with
aller.
10-31-11 - Halloween in France
What is Halloween? Where did it come from? Why and how is it celebrated in France?
If you've ever puzzled over these questions, take a look at this article.
10-30-11 - Passer à l'heure
d'hiver
If you're in France this year, 30 October is the day you'll need the French
expression "passer à l'heure d'hiver." (Note that Daylight saving time ends
a week later in the US).
10-29-11 -
En retard
What does the French expression
en retard mean? Learn all about it here.
10-28-11 - Faire le pont
Why does this expression always seem to pop up around holidays?
10-26-11 - Past subjunctive
The past subjunctive is used for the same reasons as the present
subjunctive: to express emotion, doubts, etc. The past subjunctive is used
when the verb in the subordinate clause - the verb that follows que -
happened before the verb in the main clause.
10-25-11 -
Adjective and pronoun pairs
French has six types of adjectives with corresponding pronouns, meaning
that the adjective plus noun can be replaced by an equivalent pronoun.
Take a look at this table to get an idea of how these adjectives and
pronouns fit together.
10-24-11 - All about chercher
Chercher is a regular -ER verb and means "to look for." Chercher
is commonly used like its English counterpart, but there are a few aspects that
make it a little tricky. This lesson explains which verb mood to use with
chercher, the meaning of chercher followed by an infinitive, and a
few essential expressions with chercher.
10-21-11 - Quand même
What does the French expression quand même mean? Learn all about it here.
10-20-11 - Stem-changing verbs
French stem-changing verbs, which always end in -ER, are conjugated with the
same endings as regular -ER verbs but have two different radicals or stems.
Stem-changing verbs are sometimes also called boot verbs or shoe verbs.
10-19-11 - Expressions with de
The French preposition de means "from" or "about" and is also used in many
expressions. Learn how to say first of all, on behalf of, as a result, and more
with this list of expressions with de.
10-18-11 - Verbs with à
One of the trickier aspects of French grammar for many students is the use of
prepositions, especially when there doesn't seem to be any logical English
equivalent. Take a look at this list of verbs which require the preposition à
in front of an infinitive.
10-17-11 - Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are the words which replace nouns modified by possessive adjectives.
In French there are different forms depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine, singular or plural.
10-15-11 -
Dire, Ne pas dire
The
Académie française has just published the first in a series of monthly
articles about officially sanctioned French - what, selon elle, you
should and should not say.
10-14-11 -
Du tout
What does the French expression du tout mean? Learn all about it
here.
10-13-11 - 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.
10-12-11 - Introduction to 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.
10-11-11 - How to learn French online
My free, 20-week French learning course is available as an online checklist
or a weekly newsletter. Whichever format you choose, you'll be presented with
basic French vocabulary,
pronunciation, and
grammar lessons in a logical study
order, with each week's lessons building upon previous topics. On each page, you will notice that there are many links, both within the lesson and at the end of it. Some of these links are part
of the course and some aren't, which can be confusing, so this article explains
the difference.
10-10-11 -
Interview with Laura K. Lawless
Would you like to know a little more about the person behind this site?
10-9-11 - 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.
10-8-11 - Verlan
Verlan is a form of French slang that consists of playing around with
syllables, kind of along the same lines as pig Latin. Unlike pig Latin, however,
verlan is actively spoken in France - many verlan words have become so
commonplace that they are used in everyday French.
10-7-11 -
Poll: What is your relationship to French?
Are you a student, a teacher, or just a curious native speaker?
10-6-11 - Avoir l'air
What does the French expression
avoir l'air (de) mean? Learn all about it here.
10-5-11 -
"Je suis fini"
What's wrong with
saying "je suis fini"? Learn about this French mistake.
10-4-11 - Tout, toute, tous,
toutes
Tout is one of the most common words in the French language, with four
possible forms: tout, toute, tous, and toutes. It's also one of the most
flexible French words, as it can be an adjective, adverb, noun, or
pronoun.
10-3-11 - Regular -RE Verbs
Regular -RE verbs are a small group of French verbs that share a conjugation pattern.
What does the idiomatic French expression pédaler dans la choucroute mean? Learn all about it here.
9-29-11 - Conjunctions
Conjunctions provide a link between similar words or groups of words, such
as nouns, verbs, people, or clauses. There are two types of French conjunctions:
coordinating and subordinating.
9-28-11 -
French
photo fun: Part-time library
French libraries often have limited hours, but this is ridiculous!
9-27-11 - Avec -
French Preposition
The French preposition avec means "with" and is used much like
its English equivalent, though there are some differences.
9-26-11 -
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.
9-25-11 - Improve your
French vocabulary
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.
9-23-11 - Tout à fait
What does the French expression
tout à fait mean? Learn all about it here.
9-22-11 - How to pronounce the French R
The letter R is one of the most difficult French sounds for many
students. Learn how to say it correctly by listening to sound files and
following my step-by-step instructions.
9-20-11 - 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.
9-19-11 - Regular -IR Verbs
Regular -IR verbs are the second largest category of French verbs, with hundreds
of verbs conjugated according to the same pattern.
9-16-11 - Un bon rapport qualité-prix
What does the French expression un bon rapport qualité-prix mean? Learn all about it here.
9-15-11 - French mistake: Il faut lui faire attention
What's wrong with saying il faut lui faire attention to mean "we
have to pay attention to it"? Find out why it's wrong, and how to say it
correctly.
9-13-11 -
Partir, Sortir, Dormir
The French verbs partir, sortir, and dormir are part of an
important set of irregular -IR verbs which share a conjugation pattern.
9-14-11 - 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.
9-9-11 - Souffler ses bougies
What does the French expression souffler ses bougies mean? Learn all about it here.
9-8-11 - All about si
The French word si can be an adverb or a conjunction. Either way,
si has several meanings and is used in numerous French constructions.
9-7-11 - French class game: Living sentences
Some days students just aren't in the mood to learn, which can make French
classes frustrating for them as well as for the teacher. Playing games in French
is one technique that can help recapture students' interest while helping them
learn or review French. This game, called Living Sentences, is a fun way to
practice vocabulary and verbs.
9-6-11 -
French-English Spelling Equivalents
Because French and English both have a lot of Latin influence, and
because there is also a lot of French influence in English, there are a
number of similar spelling patterns in the two languages. Learning these
spelling equivalents can help you recognize cognates and spell French
words.
9-5-11 -
Regular -ER Verbs
Regular -er verbs, that is, verbs that end in -er, are the largest category
of French verbs. Thousands of regular French -er verbs are conjugated
according to the same pattern, so once you've learned the rules of
conjugation for regular -er verbs, you'll be able to conjugate all of them.
9-2-11 - Blague à part
What do the French expressions
blaque à part and sans blague mean? Learn all about them here.
9-1-11 - Y and En ~ French Adverbial
Pronouns
The adverbial pronouns y and en
are so tiny that one might think their role in a sentence is not very important, but in
fact they are both extremely important in French.
8-31-11 -
Are you crazy... about French?
Take these fun quizzes to find out.
8-30-11 - Sans - French Preposition
The French preposition sans means "without" and can be used with
nouns, pronouns, and verbs.
8-29-11 - Auxiliary Verbs - Avoir and Être
An auxiliary verb is a conjugated verb used in front of another verb in compound
tenses in order to help form the mood and tense of the verb. French verbs are
classified by which auxiliary verb they take. Most French verbs use avoir,
so you need to memorize this list of verbs that require être.
8-28-11 - Proficiency Test
The start of a new school year is a great time to check your
proficiency, to see what you already know and what you still need to
work on.
8-27-11 - Why are
you learning French?
For school, work, family, fun? Let us know!
8-26-11 - Passer du coq à l'âne
What does the French expression passer du coq à l'âne mean? Learn all about it here.
8-25-11 - Adjectives with special forms
Since French adjectives usually have to agree with the nouns they modify in
gender and number, most of them have up to four forms. But there are several
French adjectives that have an additional variation: a special form that is used
when the adjective precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute H.
8-24-11 - 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? Here is a collection of tips shared by French
teachers.
8-23-11 - Après vs Derrière
Do you know the difference between the prepositions après and derrière?
Their meanings can seem similar, but they are not interchangeable. After
you read this lesson, you can put all of your confusion behind you.
8-22-11 - 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.
8-21-11 - 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.
8-20-11 - A la rentrée
Back to school - and work - in France.
8-19-11 - Fais gaffe !
What does the French expression fais gaffe ! mean? Learn all about it here.
8-18-11 - Passé composé
The passé composé is the most common French past tense, often used in conjunction with the imperfect / imparfait. The passé composé expresses actions completed in the past.
8-17-11 - Largonji
Largonji, also called loucherbem or louchébème, is a form of French slang that consists of playing around with syllables, much like pig Latin. This secret language invented by the butchers of la Villette in Paris has all but disappeared today.
8-16-11 - French Airport Terms
Planning to fly to France or another
French-speaking country? This
airport vocabulary will help you make reservations, buy tickets,
negotiate the airport, and get on the plane. After studying the list of
terms, see how you do on the brand-new
quiz.
8-15-11 - Negative Adverbs
Making sentences negative in French is a bit different than in English, due to the two-part negative adverb and the sometimes difficult issue of placement. Normally, ne... pas is the first negative adverb that we learn. But there are actually many negative adverbs used just like it, so once you understand ne... pas, you can make just about any sentence negative.
8-12-11 - Tu te rends compte !
What does the French expression tu te rends compte ! mean? Learn all about it here.
8-11-11 - French for beginners
The French for beginners section of this site has hundreds of lessons on
basic vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation as well as study tips and
practice ideas.
8-10-11 - High-intermediate French mistakes
High-intermediate means your French is pretty good - you excel in
everyday situations, and can even hold your own in long discussions, but
there are still some issues that you can't seem to get the hang of, or
that you simply don't remember five minutes after looking them up. I've
found that reading several explanations of the same issue can help
cement understanding of these sticky issues, so here are ten of the most
common high-intermediate French mistakes with links to lessons - maybe
this time it will finally make sense.
8-9-11 - Plural compound nouns
French compound nouns are made up of two or more words often
connected by hyphens. Making them plural can be a little tricky, but there are
some guidelines that can help.
8-8-11 - Expressions with Sonner
The verb sonner literally means "to ring" and is used in a
number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about
ringing bells, ringing ears, ringing hollow, and more with this list of
expressions.
8-7-11 -
Cinq ans dans la vie d'une petite fille, 1940-1945
Looking for a short book written in relatively easy French? Interested in reading a new perspective on World War II? Cinq ans dans la vie d'une petite fille, 1940-1945
might be just what you need.
8-5-11 - Quelle mouche t'a piqué ?
What does the French expression quelle mouche t'a piqué mean? Learn all about it here.
8-4-11 -
Listening comprehension
I'm happy to announce the return of three intermediate- to
advanced-level listening comprehension exercises for which the sound
files were lost for more than a year: La loi Evin, le viaduc de Millau and l'ETA
et le Pays Basque.
8-3-11 - "Cettes filles"
What's wrong with
saying "cettes filles"? Learn about this French mistake.
8-2-11 - Faux amis
Sometimes it seems like there are more faux amis to watch out for than just
regular old French vocabulary to learn. Here are five new false cognates for
your consideration: animation, fraîche/fresh, manifestation,
précaire/precarious, and standard.
8-1-11 - Le chassé-croisé des
juillettistes et des aoûtiens
What does the French expression le chassé-croisé des juillettistes et des aoûtiens mean? Learn all about it here.
7-29-11 - Avoir du chien
What does the French expression avoir du chien mean? Learn all about it here.
7-28-11 - Today in Francophone History
Learn about important dates in French and francophone history: famous
birthdays, holidays and celebrations, and other milestones. Click to see today's events, or you can choose a date.
7-27-11 - Intermediate mistakes
After learning French for a while, whether in a class or on your own,
you've probably found that there are some things you just can't figure
out how to say, or that people are always correcting you on. These may
be issues that you haven't been taught yet, or concepts that you've
studied but just don't get. As an intermediate French speaker, you still
have plenty of time to fix these mistakes before they fossilize in your
mind. Here are ten of the most common intermediate-level French mistakes
with links to lessons.
7-26-11 - Living in France
Many people dream of living in France, but relatively few are able to
make that dream come true. Share your stories of why and how you were
able to live in France.
7-25-11 - Expressions with Perdre
The verb perdre literally means "to lose," and it's also used in a
number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about losing consciousness,
losing interest, losing one's mind, and many more expressions with perdre.
7-24-11 - French cycling vocabulary
Whether you love cycling or just watching competitions like the Tour de
France, which ends on 24 July, you'll want to learn some French terms
related to cycling.
7-22-11 - Vendre la peau de l'ours (avant de l'avoir tué)
What does the French proverb vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué mean? Learn all about it here.
7-21-07 - French mistake:
"Il m'a dit du faire"
What's wrong with saying "il m'a dit du faire"? Learn about this
type of French mistake.
Because they can both mean "before," there is often confusion between the prepositions avant and devant. But there's a big difference in the way these words are used, so read this lesson before you make any more mistakes and then try the quiz.
7-18-11 - 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). French requires that sounds be
added and words changed in order to maintain euphony in certain situations.
What does the French expression arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe mean? Learn all about it here.
7-13-11 - Qui vs que - Interrogative
pronouns
As interrogative pronouns, qui and que mean "who" and
"what," respectively, and can be used on their own or in larger
constructions. This lesson has everything you need to know about French
interrogative pronouns.
7-14-11 - Bastille Day
Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of
the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning
of the French Revolution.
7-11-11- 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.
7-10-11 - 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.
7-8-11 - 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.
7-7-11 - Mistake: "Cet jeune homme"
What's wrong with
saying "cet jeune homme"? Learn about this French mistake.
7-5-11 - Parts
of the body
Shopping for clothes, going to the doctor, playing Hokey Pokey... there
are lots of things you might do that necessitate knowing how to say the
parts of the body in French. Check out this vocabulary lesson, complete
with sound files.
7-4-11- French vocabulary
- National holidays and patriotism
In honor of the 4th of July (American Independence Day), Bastille Day, Canada Day,
and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, here is a list of French vocabulary related to national
holidays.
7-2-11 - French cycling
vocabulary
Whether you love cycling or just watching competitions like the Tour de
France, which begins on 2 July, you'll want to learn some French terms
related to cycling.
7-1-11 - Il y a quelque chose qui cloche
What does the French expression il y a quelque chose qui cloche mean? Learn all about it here.
6-30-11 - 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.
6-29-11- 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.
6-28-11 - 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.
6-27-11 - "Tomber en amour"
What's wrong with saying tomber en amour? Learn about this French mistake.
6-25-11 -
Poll: What's the hardest part of learning French?
Everyone has different learning styles, different strengths and
weaknesses. What about you - which aspect of French do you find the most
difficult?
6-24-11 - À poil
What does the familiar French expression à poil mean? Learn all about it here.
6-23-11 - French nouns
A noun is a word that represents a person, place, or thing, whether
concrete (e.g., chair, dog) or abstract (idea, happiness). In French,
all nouns have a gender - they are either masculine or feminine.
6-22-11 -
Internet country 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.
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.
6-20-11 - 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 list of
expressions with demander.
6-19-11 -
Poll: How do you like your French movies?
The French love dubbed movies, but personally, I can't stand them - I'd
much rather read subtitles for any language I don't speak. What about
you? Do you have a strong preference for one or the other?
6-18-11 - Mettre sa langue dans sa poche
What does the expression mettre sa langue dans sa poche mean? Learn all about it here.
6-17-11 - Definite, indefinite, and
partitive articles
French articles have to agree with the nouns they modify and don't always
correspond to articles in other languages. Take a look at this lesson to learn
about the different types and forms of French articles.
6-16-11 - False Friends - Faux Amis
Ellie Malet Spradbery's False Friends - Faux Amis is a small book
filled with potentially difficult French vocabulary.
6-15-11 - How to
make 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.
6-14-11 -
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.
6-13-11 - "Chercher pour quelque chose"
What's wrong with
saying "chercher pour quelque chose"? Learn about this French mistake.
6-10-11 - Faire le pont
What does the French expression faire le pont mean? Learn all about it here.
6-9-11 - Irregular -RE Verbs
Irregular verbs are so named because they do not follow any of the regular conjugation patterns. But that doesn't mean that every irregular French verb is unique; many of them share a conjugation pattern with at least one other verb. French has five irregular -RE verb patterns.
6-8-11 -
Your 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.
6-7-11 - 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.
6-6-11 - 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. Learn how to juice, to criticize, to sell at rock-bottom prices and more with this list of expressions with tirer.
What does the French expression au fur et à mesure mean? Learn all about it here.
6-2-11 - French leave: Partir, Sortir,
S’en Aller, Quitter, Laisser
These five French verbs all mean “to leave,” so how do you know which
one to use? Study this lesson to find out the difference between partir,
sortir, s’en aller, quitter, and laisser.
6-1-11 - French Tennis Terms
The French Open finals are this weekend - follow along with this handy list of
French vocabulary.
5-31-11 - 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.
5-30-11 - Language
Scrapbook Project
Creating a language scrapbook is a fun and interesting way to arrange all of
your materials on everything related to French and the place(s) where it is
spoken. The end product makes a wonderful keepsake, and – if you use a
loose-leaf binder – can be added to in future classes.
What does the French expression c'est-à-dire mean? Learn all about it here.
5-26-11 - French Alphabet
The French alphabet has 26 letters - learn 'em all! ;-)
5-28-11 - French Women Don't Sleep Alone
French women are so chic!
Jamie Cat Callan attempts to pin down and explain their je ne sais quoi in her book French Women Don't Sleep Alone.
5-23-11 - French Greetings
Learning to greet people is an essential part of learning a new language.
Whether you're planning to continue learning French or just learn a few
basics in preparation for a trip, these French greetings can help you on
your way.
5-24-11 - Faux amis - Verbs
While many French and English verbs that look similar mean the same
thing, some do not. Here are a dozen verbal faux amis to watch out for,
with links to conjugation tables.
5-23-11 - French Tennis Vocabulary
Whether you love playing tennis or just watching annual tournaments like
the French Open, you'll want to learn some French vocabulary related to
tennis.
5-22-11 -
French village: Ménerbes
Tips and a photo of the lovely Provençal village of Ménerbes.
5-21-11 -
How long have you been learning French?
Vote in our poll.
5-20-11 - Quand on parle
du loup
What does the French proverb quand on parle du loup mean? Learn all about
it here.
5-19-11 - "Si vous voudriez"
What's wrong with saying si vous voudriez? Learn about this French mistake.
5-18-11 - How to say ___ in
French
Here are some ideas and resources to help you find out how to say
anything in French.
5-17-11 - 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.
5-16-11 - All About Tenir
Tenir is an irregular -IR verb and usually means "to hold" or "to keep."
Tenir
has a number of other meanings, including some which depend on the preposition
that follows.
What does the expression monter (quelque chose) en épingle mean? Learn all about it here.
5-12-11 -age - French Suffix
The French suffix -age can be added to verbs or nouns to make new
nouns (which are always masculine) and has a couple of possible meanings.
The French preposition entre means "between" or "among," both literally and figuratively.
5-9-11 - 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.
5-6-11 - Lune de miel
What does the French expression lune de miel mean? Learn all about it here.
5-5-11 - Subject Pronouns
The subject of a verb is the person or thing which performs that action, and subject pronouns replace this person or thing.
When learning French, you must understand subject pronouns before you can
begin conjugating verbs, because the forms of verbs change for each subject
pronoun.
5-4-11 - All about Sembler
Sembler is a very common and useful French verb. It is a regular -ER
verb, can be personal or impersonal, and may be followed by the subjunctive.
5-3-11 - 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.
5-2-11 - Beginning French Readers
Are you or your students ready to try reading in French? Here is a
selection of French readers for beginning to intermediate students,
including short stories, novel exerpts, non-fiction, and poems chosen or
written especially with beginning students in mind.
5-1-11 - Accelerative Integrated Method
The foreign language teaching methodology known as Accelerative
Integrated Method (AIM) uses gestures, music, dance, and theater to help
students learn, and some say it's just as effective as full immersion.
4-30-11 - What is French?
Facts and Figures about French
How many French speakers are there? Where is French spoken? How many
French-speaking countries are there? In which international organizations is
French an official language? Read this introduction to some facts and
figures about the French language.
4-29-11 - C'est pas de
la tarte
What does the idiomatic French expression c'est pas de la tarte mean? Learn all about
it here.
4-28-11 - Prefix - a
The French prefix a, known as a privatif, is added to adjectives and nouns to indicate negation or deprivation, and becomes an in front of a vowel or h.
4-26-11 - Verb Moods
Mood refers to the verb forms that indicate the attitude of the speaker
toward the action/state of the verb; that is, how likely or factual the
speaker believes the statement to be. The French language has six moods
- learn 'em all! :-)
4-25-11 - To meet
The English verb "to meet" is very vague when talking about meeting people. Its
five literal French equivalents are much more specific, so you need to know in
which circumstances to use each of them. This lesson will meet your
expectations.
4-23-11 - 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.
4-22-11 - 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.
4-21-11 - All about Any
The English word "any" has numerous French translations, depending on what it
means and whether it is used as an adjective, pronoun, or adverb.
4-19-11 - Chez - French preposition
Pretty much anyone who has eaten at a French restaurant is familiar with the French preposition chez since it's often used with the name of the chef, as in Chez
Laura. But there are many other ways to use chez, most of which
require several words in English. Learn about the different meanings and translations of the essential French word chez.
4-18-11 - Top 10 Beginning French Mistakes
When you start learning French, there's a lot to remember - new vocabulary, all
kinds of verb conjugations, strange spelling... just about everything is
different. It's normal to make mistakes, but it's in your best interest to try
to fix them as soon as possible. The longer you make the same mistake, the
harder it will be for you to get it right later on. With this in mind, this
article discusses ten of the most common French mistakes made by beginners, so
that you can fix these problems right from the beginning.
4-17-11 - 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.
4-15-11 - Avoir l'esprit
de l'escalier
What does the French expression avoir l'esprit de l'escalier mean? Learn all about it here.
4-14-11 - French Adjectives
An adjective is a word that modifies a
noun by describing it in some
way: shape, color, size, nationality, etc. French adjectives are very different
from English adjectives in two ways: agreement and word order.
4-13-11 - Jobs using French
People often tell me that they love French and would like to find a job
- any job - where they can use it, but aren't sure what kind of job that
might be. Here is an introduction to some of the jobs that languages can
be used for, as well as links to further information and resources.
4-12-11 - Professions
Learn how to talk about your job in French with this bilingual list of
common professions.
4-11-11 - All about Passer
Passer is a very common and useful French verb. It is a regular -ER verb
but may be conjugated with avoir or être in the compound tenses,
depending on whether it is transitive or intransitive.
4-8-11 -
Ci-joint
Learn about the French expression ci-joint, including what it means and when it requires agreement.
4-7-11 - Comparatives and Superlatives
French comparative adverbs (plus... moins... aussi... autant... que) and superlative adverbs (le plus, le moins, le meilleur, le pire) describe something as more/less and most/least, respectively. They are a little tricky in French, so take a look at the best explanation of French comparatives and superlatives. ;-)
4-6-11 - "Il s'est fait
piqué"
What's wrong with writing this? Learn about this type of French mistake.
4-5-11 - Attributive
Adjectives ~ Adjectifs épithètes
Attributive adjectives describe or emphasize some characteristic of the
noun they modify. The defining characteristic of attributive adjectives
is that they are joined to the noun they modify - immediately preceding
or following it with no verb in between.
4-4-11 -et - 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.
4-3-11 - Your favorite French town
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.
