Learn About French
Français • 280 million speakers worldwide
"Bonjour, comment allez-vous?"
Pronunciation: bon-ZHOOR, koh-mahn tah-lay VOO
Translation: Hello, how are you?
Speakers
280 million
Language Family
Indo-European (Romance)
Writing System
Latin alphabet
Official Status
Official in 29 countries and territories
Regions (29 countries)
French evolved from Vulgar Latin and was influenced by Celtic and Germanic languages. It became the language of diplomacy and culture in Europe for centuries, spreading globally through French colonization.
Nasal vowels unique to French
Gendered nouns (masculine and feminine)
Complex verb conjugation system
Silent letters at the end of words
Liaison - connecting sounds between words
Metropolitan French
Quebec French
Belgian French
Swiss French
African French
Acadian French
Master the nasal vowels early - they're crucial for proper pronunciation
Learn gender patterns and always learn nouns with their articles
Practice liaison rules for connecting words
Focus on the 'r' sound - it's different from English
Use French media to get used to the rhythm and flow
French culture highly values intellectual discourse and debate
Meals are social events and should not be rushed
Formal greetings and politeness are very important
Fashion and style are significant aspects of French culture
French was the official language of England for over 300 years
About 30% of English words come from French
French is spoken on every continent
The French Academy regulates the French language