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Introductory French
These 1000 words will get your foot in the door of French fluency, as it were.
Started by Coralie, Nov. 29, 2011
Intermediate French
For when you're done with the 'Introductory' set.
Started by Coralie, Jan. 9, 2012
Paul's advanced French: a memorable selection
Mostly pretty uncommon words, but still useful—notably to read novels, try to seem smart, etc. All with mnemonics, to help you remember.
Started by paul, May 10, 2011
Intermediate 21: Sound French
Nothing sounds more French than the vaguely dismissive sounds that are an appropriate answer to anything. This list of words comes close, though.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 10: Work in France
The French hate work. Consequently, they have developed a wide scope of strategies to avoid having to do any of it. This ranges from demonstrations (which the French learn to hold at ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 16: Expedition to the North Pole
There have been a good number of French explorers throughout history, and in April 2010 Jean-Louis Etienne became the first person to fly solo across the Arctic in a hot air balloon.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 3: Art
France houses some of the most beautiful art collections in the world, and the Louvre welcomes over 8 million visitors per year. French people are proud of their art heritage, which they ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 11: French Politics
There are two main political parties in France: the PS (left) and the UMP (right). Minority parties have, at times, gained quite considerable influence, such as that time in 2002 French people ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 8: In a traffic jam
Traffic in Paris is usually at a standstill, and a perfect occasion to try out new swearwords. The French are aggressive drivers, who forget the rules of circulation the instant they get ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 16: Shopping
Boutique French brands are making their mark in England, setting up next to their English counterparts. But French girls are still fascinated by English style, and use a trip to London as ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 12: Crime Solving
France doesn't have such an exacerbated morbid fascination for crime, but the CSI series are still pretty popular.
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 10: Romancing a French girl
Warning: this is a difficult task. French girls are champions at lingering looks and double-entendres that don't actually promise anything, and won't tell you about their 'copain' until the evening comes to ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 8: People watching
A favourite activity in France is sitting at the terrace of a café, sipping a 'café serré', smoking a 'roulée' and being nasty about all the people walking past.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 5: Around the house
In cities, houses are a rare commodity, and throughout France, renting rather than buying stays commonplace even for adults. Nevertheless, French people attach a lot of importance to their interiors. The East-London ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 27: The school years
School is a serious thing in France, with children staying there from 8am to 4:30pm, and classes on Saturday morning. Of course, there is the famous 'no school on Wednesday', the best ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 2: Stuff your parents want you to know
French parents are very intent on teaching politeness to their children. Then, as the kids grow up, they promptly forget all of it and learn to be rude to tourists instead.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 9: Family
The experience of a Sunday lunch in the grandparent's garden, with home-made boeuf bourgignon and mirabelle tart, stretching over the entire afternoon, filled with stories, and children playing, and violent rows about ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 20: Music
French classical music of the beginning of the 20th century was probably the last of the country's great offerings. Since then it has produced soppy pop music which is the nation's guilty ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 21: Nature
France has a wonderful range of nature spots. From the cold, windy seafront in Bretagne and empty expanses of land in the centre of the country, to overcrowded skiing stations in the ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Intermediate 1: Things that will get you to Heaven
Being a good person is not such a highly regarded quality in France, far behind, say, being intelligent or well-dressed.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 17: Going to the hospital
If you do end up needing a trip to the hospital while in France, at least they are a pretty nice place to be. The people at the information desk will never ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 28: Writing a book
The French are very proud of their literature. And how could they not, with authors like Victor Hugo who found the time to write dozens of novels while having dozens of mistresses, ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Intermediate 15: Sport
The average French person does no sport, and wouldn't be able to tell you where the nearest gym is. However, as a nation, they have developed a passion for those sports in ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 6: Communication
The French are notoriously terrible at saying what they mean, preferring instead to infer on the second, third or fourth level. This is the source of many disputes in French couples. Fortunately, ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 7: At a fancy restaurant
Food is sacred for the French, their cuisine is appreciated worldwide, and their fancy restaurants are amongst the best. If you want to enjoy frog legs and snails they will probably be ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 12: At a bistro
If all you want is a quick meal, you will find none of the corporate sandwich chains or pre-packaged sushi you might be expecting, but France is littered with charming bistros where ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 1: French 101
If you try to ask a Frenchman for directions in English, chances are you'll never get where you need to. These basic words should help for a first visit.
Started by Coralie, Oct. 12, 2011
Beginner 19: Complain like a Parisian
Complaining is the nation's favourite activity, and no-one is better at it than the famously sour-faced Parisians. It is important to learn the right vocabulary, as a well-timed complaint will get you ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 22: Nouvelle Star
The Nouvelle Star follows much the same model as X factor, but has never reached its popularity in France. It has still brought French teenage girls plenty of languorous crooners with a ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 4: Escaping France
After a holiday rubbing shoulders with French people, you may need to run away fast. You will find this list useful, with example of transport, directions, and rapid means of flight.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 7: Things to consider before getting married
In France, the civil wedding must take place in the town hall and it is forbidden to have a religious ceremony prior to that. The couple must have an interview and publish ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 11: Argue with your neighbours
Arguing with the neighbours is something of a national pastime, so make sure you are prepared. Subjects range from noise, to smell, to water pouring through your ceiling. Note: ignoring your neighbours ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 30: Having a fight
The French don't fight so much, which is helped by the fact that they avoid binge drinking and are too scared of hurting their long artist's fingers. Get in the middle of ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 4: Children
French children grow up eating vegetables, keeping their clothes pristine and going to school on Saturdays. Fortunately, there's a pain au chocolat hot from the oven for every child when the school ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 14: Teenagers
French teenagers dress well, drink wine and not beer, and know how to bake a quiche from scratch. Apart from that, they are the same as teenagers everywhere.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
A start-up
French people lack entrepreneurial spirit, preferring to work in their daddy's firm, or maybe go into academia. Much better to spend your nights seducing other French people than typing on your MacBook.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 24: Science
French scientists have fared pretty well over the years, gaining a respectable number of Nobel prizes in Physics and Chemistry, and of Fields medals for French. Scientific research is still a highly ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 13: Places you want to go to
The French are quite reluctant to ever help tourists with directions - and that includes the ones whose profession it is, like ticket vendors. Speaking in French will give you a slight ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Advanced French politics
Once you are done with 'French politics', you can try your hand at some deeper things than Sarkozy and Carla's latest photo op.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 2: Things that will get you to Hell
Pretty much the same things that will get you in trouble in any country will be frowned upon in France, though going to McDonalds does constitute a higher level crime than in ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 26: Taking care of the home
French men are a confusing mix of feminine sensitivity and gallic machoism. This means that they will never let you pay, but will cry if you break up with them. Neither sides ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 29: Gambling
Gambling in France is not extraordinarily prevalent, casinos are disappointing seedy and slot machines were only legalised in 1988. Since online gambling was allowed in 2010, however, there has been a quick ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Intermediate 5: C'est la vie
Stuff happens, and French people have the beautiful words to write about it, which they often prefer to actually taking part in the events.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 18: Old people
The retirement age in France is 60. After many attempts to change this, met by passionate country-wide disapproval, a reform was finally decided, which will apply from 2018, and raises the age ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 9: In your postbox
Everybody likes to complain about 'La Poste', its ridiculously short opening hours and permanently huge queues. What ends up in your postbox is much the same as everywhere: mostly bills and junk ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 13: Dieting
French women don't get fat and all, but they still are on a constant diet. The secret is to offset a chocolate fondant with a salad (dressing on the side).
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Beginner 15: Getting money out
While holidaying in France, cash dispensers will soon become close friends, what with all the beautiful clothes, delicious food and expensive hotels on offer.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Intermediate 23: Royalty
France no longer is a monarchy, and the country's national holiday celebrates its downfall. This didn't stop the French from being glued to their TV for Will and Kate's wedding. In order ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Intermediate 17: Manual work
The French are not enthusiastic, or skilled, DIYers. Any attempt on their part usually results in disaster, but they will still recount the details of their adventure mounting the IKEA desk with ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 6: Timeline
What's happened before and what came after that, what lasted a long time and what took place ages ago...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Intermediate 19: On TV
The French are avid TV watchers, and since French programmes are pretty terrible (save for the very pretty news presenters), they end up watching what everyone else does - Gossip Girl, Glee, ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 3: Spatial description
What's above or below, what's far or close, inside or out...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 8, 2011
Intermediate 25: In the army
Some French are proud supporters of their army, looking back towards the height of Bonaparte's reign. Most of them are indifferent or slightly disdainful, probably due to the lack of any heroics ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 8, 2011
Intermediate 20: Ordinary, and not
What's shocking and surprising, what's banal, boring and trite...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 7, 2011
Beginner 18: Be French
Of course, the best way to seem like a French person is to have been raised there, so that the smoking, pouting and shoulder-shrugging comes naturally to you. But you can always ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
I agree...
French people won't agree with you very often. But if they do, here are some ways it could happen.
Started by Coralie, Oct. 8, 2011
Applying for a job
Even though working is not such a popular activity in France, it remains a sort of necessity if you wish to have money. Applying for a job is a long process, full ...
Started by Coralie, Oct. 8, 2011
Beginner 14: Places to avoid
Parisians avoid anywhere which isn't their city. This only changes in August, when the capital is invaded by tourists but abandoned by its usual dwellers, including restaurant owners and even the famous ...
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
French insults
Once you've mastered merde, connard and putain, the French have come up with some pretty colourful insults.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
French compliments
Complimenting is not common practise in France, except in certain situations, generally ones that end with little clothing.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
French people
As in every country, their are many different types of people in France. These are not exactly translatable, but come pretty close to English ones.
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
Battles won by the French against the English
These are all factual
Started by Coralie, Sept. 19, 2011
All courses created for French.
Community courses
1/11 French
e.g. in the background, in the foreground, to look at, view, to smell, feel, taste good/bad, to see, to be quiet, to murmur, small, short, dull, drab, colorless, to agree, to get ...
Started by laxdefense4521, July 4, 2011
French - Database
e.g. une obligation, une obligation d'État, les fonds d'État, une OAT (Obligation Assimilable au ..., l'émission, l'échéance, valeurs, un titre, une action, une action nominative ...
Started by khall05, July 4, 2011
French
e.g. in the foreground, to see, in the background, to look at, view, to smell, feel, taste good/bad, to be quiet, to murmur, to agree, to get on, dull, drab, colorless, small, ...
Started by laxdefense4521, July 4, 2011
French Comprehensive
An up-to-date list of all the French words with at least one mem
French GCSE
e.g. à, de, en, j'ai l'impression que, le zinc, raconteur, pied-à-terre, panache, nouvelle vague, moue ...
Started by edcooke, Oct. 28, 2010
Tori's A-La
A Merge of 32 courses letters A-La just to help with watering gardens
Started by ToriW1, May 1, 2012
Paris French
This is a set of difficult French words, discovered while living, reading and loving in Paris.
Paul's advanced French words
A collection of mostly uncommon words, many encountered while reading or translating.
Started by paul, Nov. 21, 2010
Tori's Le - Z
A merge of 32 courses to make garden watering quicker
Started by ToriW1, May 4, 2012
Vocabulary Book French
e.g. faire attention, distinguer le vrai du faux, glaner, mener qch à bien, mobiliser, faire du mal à, avoir réponse à tout, tirer, abaisser, être censé faire ...
Started by Ladymwa, March 29, 2012
testcoralie
e.g. se révolter, la reprise, la tragédie, l'interprétation, le chanteur, la chanson, le talent, la larme, l'acte, la volonté ...
Started by Coralie, Dec. 13, 2011
Le Petit Prince
The words used in the book Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry which is in the Public Domain (in some countries at least) and available here: http://wikilivres.info/wiki/Le_Petit_Prince The words were put ...
Started by bawjaws, Sept. 6, 2011
Introductory French (old version)
These 1000 words will get your foot in the door of French fluency, as it were.
Started by Coralie, Nov. 15, 2011
French - The 1170 most common verbs
The 1170 most common verbs
Started by sgossard, Sept. 27, 2011
OCR GCSE Vocabulary List General and Topic area 1 to 5 Higher Tier
e.g. à peu près, à point, absolument, d'accord, alors, approprié, au revoir, aussi / aussi bien que, autant, autre ...
Started by RozzyB, March 28, 2012
Amelia's List of French
A list of French words as I learn them from various book and online sources.
Started by amelia.sides, Nov. 14, 2011
Collected French Vocab
French vocabulary I've collected from misc sources
Started by keithshep, Aug. 14, 2011
My french words
e.g. rencontrer, s'il vous plaît, limoger, le restaurant, merci, de rien, être, avoir, la faim, la soif ...
Started by alzarus, April 17, 2012
Expert / University level French
A wordlist of university/expert level French words. Examples: le chiffon, dépouiller, la pique, chavirer, effarant,bafouer, chicaner, octroyer, le chantier, propice, émousser. NB: I am going to keep adding words to this list ...
Started by Japenjolly, April 15, 2012
EDEXCEL GCSE Set Vocabulary
Vocab list from the Specifications (2009)
Started by Roma76, Dec. 23, 2011
Rachel's french
e.g. à côté de, à l’appareil, à l’étranger, à part, à peu près, à toute à l’heure, à vrai dire, l’addition, le commerce, âgé ...
Started by bigmouthstrikesagain, May 15, 2012
French: Internal Resource #3.1
French: Internal Resource #3.1
Started by firstfrench, Dec. 22, 2011
French: Internal Resource #2.1
French: Internal Resource #2.1
Started by firstfrench, Dec. 22, 2011
Voilà! An Introduction to French
Vocabulary from the Voilà! An Introduction to French 6th Edition textbook.
Started by minaainovc43, Jan. 2, 2012
French Verbs
Verbs. Without 'em, nothing would ever get done. Some of these are real easy; some aren't. Pretty much all of them are useful.
Started by alexpgp, May 4, 2011
French: Internal Resource #1.1
French: Internal Resource #1.1
Started by firstfrench, Dec. 22, 2011
Josh's vocab
Vocabulary that is in my vocab book!
Started by joshgiff93, March 23, 2012
Toris French Merge
16 courses merged into one so I can have one garden to water
Started by ToriW1, May 1, 2012
Mon Vocabulaire
e.g. bonjour, salut, au revoir, à demain, s'il vous plaît, merci, voilà, bienvenu, pardon, ah bon? ...
Started by nmarom, April 23, 2012
French Verbs
Simply a collection of the main French Verbs
Started by ludo99, Feb. 17, 2012
Video French Vocabulary
This is a selection of basic and intermediate words essential to speaking good colloquial French: and every word has a video or three of Parisians larking around to illustrate its meaning
GCSE
e.g. approprié, aussi / aussi bien que, autre, bienvenue, cela m'est égal !, cela ne fait rien, demi, douzaine, Grand’chose, à peu près ...
Started by beth_ratcliffe, May 8, 2012
Nouns from Éduscol's "Liste des mots classée par fréquence décroissante"
This word list is the nouns from the French Ministry of Education's list of the most frequently utilized words in written French. The full word list is roughly 1500 words long. This ...
Started by ChristopherAffleck, July 25, 2011
French
e.g. subsister, à l'encontre de, buter, au fait, ça n'a aucun ..., bien à vous, recueillir, bien à toi, assommer, on s'est fait roulé, un chasseur sachant chasser sait ... ...
Started by laxdefense4521, July 4, 2011
AS french vocab
Vocab from Elan 1 textbook, for OCR
Started by PaulaZO, Feb. 17, 2012
Verbs from Éduscol's "Liste des mots classée par fréquence décroissante"
This word list is the verbs from French Ministry of Education's list of the most frequently utilized words in written French. The full word list is roughly 1500 words long. These are ...
Started by ChristopherAffleck, July 31, 2011
Conjugations of Useful Verbs
Present, imperfect, perfect, future, conditional tenses and sentences.
Started by mikig83, May 1, 2011
AS level Vocab
Useful vocab given by teachers for AS Level french for AQA
Started by sophiephyllis, April 13, 2012
OCR French GCSE
e.g. approprié, aussi bien que, autre, bienvenue, cela ne fait rien, demi, douzaine, moins (que), mois, à peu près ...
Started by MrGearing, May 3, 2012
AQA French GCSE Higher Tier
Higher Tier Gcse vocab list
Started by lizzi, March 20, 2012
Advanced vocabulary from "Nos ancêtres les Gaulois et autres fadaises"
e.g. les fadaises, corser, le cran, saugrenu, se fendre, le ramassis, épingler, le passeur, l'ordonnancement, quitte à ...
Started by AugustGrivas, Jan. 19, 2012
NCEA French (Level 3)
The vocabulary list for level 3 French, NCEA.
Started by danielinnes, March 6, 2012
Easy French Phrase Book
A set containing all words and phrases from The Dover Easy French Phrase Book. Over 750 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use. Learn the basic words, phrases and sentences needed for - Travel ...
Started by Sethard, May 4, 2012
Common vocab - Intermediate French
A list of comprehensive vocabulary words for my french final. Specifically useful in conversation or narrative.
Started by TiffanyRaphaela, Dec. 8, 2011
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Latest words
un napperon
dénué
formation sur place
louable
le parvis
être sur la brèche
un appuie-tête
réfractaire
une peluche
un chambardement
la lampe
flairer
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les tennis
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un sweat
la lisière
l'épicier
le premier étage
un paquebot
un apiculteur
la salle de jeux
le dégât
