Funny you should say that – the language of French laughter Humour can be a challenge to talk about in any language – how do you put into words that ephemeral feeling which makes you spontaneously laugh or smile?
Opinion: Another week off – how I love living in France One of the many things I adore about the French is their attitude to time off.
Map of French accents: which do you prefer? From the major division between north and south to the departments split in two - everywhere has one How to deal with small French village mentality Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing Vichy laws still endure in modern-day France
Career change in France: from police officer to gardener Amanda Freeman explains how she swapped law and order for a more creative vocation in the French countryside
One of France’s main music festivals at risk of closure ‘If nothing changes the 2024 edition could be the last’ say organisers of Les Vieilles Charrues
MAP: which areas in France already have water shortages? Water reserves are above average in some areas due to heavy autumn rainfall but some areas have shortages
Charles Aznavour: Grit and self-belief made the ‘French Frank Sinatra’ How the diminutive French singer went from poverty to stratospheric fame across the globe
What is the #PasDeVague movement in France? A new film starring Francois Civil in cinemas focuses on viral social media movement, but what is it actually about?
Seven useful informal French expressions you don’t learn at school These words will add colour to your spoken French
‘Je n’en reviens pas!’: How to use the verb venir in everyday French Columnist Annaliza Davis looks at the surprising versatility of venir and why it might confuse English-speakers
Book shows how to cook with the weed black bryony in south-west France ‘It’s a local speciality with a taste like nothing else,’ says mayor who published recipe book
‘Climate change should interest more people than it does’ France’s go-to expert on global warming and bestselling author, Jean-Marc Jancovici, talks to us about the future of our planet
Meet France's great garden acrobat With its bright yellow and blue plumage, the Eurasian blue tit is easy to spot in the garden. ‘Beautiful’ Benjamin Franklin letter from France for sale in US How to describe wine like a French sommelier Right-wing TV news channel in France grows in popularity
Four types of words that English adopted from French Try looking up the etymology of English words and you will find that a lot originate from old French René, Renée: Navigating subtle gender differences in French forenames Spring into plant swap season and visit a local French ‘TrocPlantes’ ‘I was surprised by what my French students think of Britons’ Seven tips to help you integrate in France Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France
Career change in France: Highway maintenance to natural pools Alex Wells explains how building her own chlorine-free swimming pool led to a new role
‘It is my right to work beyond retirement age - but France says no’ Age discrimination in the workplace is real but hidden, says (soon to be forcibly retired) English teacher Nick Inman
British D-Day veteran Bill: I want to honour fallen comrades in France The centenarian planned to return to Normandy this June - driven over by a London cab charity. He was just 20 at the time of the invasion and shared his memories of the day with Connexion during one of his interviews
French town overrun by rabbits puts up posters of… rabbit stew recipe The recipe is being shown on digital billboards after residents began complaining of burgeoning bunnies
Open Gardens France: Vibrant borders and crisp hedges in Mayenne After two years clearing rubbish and brambles, Edward Moss and David Marsh delight in sharing their ‘garden rooms’
Petit lapin, coup du lapin: 6 commonly used French rabbit expressions A potential new penalty for missing a doctor’s appointment has also been nicknamed la taxe lapin - we explain why
Full tour of Carcassone’s medieval ramparts to open for the first time Visitors will be allowed to walk all three kilometres of its historic walls from September
Hockney exhibition is one of 50 shows celebrating France-UK friendship The programme of cultural events across France will showcase work from British and French participants
Could this method help if you lack confidence in learning French? 'I feel like it’s part therapy and part French'
From corks to screw caps: French wine bottles are changing Screw caps are winning out on ‘drinkable’ wines and recyclability, but are still facing resistance among premium wines
Easter customs in France and ten related expressions Gigot d’agneau, cloches de Pâques - find out what is eaten on Easter Sunday and who brings the eggs for the Easter egg hunt
The science behind why it is never too late to learn French Picking up a new language alters the make-up of our brain and helps keep it mentally sharp
Six tongue twisters to test your French Stretch your tongue and your language skills with these difficult to pronounce virelangues
‘Anglicisms? They are French words we loaned to English after 1066’ A provocative linguist explains how the two languages have borrowed from each other for centuries
Why you won’t be hearing church bells much in France for a few days A trip to Rome, a visit to the Vatican, and lots of chocolate eggs: Where the bells go at Easter
READER TIPS: How long should it take to learn French? The US government says it should take 600-750 classroom hours - but do our readers agree?
5 ways to buy food directly from farmers in France You can get high quality, fresh produce at low prices by cutting out the middleman
La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people? Sometimes it can be all too easy to commit a cultural faux pas without even realising it. We look at some of the most common
French photographer who captured US history gets retrospective in Nice The exhibition details how Henri Dauman made a name for himself without expensive equipment or even press accreditation
Speak butter French: six expressions around the word beurre See if you can guess the meaning of these phrases just from their English translations
Eight French roundabouts with bizarre statues Cultural laws require funding for roadside art projects… but the art commissioned can be surprising
More French words and phrases with no real equivalent in English Do you know anyone who is insortable or un bon vivant ?
Can you name the seven women honoured in France’s Pantheon? Some shaped the modern world and others fought in the shadows
Tac, euh, bah: French language tics you hear every day Discover five words that French people use but that have no real meaning
How long should it take to learn French for everyday use? The US government says it should take 600-750 classroom hours to become proficient in French. Do teachers and learners agree? We find out.
Tricks to get the gender of nouns correct in French Working out the genders of nouns in French can be one of the most difficult parts of the language to navigate
Try swapping syllables in French words to sound like a native France has a rich history of wordplay, involving exchanging sounds in words and phrases, in literature, journalism and slang
SEE: Astonishingly accurate 12th century map of Normandy The Arabic map appears upside down to us but shows the Channel and Mont-Saint-Michel in roughly the right place
Informal synonyms for everyday French words Spoken French is very different to the language you learn in the classroom
The pros, cons and subsidies of wine tourism in France Winemaker Jonathan Hesford reflects on ‘oenotourisme’ growth and the impact on his business
Five legacies of the Revolution that affect France today The French Revolution was longer and more complicated than most people realise - here are five things that it changed forever
SEE: Old French skis turned into colourful tables and benches A cooperative is selling the recycled pieces to mountain businesses or members of the public
Films and TV shows to improve your French in March You can widen your vocabulary from the comfort of your own sofa, or by taking a trip to the cinema
Test your French with these nine expressions linked to insects Gober les mouches, fier comme un pou, avoir le bourdon - learn how to use these everyday French phrases
Remember these French language ‘false friends’ when you speak 'green' Being environmentally aware means you could come across some faux amis
Le? La? Why learning the gender of a noun makes life in France easier English-speakers can struggle with masculine and feminine words but gender in language can be useful, argues Nick Inman
France’s humorous ‘February 29’ newspaper now available in newsstands La Bougie du Sapeur is only published on leap years. Its last edition (2020) sold 120,000 copies
US war dead remembered in French cemeteries, 100 years on Visitors and families continue to pay their respects for American soldiers, over a century after World War One
Crustless camembert? French cheese threatened by rind mould extinction Scientists warn the fungus responsible for the famous white skin is at the point of disappearing
Tiny Normandy commune to mark crucial role in D-Day landings 80th anniversary events will remember how allied forces and local French people all played their part in 1944
What would you include if compiling a quiz about France? Columnist Nick Inman prepares a syllabus to help you become a French quiz whizz
'Lacking’ ‘nice’ 'pointless': your view on no-alcohol wine in France Updated: mixed responses from readers, who believe industry still has a way to go
Eight ways to express surprise in French apart from Oh là là Oh la vache, macarel, mon dieu - learn how to be surprised like a native with these expressions
6 songs to capture the rhythms of the French language Work on your French ear by singing along if you can!
10 common French expressions involving ‘coup’ From sunburns to parties, we ‘donne un coup de main’ to help you with these common expressions
Ski-speak: Eight expressions to speak like a local skier in France Peuf, le dahu, des virolets, dré dans l’pentu - we show you how to blend in during your next mountain holiday
How to use ‘alors’ like a French native speaker Using this word can help boost your proficiency in the language and make you sound like a true Francophone
Aimer, adorer, kiffer: understand the language of love in France We look at the different ways to say ‘I love you’ and how not to get confused by ambiguous variations
When do you say ‘un’ après-midi and when ‘une’ après-midi in French? Is one version wrong or do they mean different things?
Only French village called Saint-Valentin embraces romantic links The tiny village in Indre takes its name seriously with an annual festival for visiting lovers around Valentine’s Day
SEE: which Olympic events are near you (not all are in Paris) Football, basketball, handball and sailing will all take place in other parts of France
Speak like a local: seven phrases specific to the north of France Il drache, bénache, biloute - try the language of the Ch’tis
The French are not negative - it is just a (body) language thing Interpreting the Gallic shrug and negative-as-positive phrases will make communicating a pleasure
Why France's national symbol - the Gallic cockerel - is under threat How the ‘coq gaulois’ became the nation’s emblem and what is being done to save it
Otters make a comeback in France - how you can help them thrive The recolonisation project is slowly working but the population remains fragile
Costume, music, floats: where to see France’s vibrant carnival parades Celebrate the end of winter with feasting and fun at a carnival near you
Interesting social media accounts for French learners in 2024 Social media is a great place to turn for some short sharp language practice
Five regional variations of French crêpes to discover on La Chandeleur February 2 is the traditional day to eat crêpes in France
6 films and series for February to improve your French Dramas, thrillers, and cult comedies all make this month’s list
‘French gardeners love the Britishness of the Open Garden scheme’ Sue Lambert president of Jardins Ouverts talks afternoon tea, No Dig method and finding solace in her garden after losing her son