Language linguistics

Platisme, masculinisme: The French words added to Larousse dictionary

The 2025 edition includes some words that come straight from English, as well as many environment-related terms

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?

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

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

Columnist Nick Inman explores why masculine and feminine versions of first names can trip up foreigners

‘I was surprised by what my French students think of Britons’

Baked beans, dyed hair, a love of fish skin… You can be the judge of whether some of these surprising stereotypes from university students are valid or not

Seven tips to help you integrate in France

From grappling with paperwork to channelling the French joie de vivre, we look at the best ways to fit into life in France

8 false friends from my French students that we can learn from

False friends in French can cause lots of confusion for language learners

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

Could this method help if you lack confidence in learning French?

'I feel like it’s part therapy and part French'

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

Six tongue twisters to test your French

Stretch your tongue and your language skills with these difficult to pronounce virelangues

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

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.

What would you include if compiling a quiz about France?

Columnist Nick Inman prepares a syllabus to help you become a French quiz whizz

Poll finds French no longer 'sexiest' language in the world

But the study did find that Britons are most likely to vote French as the ‘most romantic’ language

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

What are France’s new language level rules to apply for residency?

The recent immigration law requires better language skills for some residency cards and to get French nationality

To sub or to dub: the dilemma of film fans in France

Columnist Peter Wyeth looks into whether films tend to be watched in their original language or not in cinemas and why

10 common French expressions involving ‘coup’

From sunburns to parties, we ‘donne un coup de main’ to help you with these common expressions

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

When do you say ‘un’ après-midi and when ‘une’ après-midi in French?

Is one version wrong or do they mean different things?

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

French language tests harden: what changes and how to know your level

Some people applying for residency cards are affected due to changes voted through in the new immigration law

Interesting social media accounts for French learners in 2024

Social media is a great place to turn for some short sharp language practice

French phrases that change meaning depending where you are in France

People from the south have a whole host of unique phrases

New tougher French language rules for immigration: who is affected?

The rules for residency cards and nationality are changing but there are exemptions

My experience in France as a university English teacher

Teaching English in France has taught me so much about the language learning process

10 French idioms based on food or cooking

Salads, apples, and onions are all used in common phrases. How many do you know?

Nine words and phrases from Brittany

Yec’hed mat, trugarez, Ma Doué - find out how to use these typically Breton expressions

Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is masterclass in multilingual life

The film’s memorable scenes show how speaking multiple languages can be a symbol of compromise, challenges, and power dynamics

What is behind the craze for nonsense made-up words in French?

Quoicoubeh, la grint: two made-up words being picked up by young people across France

‘Unlike English there is a right and wrong way to speak French’

It is wonderfully Gallic that the Académie française exists to keep the language pure and elegant, admits columnist Nick Inman

Films and TV shows to improve your French in January

With a new year comes lots of fresh opportunity to work on our language skills

Eight French expressions around the word apple

From fainting to high-quality, pomme can be used for a variety of different meanings

Duck Cold! French phrases to use for chilly weather

France's current cold spell is set to continue for the next few days - we remind you of French expressions to use to describe the drop in temperature

Five tips for learning to speak French in later life

Bilingual columnist Cynthia Spillman’s husband failed O-level French twice - these are her tips from watching him become more fluent

Five tips for learning to speak French in later life

Bilingual columnist Cynthia Spillman’s husband failed O-level French twice - these are her tips from watching him become more fluent

Reading - a tool for language acquisition: 5 French books for 2024

Reading is one of the most straightforward ways to establish and maintain a good vocabulary in French

Understand the difference between quoique and quoi que in French

French grammar can be frustrating but there are often simple rules to remember and apply to help

Ways to say ‘sticking your nose into others’ business’ in French

If you are a busybody in France you may end up being compared to a certain woodland creature

Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period

Joyeux Noël tout le monde - your vocabulary guide to get you through the festive season

How to learn French through language acquisition

We look at the difference between language learning and language acquisition, and how these can be used to boost your French skills

10 French phrases using péter in contexts you may not expect

From expressing anger to calmness - to breaking wind - péter changes meaning depending on context

12 different ways to express anger and frustration in French

Expressing frustration is an important aspect of everyday life in the country

Six Christmas gift ideas for people learning French

Christmas offers a good opportunity to give helpful resources that language learners may not buy for themselves

Broaden your Christmas vocabulary with these festive French phrases

If you are ready to move on from the basic ‘Joyeux Noël!’ take a look at these yuletide expressions

French phrases that feature dogs (and some cats)

We take a look at expressions featuring our four-legged friends

5 French films to watch in December to improve your French

With Christmas around the corner, it is the perfect time to cuddle up on the couch with a French film or two

Pk, bg, mdr: how many of these French text terms can you work out?

Some may seem obvious but others are more difficult to decipher

‘Vous? Tu? French people are more worried about mistakes than I am’

The French word for ‘you’ comes with a social dance that columnist Nick Inman refuses to join

Senate ban on inclusive language: French experts give pros and cons

The overwhelming majority of senators have voted to ban gender-inclusive writing in official documents. We spoke to experts on both sides of the debate

13 shortened words and phrases you will hear in spoken French

The French language loves to shorten words, so here are a few to look out for

Watch out for the many French verbs ‘to walk’ - they can trip you up

Walking, hiking and strolling in France can stretch your vocabulary and your legs, explains columnist Annaliza Davis

‘I will never rely on an app to translate my thoughts into French’

Online translators are useful tools but people still need to understand the nuance of language, says columnist Nick Inman

Five language ‘faux-amis’ that confused me as a French person in US

Living in the United States led to various perplexing moments including asking for crème fraîche and being shown beauty creams, recalls Théophile Larcher

10 of the most difficult English words for French people to pronounce

Asking French people to pronounce freight and threat is comedy gold for native English-speakers. These 10 are PAIN-FUL!

Grammar points to watch out for in spoken French

French grammar can be stressful for language learners, but in reality it is no big deal

Six French films and series for November to help your language skills

Language acquisition requires translating everyday parts of your life into French

12 facts about the French language

From the longest word to its importance in European law, see how many you know

How do bilingual classes differ from others at French school?

We look at both language-learning classes, as well as special schools which teach all their curriculum in multiple languages

10 of the most difficult French words for English speakers to say

From squirrel to kettle, these are words you might use on an everyday basis

A1, C2: What is the CEFR language rating in France?

The scale is understood across Europe and even used by some governments

President opens 'first-ever’ centre dedicated to French language

The chateau where François I ruled that French, not Latin, should be used has been renovated to celebrate the fun and vitality of the language

Debate over gender-inclusive terms in French reopens

An MP is proposing that the use of ‘iel’ instead of il or elle and formats such as président.e.s disappear from official communications

Watch out for these three ‘exception’ French grammar rules

French grammar can often be the part of language learning people struggle with the most

MAP: stubborn Bretons and other regional stereotypes around France

Patriotic, arrogant, like Germans, welcoming, indecisive… we look at the clichés French people use for those from other regions

Why translating French word-for-word can help - or confuse

Sometimes even French people cannot explain a familiar phrase because that is ‘just the way it is’

C'est la sardine qui a bouché le port de Marseille

Marseille - a ship, a very big sardine - and a stereotype

‘Do not correct me everytime I murder the French language’

There is a time and place, argues Nick Inman, and constant corrections can do more harm than good

What do you need to teach English in a state school in France?

A contract to work in a school is difficult to obtain but can come with excellent benefits

Why are newspapers known as canards (ducks) in French?

We also look at other expressions around the word canard

Franco-Lebanese writer is new guardian of the French language

‘The Immortals’ have spoken. Amin Maalouf elected the 32nd ‘perpetual secretary’ of the historic Académie française, the French watchdog of linguistic probity

Language linguistics

Platisme, masculinisme: The French words added to Larousse dictionary

Funny you should say that – the language of French laughter

Map of French accents: which do you prefer?

Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing

Seven useful informal French expressions you don’t learn at school

‘Je n’en reviens pas!’: How to use the verb venir in everyday French

Trending

New UK/France border checks: visas, residency cards and which queues?

Storms on way for much of France. Will the cold spell continue?

Eurostar fares revamp and motorway closures: 6 France travel updates

Seven useful informal French expressions you don’t learn at school

British retiree in France to take Brexit case to human rights court

How to deal with small French village mentality

Scams in France: watch out for these telephone prefixes

Four types of words that English adopted from French

René, Renée: Navigating subtle gender differences in French forenames

‘I was surprised by what my French students think of Britons’

Seven tips to help you integrate in France

8 false friends from my French students that we can learn from

Petit lapin, coup du lapin: 6 commonly used French rabbit expressions

Could this method help if you lack confidence in learning French?

Easter customs in France and ten related expressions

Six tongue twisters to test your French

La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people?

Speak butter French: six expressions around the word beurre

More French words and phrases with no real equivalent in English

Tac, euh, bah: French language tics you hear every day

How long should it take to learn French for everyday use?

Tricks to get the gender of nouns correct in French

Try swapping syllables in French words to sound like a native

Test your French with these nine expressions linked to insects

Remember these French language ‘false friends’ when you speak 'green'

Le? La? Why learning the gender of a noun makes life in France easier

What would you include if compiling a quiz about France?

Poll finds French no longer 'sexiest' language in the world

Eight ways to express surprise in French apart from Oh là là

What are France’s new language level rules to apply for residency?

To sub or to dub: the dilemma of film fans in France

10 common French expressions involving ‘coup’

How to use ‘alors’ like a French native speaker

When do you say ‘un’ après-midi and when ‘une’ après-midi in French?

Speak like a local: seven phrases specific to the north of France

The French are not negative - it is just a (body) language thing

French language tests harden: what changes and how to know your level

Interesting social media accounts for French learners in 2024

French phrases that change meaning depending where you are in France

New tougher French language rules for immigration: who is affected?

My experience in France as a university English teacher

10 French idioms based on food or cooking

Nine words and phrases from Brittany

Oscar-nominated Anatomy of a Fall is masterclass in multilingual life

What is behind the craze for nonsense made-up words in French?

‘Unlike English there is a right and wrong way to speak French’

Films and TV shows to improve your French in January

Eight French expressions around the word apple

Duck Cold! French phrases to use for chilly weather

Five tips for learning to speak French in later life

Five tips for learning to speak French in later life

Reading - a tool for language acquisition: 5 French books for 2024

Understand the difference between quoique and quoi que in French

Ways to say ‘sticking your nose into others’ business’ in French

Festive French phrases and words for the Christmas period

How to learn French through language acquisition

10 French phrases using péter in contexts you may not expect

12 different ways to express anger and frustration in French

Six Christmas gift ideas for people learning French

Broaden your Christmas vocabulary with these festive French phrases

French phrases that feature dogs (and some cats)

5 French films to watch in December to improve your French

Pk, bg, mdr: how many of these French text terms can you work out?

‘Vous? Tu? French people are more worried about mistakes than I am’

Senate ban on inclusive language: French experts give pros and cons

13 shortened words and phrases you will hear in spoken French

Watch out for the many French verbs ‘to walk’ - they can trip you up

‘I will never rely on an app to translate my thoughts into French’

Five language ‘faux-amis’ that confused me as a French person in US

10 of the most difficult English words for French people to pronounce

Grammar points to watch out for in spoken French

Six French films and series for November to help your language skills