Seven French expressions revolving around health Un torticolis, un bleu, sa ligne - can you work out what these terms mean?
Why do they speak French at every Olympic opening ceremony? The French language plays an important role in every Olympic Games, not just those held in France
Letters: I'm American but my English is more British since move to France Connexion reader says being around so many Britons while trying to speak more clearly to French people is having an effect
magazine Eight phrases to help with everyday small talk in France Comme d’hab, ça te dit, quoi de neuf - do you know these handy expressions?
Use French expressions to say what you mean in English Many words cross the linguistic divide and enhance expression and sophistication
9 French expressions to use when there is hot weather From 'the sun is like lead' to 'cooking like a pancake', here are some phrases to use as the temperature soars across France
'C'est pas rien': Why nothing is a powerful word in French We unpack why this word is everywhere and what it tells us about France
Seven everyday French expressions borrowed from the world of sport Jeter l’éponge, coiffé au poteau, garder le cap - find out where these come from and how to use them
How does living in France affect your English? Forgetting some English is more common than you might think - in fact there is even a word for this
'Important' is a key word to know how to use in French Some awkward situations can arise if you do not understand the nuance of its meaning
Six French phrases that describe defeat or losing Se prendre une taule, se faire laminer, manger une claque - find out how to express defeat in the French language
Who are France’s juilletistes and aoûtiens? We look at two words used to describe different French summer holiday habits
Why are Tour de France cyclists called ‘runners’ in French? The linguistic reason is long, arduous and surprising - much like the race itself
Man who speaks 50 languages gives his tips on learning French It should not be a difficult language to learn for English-speakers due to significant common ground, although a sympathetic ear may be necessary, says hyperpolyglot Alexander Argüelles How to know when to use jour vs journée in French Google translate adds Occitan, Breton and minor French languages Seven ways to complain like a French person
10 useful French expressions using the verb tenir It appears in all sorts of situations - just like its English equivalent Which French accents are the hardest to understand? Try these compliments in French to charm like a native Learning French: what does profite bien mean and when should you use it Laundry, fresh starts, mistakes: 8 phrases using tourner in French English-speakers share the funny mistakes they have made in French
Mistakes that English-speakers make in French that make natives laugh Unwitting sexual nuances, difficulty with pronunciation, translating expressions directly - there are many ways to accidentally raise a chuckle among French people
Quand même: understand how to use this helpful French expression This phrase can be employed in all sorts of situations - is it one you use often?
Watch: the UK and US celebrities that speak excellent French From Johnny Depp to Serena Williams, listen to these English-speaking celebrities who have impressive level of French
Tata, frangin, papounet: Cute French names for family members The French language has a variety of words for mother, father, brother or sister and you often hear these in everyday conversations
10 ‘English’ words in French that do not exist in English We also look at ‘borrowed’ English words that have a different meaning than in English
Unlocking the puzzle of French humour Understanding comedy is another step towards fitting in, says columnist Nick Inman
Ways to apologise in French and how to say ‘pardon, I didn’t hear you?’ Désolé, navré, pardon - knowing how to say sorry and which words to use in different contexts is a handy skill to have
How I coped during French hospital stay with imperfect language skills A one week stay at a hospital following an operation proved to be the perfect setting for columnist Nick Inman to improve his French vocabulary and conversational skills
Four quick language tips to help you in everyday French These handy reminders will make navigating conversations easier
6 ways to express your good mood in French Nager dans le bonheur, avoir la banane, être au septième ciel - find out how to convey your joie de vivre
Why you may be struggling with French - and what you can do about it Six problems and solutions to help you improve your language skills
Learning French: Understand the different words for ‘take’ and ‘bring’ These similar sounding words have opposite meanings, but a clue on using them correctly can be easy to spot
Different ways to say hello in French Enchanté, allô, coucou – learn French terms for greeting people
Learning French: the many flexible uses of the word 'coup' The flexible word can be used with many different expressions
7 French phrases that sound bizarre when translated Using these expressions with native speakers will make you sound like a master of French
The French you learn at school is often not what you hear: 5 examples Taff, truc, fric - the alternative words you hear in conversation
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
Why being told to go cook an egg in French is rarely a good thing We look at seven colourful expressions to brighten up your conversations
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
Learning French - what does bonne journée mean and when to use it? It works in many contexts but its direct equivalent has largely fallen out of use in modern English
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
Learning French - what does pas de souci mean and when to use it? People say this to reassure others but also to show confidence
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
Speak butter French: six expressions around the word beurre See if you can guess the meaning of these phrases just from their English translations
More French words and phrases with no real equivalent in English Do you know anyone who is insortable or un bon vivant ?
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
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
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