Learning french

Learning French: what does thune mean and when should it be used?

This casual word is used to talk about money, with roots dating back to the 17th Century

Learning French: pain bénit and six more expressions to do with bread

Bread is an important part of French culture - no wonder so many phrases are bread-related

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être sur un petit nuage and other cloud phrases

Use this expression when you are feeling on cloud nine

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Learning French: when and why do we say découvrir le pot aux roses?

A flowery phrase for when you come to a realisation

Learning French: how native speakers really talk to each other

Nick Inman explores the intriguing divide between formal and informal French, and how mastering both can enhance your cultural fluency

Learning French: can you pronounce these 12 challenging words?

From squirrel to kettle, these are words you might use on a daily basis

Learning French: tohu-bohu and more ways of expressing chaos

You might hear these terms being used to describe France’s ongoing political turmoil

Learning French: when and why do we say copains comme cochons?

The story behind this phrase actually has nothing to do with pigs

Learning French: the origins and meaning of il n'y a pas le feu au lac

Say this to someone who needs to slow down and relax (maybe by a lake)

Six films and TV shows to improve your French this rentrée

From cultural references to new vocabulary, watching films in French is essential for your progress

Learning French: when to capitalise 'Français' and other nationalities

The rule is easier to understand than it may at first seem

Learning French: on ne va pas se mentir has become a linguistic tic

Filler phrases have been likened to 'window dressing'

Learning French: 'Le Grand Large' and more grand expressions

English-speaking visitors to France assume this intriguing coastal name translates as 'The Big Big'

Learning French: charbonner and more phrases to describe hard work

Our columnist Justin Postlethwaite highlights the many ways of describing 'serious graft' when in France

Learning French: what does sursis mean and when is it used?

The word was heard in the recent court case involving actor Gérard Depardieu

Learning French: when and why do we say jeter l'éponge?

A phrase to use when acknowledging defeat

Learning French: the origins and meaning of 22 v’la les flics and other police terms

Hearing the number 22 when in France may suggest the police are nearby

Learning French: when and why do we say il y a anguille sous roche?

Find out which Franco-American celebrity used this phrase in a TV interview

Learning French: when and why do we say entre chien et loup?

Use this saying to describe the moment after sunset

Eight examples of French romanticising everyday language

From death and black eyes to cooking and moving forward, French has a way of romanticising life

Learning French: avoir la pêche and other fruit expressions

With France's summer fruit season upon us, we pick out some of our favourite fruit-based French phrases

Learning French: the origins and meaning of avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez

A mustard metaphor for rising anger

Learning French: 12 words and phrases that are untranslatable in English

From faire du yaourt to l’esprit d’escalier, here are some words that have no direct English equivalents

Learning French: do acronyms confuse or simplify language learning?

We look at common sigles that you might come across in France

Learning French: test your Bastille Day vocabulary

From fireworks to military parades, do you know these words related to France’s fête nationale?

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ce n’est pas la mer à boire

Say this when something is easy-peasy

Learning French: what does faire semblant mean and when should it be used?

Say this when someone is putting on an act

Learning French: when and why do we say se faire des cheveux blancs?

Discover the connection between this worrisome phrase and Marie Antoinette

5 podcasts to improve your French this summer

Listening is one of the most important language skills to grasp and podcasts are a great tool

Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

Practise key health phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Learning French: rouler en chasse-patate and more Tour de France expressions

The 100-year-old annual bicycle race has long-standing traditions and even its own vocabulary

Learning French: what does fou rire mean and when should it be used?

A funny phrase for when you cannot suppress your laughter

Learning French: vocabulary to use at the post office in France

Practise key post-office phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Learning French: Ça tape and nine other expressions for hot weather

From a 'lead sun' to 'swimming' in sweat, here are some phrases to use as the temperature soars across France

Learning French: what does quelconque mean and when should it be used?

An adjective to describe something ordinary or insignificant

French translations can be delightful... when done wrong

Columnist Nick Inman looks at author Mark Twain's humorous take on French translation

Learning French: how to tell the time in France

O’clock, half past, noon… Practise key time phrases and vocabulary in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

What are the best methods to sound more native when speaking French?

Lessons focusing on pronunciation and phonetics are available

Learning French: Five fun ways to make a decision in France

From chifumi to chou-fleur... do you know the French equivalent to 'rock, paper, scissors'?

Five things they don’t tell you about... babies in France

From maternal diets to confusing names, there are many cultural differences to keep an eye out for...

Learning French: can you guess the film behind these translated titles?

Paris' Nuit Blanche 2025 shines a spotlight on cinema – here we look at the some of the surprising choices for translations of film names

Learning French: why do we say le vent d’autan rend fou?

Plus, more ways to describe madness when in France

Learning French: How to introduce yourself to a stranger in France

Practise key phrases and vocabulary for meeting new people, in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Dinguerie, débunker, deepfake… 150 words added to French dictionary, Le Petit Robert

Find out which of these trending terms you are familiar with

Learning French: the origins and meaning of c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue

Use this phrase when you find yourself in a catch-22

La Fête des Mères: 10 French expressions about mothers

'Mamie-gâteau', ‘mère courage’... we share some of our favourite mum-themed words and phrases

Learning French: Chapeau if you know these 10 clothing-themed phrases

Porter le chapeau, prendre une veste, lâcher les baskets, and more...

Learning French: How to write a cheque in France

Practise spelling-out numbers in this practical French lesson from the Little Language School

Learning French: understanding three words originating from Marseille

Have you ever heard someone say tarpin, gâté or tanquer?

Learning French: nouns that even native speakers commonly misgender

‘The struggle is real’, says our French writer Théophile Larcher - see if you can score higher than him in our mini quiz

Learning French: when and why do we say avoir le compas dans l'œil?

Say this to describe someone with good visual judgement of size or distance

Learning French: the origins and meaning of faire le mariole

Acting the goat or fooling around, we explore the French phrase to describe the class clown

Learning French: what does à fond mean and when should it be used?

An enthusiastic and thorough adverb

Learning French: the origins and meaning of être dans la force de l’âge

A saying to describe being in the prime of life

Learning French: what does recevoir une note salée mean and when should it be used?

A salty saying for inflated expenses

Learning French: when and why do we say qui se ressemble s’assemble?

This rhyming expression is all about highlighting similarities between people

Learning French: what does sacquer mean and when should it be used?

You may be able to guess one of the meanings behind this informal term that sounds just like an English equivalent

Learning French: the meaning of ça va le faire

Plus, what other ways can ça be used?

Learning French: Have you ever dreamt in your target language?

From passive listening to active speaking, dreaming in French can indicate you are regularly practicing it

From English teacher to TikTok star in France: 'The way to help students learn is to believe in them'

Toulouse-based Monsieur Prof's educational videos on learning English are a social media sensation

Learning French: what does fastoche mean and when should it be used?

Plus, can you guess the meaning behind more simple slang terms ending in -oche

Learning French: when and why do we say montrer patte blanche?

A French fairytale phrase for trustworthiness

Learning French: what does pile-poil mean and when should it be used?

Plus, find out how to pronounce this precise phrase

Learning French: four expressions featuring fil

The word is used in a springtime saying that comes with a weather warning

Learning French: understanding 'backwards' abbreviations

The penchant for shortening long terms makes the language even harder for foreigners to understand

Learning French: the origins and meaning of gratin

Understand the etymological roots of this beloved dish with a crispy, cheesy topping

Learning French: what does comme par hasard mean and when should it be used?

A sarcastic saying to describe something unsurprising or coincidental

Can you master these 10 French tongue twisters?

As well as being a fun party trick, these can help you master pronunciation of difficult sounds

Learning French: what is the difference between tout compris and tout inclus?

How to avoid costly ‘all-inclusive’ surprises

Three fun fromage phrases for France’s national cheese day

Today (Thursday, March 27) is la journée nationale du fromage

Learning French: the origins and meaning of ça me fait une belle jambe

A sarcastic saying to suggest something is unimportant or irrelevant

Learning French: when and why do we say racler les fonds de tiroir?

An expression for when funds are running desperately low

Learning French: the origins and meaning of tenir au jus

A juicy saying for when you want to be kept in the loop

Learning French: when and why do we say de fil en aiguille?

An expression to reflect a gradual progression

Learning French: helpful vocabulary for finding an artisan in France

Hiring artisans can be costly... use these essential terms to navigate the process effectively