Learning french

Why speaking French is good for your brain

Learning a new language can improve brain health and even delay the onset of dementia

Péter dans la soie: Fun French expression no. 3

This expression translates to ‘to fart in silk’ - we explain how to use it

Everyday French phrases with the verb ‘passer’

Many of these expressions can be used in daily conversation, boosting your fluency

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On va pas chercher midi à quatorze heures : Fun French expression no. 1

Find out what this amusing French expression means so you can start to use it in your conversations

‘Soaked like soup’: 7 French expressions to use for wet weather

From cows and dogs to soup, ropes and buckets - use these phrases when it is raining to sound like a native

Films, series, sports: What to watch in September to help improve your French

The new season of a Netflix 'love-to-hate' classic is available this month, alongside films at the cinema and the end of France's summer sporting extravaganza

Seven English words that you may not realise are French

As well as déjà vu and hors d’oeuvre, you may be surprised to learn how many words crossed the Channel

Nine reasons to learn French

Studying the language makes French culture more accessible and could improve your brain function

Learning French: be careful with the many words for a meeting

A 'réunion' and a 'rendez-vous' could translate to the same thing but do not have the meaning

Learning French: 8 handy French phrases using the word pouce

From gardening to less-than-gourmand meals, pouce appears more often than you may expect in French conversation

Six French expressions around cats to use in everyday conversations

A bon chat bon rat, avoir un chat dans la gorge - how many of these do you know?

Learn how to say goodbye in French in different situations

Salut, au revoir, à plus - find out which to use and when

Five podcasts to help your French listening skills: films, news, Olympics

Podcasts can be a great free resource to help you train your listening skills

Voilà ! Six French ‘filler’ words that are good to know

You can use these words to enhance your everyday conversations

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?

Seven ways to complain like a French person

The language has many ways to express displeasure - which locals have a reputation of using frequently

Try these compliments in French to charm like a native

Génial, un crack, raffiné - find out how to authentically show your approval

Laundry, fresh starts, mistakes: 8 phrases using tourner in French

This word appears in a number of different contexts – many of which can be employed in daily French conversation

English-speakers share the funny mistakes they have made in French

Here is a selection of embarrassing but amusing language anecdotes

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

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

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

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

7 French phrases that sound bizarre when translated

Using these expressions with native speakers will make you sound like a master of French

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?

‘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

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?

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

More French words and phrases with no real equivalent in English

Do you know anyone who is insortable or un bon vivant ?

How can I learn ‘business French’ to improve job prospects?

Many jobs require will require people to be fluent in the local language

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

Informal synonyms for everyday French words

Spoken French is very different to the language you learn in the classroom

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch out for these three ‘exception’ French grammar rules

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

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’

‘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

Do you know these regional variations of common French terms?

Pichet, cruche, broc à eau, carafe, pot d’eau or pot à eau- how would you order a jug of water in a restaurant?

Français, français: when do you cap up the F?

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

Do you know the English equivalents of these 5 French expressions?

Idioms and old expressions that every French person knows can be a good way to boost your language level

Unravel the etymology of certain French words

Discover the nuances, origins, and double meanings that certain French words have

Language learner spotlight on florid French of rugby's Ronan O’Gara

The Irish legend can be an inspiration for language learners after his motivational speech as coach at Stade Rochelais became a social media hit

What is the deuxième degré and how can it help your French?

Understanding the ‘second degree’ is key to improving your language skills

What is a ‘MOOC’ and how can it help you learn French for free?

The courses, some of which are run in association / link with the French government, are available to anyone with an internet connection

Five social media accounts to follow to improve your French

TikTok and Instagram are fantastic free learning resources

Ukrainian student passes baccalauréat after just one year of French

His achievement got him a meeting with the then education minister

Provençal pronunciation: How does it differ from standard French?

Provençal is enjoying a revival: Marseille has announced plans to record metro announcements in the dialect

Common mistakes French learners make and how to fix them

Whether it be definite articles or the difference between romantic and platonic love, French is full of nuance

Why exercise can put you on the fast track to being fluent in French

Studies show that keeping fit improves the speed at which new vocabulary is learnt

10 common French sayings to improve your language skills

From ‘telling salads’ to ‘giving his tongue to the cat’, here are some great sayings to embellish your sentences with

Ten French language basics to master before studying irregular verbs

Tip: Forget the past subjective and concentrate on perfecting day-to-day phrases

Widen your vocabulary with 10 alternatives to common French phrases

If you find yourself using the same old phrases you learned at school, here is how to elevate your language

12 phrases to show why ‘cul’ is a pillar of the French language

The word pops up frequently in commonly used French expressions

Try these newsletters to keep you on track with your French learning

Having one regularly drop into your inbox should help improve your French reading skills

How to stay motivated with your French language learning

Hitting a motivation wall is part of the process. Language teacher Sophie Parsons gives some tips for when this happens

Games to play with children to help improve their French

From the Alphabet ball game to Chinese whispers, there are plenty of fun ways to learn languages with youngsters this summer

Seven alternative French words to make you sound more native

Slang and jargon pop up all the time in French. But do you know how to use them?

Part two: French podcasts to help improve your language skills

There are podcasts for all levels of French learners

How to keep up with French news and improve your language skills

From podcasts to social media, there is a wealth of resources available

Career change: ‘What I learned at 54 working in a French vineyard’

We talk to Moira Tune about how exhausting vineyard work was the springboard to her new property career

Nine common filler words to help you better understand French

Recognising them will help you filter the words that matter in a sentence

Six French films to watch this month

Watching a film in French or with subtitles is one of the simplest ways to improve your language skills