Learning French: when and why do we say mettre la main à la pâte? This French phrase has little to do with pâte or dough and is useful when you need to ‘get stuck into' a task
Letters: BBC downsizing will hurt listeners in France Reader says little information is available about the broadcaster's plans to shut down its Sounds app and website in Spring
Learning French: what does top départ mean and when should it be used? A handy phrase to indicate that an event is underway
practical Comment: French restaurants struggle with the idea of serving vegetables Columnist and vegetarian Sarah Beattie looks at the slow progress of non-meat options
Learning French: five short talk radio shows to improve your language skills Improve your French comprehension with these quick, insightful broadcasts that can also be listened to as podcasts
The basics of French wine labelling Why are French wines labelled as Bordeaux or Burgundies, and not Cabernet or Malbec? Jonathan Hesford explains
Why English and French breakfasts are so unalike A traditional hearty English breakfast may have been in response to France's lack of a morning meal
Letters: I took French driving test at 63 rather than swap my UK licence Connexion reader says it cost €530 in total
Learning French: when and why do we say être bien dans ses baskets? Watch out for false friends in this saying about self-confidence
Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Monks in the red In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?
Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue... Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?
Letters: French driving theory tests are too hard for older drivers Connexion reader says they are designed as a hurdle for younger drivers
Learning French: when and why do we say avoir la boule au ventre? A phrase for when you are feeling stressed or nervous French herbs: How to grow your own and use them correctly 'How we are reviving our Belle Epoque property on the edge of Lyon' Learning French: what does que dalle mean and when should it be used?
Martel: the medieval French town home to a 'truffle' train and lavender festival The small town in the Lot offered refuge to an English throne heir until his death Learning French: the origins and meaning of boire la tasse Gardening in France: get set to be dazzled by dahlias Letters: Waste collection in France needs a rethink Brittany lighthouse lens removal leads to public outcry Why Madeleines have enduring appeal in France
Learning French: the meaning of tiret du six versus tiret du huit Plus, how to tell someone your email address in French
Learning French: the origins and meaning of piger A slang word for measuring comprehension… that has nothing to do with pigs
Cherry blossoms galore: Europe's largest Japanese garden is in France Picnic beneath pink trees and celebrate the tradition of Hanami at the Parc Oriental de Maulévrier
Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue... Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?
Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Green tourism In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?
'I am too afraid to drive in France - it feels like the wrong side of the road' Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on acclimatising to French roads and motorways
How France looks after its historical treasures Emmanuel Pénicaut, director of collections at Mobilier national, explains the organisation’s vital role
English-language poets in France showcased in new anthology 29 poets from a stanza group worked together on the collection
Experiences: Why I love where I live in Brittany Connexion reader recounts how she found her haven in Saint-Servan, Ille-et-Vilaine
Learning French: what does être costaud mean and when should it be used? This article features strong language
Perpète-les-Oies and Petaouchnouk: origins of these bizarre French expressions Being familiar with such idioms can help to elevate your French to the next level
Comment: Nesting swallows have become a pest at my French home Columnist Samantha David is irked but the birds enjoy protected status
Did you know? France invented the strawberry As strawberry season gets underway, you might be surprised to hear that garden strawberries originated in France and can be used in many ways
Learning French: the origins and meaning of arrête ton char Say this when someone starts talking nonsense
Il est or c’est: how to remember when to use the right expression in French Some key grammar rules can help with this sometimes-tricky French phrase
Letters: ETA online link for people transiting through UK to or from France It is recommended to use the app to get an electronic travel authorisation - but this reader managed to apply without it
Comment: France's rural entertainment is real, raw and - usually - outstanding Local theatre is still the beating heart of the community in many French towns
Letters: Postal delays meant Christmas cards took five weeks to reach France Readers complain of gifts arriving well into the new year
Learning French: when and why do we say arriver à bon port? A phrase to use upon reaching your destination, safe and sound
Letters: French is a hard language - even for native speakers Reader recounts his struggle to find access to more modern teaching methods
Letters: French vegetarian burgers are still a work in progress Reader bemoans the lack of meat alternatives available in restaurants
Learning French: the meaning of râler and more moaning synonyms Which city in France is home to the biggest whiners?
Meet the volunteers vital to the growth of Open Gardens, and find out how you can join too The association, which raised €22,000 for children’s charities last year, is seeking help with various roles
Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Riverside fortress In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?
Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue... Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?
Comment: Signs of climate change are all around us in France Columnist Nick Inman says the complex overall picture may be beyond us but the clues are within the reach of all
Letters: I'm tired of second-home owners complaining about life in France Connexion reader questions people's problem with higher taxes and the 90/180 day rule
Letters: Our names always raise a smile in France Readers share their anecdotes about adapting their names to French
Letters: Free banking is so hard to find in France Reader notes with displeasure that he must now pay regular charges on his account
French films and TV shows to watch in March The second season of a cult classic released at the end of February, joining critically-acclaimed French films on streaming services
Letters: France has problems but following America is not the answer Connexion reader says a veer to the right would make France lose the kindness that sets its culture apart
Profile: French overseas minister Manuel Valls The former prime minister and so-called ‘Sarkozy of the Left’, whose shifting allegiances never fail to attract controversy
I volunteered as a firefighter in France - and you can too Along with running a gîte in Charente, Chloe Elliston, 47, also helps out at her caserne
Learning French: the origins and meaning of madeleine de Proust This nostalgic expression mixes references to baking and literature
Learning French: what does dommage mean and when should it be used? An essential term for unfortunate situations
Guess the French region with the help of this clue: A devilish project In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?
Career change in France: Lawyer to musician Connexion reader Martine Soukal, 54, tells how she returned to her first love of music while juggling her family and settling into life France
Learning French: what does ça te dit mean and when should it be used? This quick, informal question cannot be translated literally
Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue... Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?
Strangers’ amazing solidarity to scam victim in France 72-year-old Bernard Martin-Mourey lost €37,000 to a property scam
Learning French: beware of bilingual instructions Language notes from a lecturer on the pitfalls of translation
'We live in France but really miss our grandchild in the UK' Columnist Cynthia Spillman looks at ways to deal with the feeling of missing out on life's milestones
Learning French: unravelling popular shortcuts and contractions From ado to télé, which words are commonly shortened in everyday French?
Moving to France saved my life, says British mum Shorter waiting times for healthcare and more thorough check-ups made it possible for her to build a new life in France after cancer diagnosis
Photos: Paris exhibition explores what people do alone at home Behind the curtain: L’Intime Expo takes a fascinating look at people's private lives
Learning French: decoding alphabet expressions We explore the nuances of letter usage in acronyms and idioms
Letters: France's energy audit system does not work for stone properties Readers say the diagnostic de performance énergétique system heavily favours recent properties
Letters: €24,000 is how much we need for a comfortable life in France Connexion reader has kept a careful record of income and expenditure
Letters: France needs immigration to sustain its tax revenue Reader argues that the country's aging population creates an unbalanced economy
Learning French: what does paumé mean and when should it be used? An informal way of saying you are literally or figuratively lost
Letters: Age should not be an obstacle for adopting a pet dog in France Reader says over-70s need to be given the chance to take care of dogs who have no home
Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue... Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?
Guess the French region with the help of this clue: Get into the neo-Gothic spirit In which of France's 13 regions was this photo taken?
French visas and residency card applications: Connexion readers share their experiences The complex process is a challenge for many - including Britons, Americans and second-home owners
Comment: Uproar over Indian journalist reveals French approach to power Prominent news anchor Palki Sharma Upadhyay 'dared' tell the president his video on AI was 'not funny'
Comment: France's far-left leader is an increasingly pointless political dinosaur Columnist Simon Heffer looks at how the veteran leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon has split his own party
'We're fed up of visitors staying too long at our home in France' Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her advice on setting boundaries for guests
Learning French: what does c'est pas la peine mean and when should it be used? A useful phrase to describe useless actions
Comment: The last thing France needs is a debate on national identity Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes the right-wing turn of Prime Minister François Bayrou's government
Learning French: what is the difference between voir and voire? These words both sound exactly the same but have different meanings