HELP GUIDES

Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

Practical language

Improve your French: Our pick of the best language learning apps for 2025

Take your time to find one that suits your language level and goals for writing, listening and speaking

Films and series to watch to improve your French in the New Year

Improving your French can be as easy as settling down in front of the small screen

Learning French: When do we say bonjour, bonsoir and adieu?

Understanding their crucial role in French social interactions

practical

French residency cards: Key terms to know (and understand)

The application process is much easier if you understand the vocabulary

Is French still a popular language to learn?

The number of students studying languages is down and schools are finding it hard to recruit teachers

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

Who are France’s juilletistes and aoûtiens?

We look at two words used to describe different French summer holiday habits

Which French accents are the hardest to understand?

Geography and the speed at which people speak have an influence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do you need to speak French to do a road awareness course?

The requirement to undertake a course resulted from a driving incident

What is the origin of France’s motto ‘Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité’?

We look at the history of this phrase and the extent to which it is linked to the French Revolution

How can I watch French TV from abroad?

Watching French TV can be a good way to brush up on your language skills while outside the country, but not all channels are accessible

Are there any free government-approved online French courses?

Reader requests help to find a course which provides recognised certification

Why do French people say petit juif for elbow and is it offensive?

We look at the history of this expression which is becoming less common in everyday language

Language tests for multi-year residency cards on agenda for French MPs

Many forms of card already involve tests – and hundreds of hours of lessons if your language skills are poor

‘Faire la pluie et le beau temps’: Our French expression of the week

As storms chase hot weather into western and southern France today, we look at an expression relating to rain and sunshine

‘Se mettre au diapason’: Our French expression of the week

We look at a musical expression related to the idea of being in tune with another person or a certain situation

Five tips to mastering the French language when you move to France

Learning French as an adult can be difficult - five readers share their experience of what worked for them

Hyphens, no hyphens: what is correct spelling of French commune names?

The Association des Maires de France explains the official rules

How new arrivals in France can learn language

I am moving to France soon and would like advice on free French language tuition or help towards funding lessons. I believe the state offered this. Is it possible and, if so, how can I start the process?

False friend: Does 'verbalisation' in French mean warning?

It is common to read in French media about people receiving a 'verbalisation' by police for breaking Covid-related rules. We explain whether it means they have been warned by police or given a fine.

Why do French people say 'quinzaine' for two weeks?

Various explanations include 'quinzaine' simply being easiest to say to the French associating a two-week period with half a month, so 15 rather than 14 days

What is the difference between 'cuisine équipée/aménagée'?

These two terms are often listed on French property adverts and it is good to know the difference so you know what to expect from your new kitchen

Joining a library in France: A free way to improve your French

There are more than 16,000 public libraries in France with varying levels of online services

French residency cards ‘should depend on a language test’

Right-wing French political party Les Républicains wants to introduce obligatory language tests for anyone applying for a residency card

New French language course to be offered to foreign workers

French as a foreign language is to be offered as an option under the government’s lifelong learning scheme which is open to all workers.

Understanding French cuts of beef

The choice of meat cuts in France can be baffling. The Connexion gets tips from a British butcher in France

Is the word paysan insulting in French?

I was listening to a radio report about a recent tractor protest in Paris and heard the reporter refer to the farmers as paysans . It sounded insulting, like they were calling them “peasants” – did I understand correctly? R.G.

English children won't always be top of English class

Learning English in France when you are an 'Anglo' is not as simple as you may think

Where can I sit a language test to become French?

How do I find out where to sit a French language test to include in a nationality application? I was trying to find a centre in which to take the DELF test. C.P.

15 years on, I still speak French with an accent

Young movers: ‘It was sink or swim!’ says Tom Rowe who arrived in France at age 13

Horses for courses... Holly’s route to a legal career

Holly Jessop is a Paris lawyer but could not speak any French when her family moved to rural Mayenne from Dorset nearly two decades ago.

Make life easy on yourself when learning a language

One of the first things we say in our Moving to and Living in France guide is “learn to speak French” but many readers do not. Nick Inman reveals how he beat his block

Will France still pay for language course?

Is free French language training paid for by the government still available to Britons who wish to live here permanently? A.O.