Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Learning French: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free French course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What French is like

French is a Romance language descended from Latin, so it shares its DNA with Spanish, Italian and — through centuries of borrowing — English. Every noun has a gender, masculine or feminine, which controls the article: le/la ("the") and un/une ("a"). Adjectives and articles agree with their noun in gender and number (un petit café, une petite table). Verbs conjugate by person, but as a traveler you can go remarkably far with a handful of ready-made frames: "Je voudrais…" (I'd like…) for anything you want, "Est-ce qu'il y a…?" (Is there…?) and "Avez-vous…?" (Do you have…?) to ask. Word order is close to English (subject–verb–object). Best of all, English borrowed thousands of French words — restaurant, menu, information, impossible, nation — so you already recognize a huge slice of the vocabulary; just say it the French way.

Words you may already know

Pronunciation notes

French has nasal vowels and a throaty r — copy the audio. But you already recognise a huge share of the vocabulary from English.

• on / an / in — nasal vowels — let the sound resonate in the nose, don't fully pronounce the n, as in bon, blanc, vin.
• r — a soft guttural r made in the back of the throat, like a light gargle, as in merci (thank you).
• é — a closed 'ay' sound, like the e in 'café', as in café (coffee).
• è — an open 'eh' sound, like the e in 'bet', as in très (very).
• silent finals — most final consonants are silent — you don't say the last letter, as in petit sounds like 'puh-TEE'.
• u — round your lips to say 'oo' but try to say 'ee' — a tight front vowel, as in tu (you).
• ou — a simple 'oo' like in 'food', as in vous (you).
• liaison — a normally silent final consonant links onto a following vowel, as in les amis sounds like 'lay-zah-MEE'.
• ç — the cedilla makes a c sound like 's' before a, o, u, as in français (French).

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

How the French course is structured

The course has 31 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

1. Greetings — Bonjour · Merci · S'il vous plaît
2. I'd like" — Je voudrais · un café · une eau
3. Numbers — un–dix · vingt · C'est combien ?
4. Food — le menu · l'addition · c'est délicieux
5. Getting around — Où est… ? · à gauche/à droite · tout droit
6. I have / there is — j'ai · il y a · avez-vous… ?
7. Talking about the past — j'ai mangé · je suis allé · j'ai vu
8. Mine & yours — mon/ma · votre · c'est à moi
9. Time & when — aujourd'hui · maintenant · quelle heure est-il ?
10. Question words — qui · où · quoi · pourquoi · quand · comment
11. Can / want / must — je peux · je veux · je dois · il faut
12. Joining ideas & getting by — et · mais · parce que · Je ne comprends pas
13. Shopping & bargaining — C'est combien? · trop cher
14. Family & people — la famille · mère/père
15. Colours & describing — adjectives agree
16. At the restaurant — réserver · une table pour deux
17. Days, dates & months — les jours · les mois
18. Weather & small talk — il fait chaud/froid · ça va?
19. Transport & tickets — le bus · un billet
20. Money & prices — cent → mille · payer par carte
21. Hotel & booking — une chambre · la clé
22. Phone, internet & staying in touch — le wifi · le mot de passe
23. Être vs Avoir — je suis vs j'ai
24. The near future — je vais + infinitive — je vais manger
25. Aimer & feelings — j'aime · je préfère
26. Everyday verbs & routines — je me lève · tous les jours
27. Feeling ill / at the doctor — j'ai mal à… · je suis malade
28. Countries, nationalities & languages — je viens de… · je parle…
29. Making plans & suggestions — tu veux…? · on va…?
30. Politeness & survival — s'il vous plaît · pourriez-vous…?
31. Final scene — put it all together — a capstone scene: no new words, just everything you've built

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings

Key pieces: Bonjour · Merci · S'il vous plaît

French politeness starts with one word: bonjour. Literally bon (good) + jour (day). Say it before anything else.

• bonjour (bon-ZHOOR) — hello / good day Memory hook: bon = good, jour = day.
• merci (mair-SEE) — thank you Memory hook: think of 'mercy'.
• oui (wee) — yes
• non (nong) — no

To say “Hello (good day)” in French: Bonjour (bon-ZHOOR). Built from bon = good; jour = day.

To say “Thank you” in French: Merci (mair-SEE). Built from merci = thanks. like English 'mercy'.

To be polite when asking, add s'il vous plaît — literally 'if it pleases you'. And to say goodbye, au revoir.

• s'il vous plaît (seel voo PLEH) — please Memory hook: s'il = if it, vous = you, plaît = pleases.
• au revoir (oh ruh-VWAR) — goodbye
• pardon (par-DONG) — excuse me / sorry Memory hook: = English 'pardon'.

To say “Please (formal)” in French: S'il vous plaît (seel voo PLEH). Built from s'il = if it; vous = you; plaît = pleases.

To say “Goodbye” in French: Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAR). Built from au revoir = until seeing again.

I'd like"

Key pieces: Je voudrais · un café · une eau

The traveler's magic phrase: Je voudrais… — 'I would like…'. Add any noun and you can order anything politely.

• je voudrais (zhuh voo-DRAY) — I would like Memory hook: softer, more polite than 'je veux' (I want).
• un café (ung kah-FAY) — a coffee Memory hook: café = English 'café'.
• une eau (oon oh) — a water Memory hook: 'eau' as in eau de toilette.
• un thé (ung TAY) — a tea Memory hook: thé ≈ 'tea'.

Notice un (masculine 'a') with café, but une (feminine 'a') with eau. Every noun has a gender — you'll pick it up by ear.

To say “I would like a coffee” in French: Je voudrais un café (zhuh voo-DRAY ung kah-FAY). Built from je voudrais = I'd like; un = a (masc.); café = coffee.

To say “I would like a water” in French: Je voudrais une eau (zhuh voo-DRAY oon oh). Built from je voudrais = I'd like; une = a (fem.); eau = water.

To ask for the bill at the end, request l'addition. The l' is 'the' before a vowel.

To say “I would like the bill, please” in French: Je voudrais l'addition, s'il vous plaît (zhuh voo-DRAY lah-dee-see-ONG, seel voo PLEH). Built from je voudrais = I'd like; l'addition = the bill; s'il vous plaît = please.

To say “I would like a tea, please” in French: Je voudrais un thé, s'il vous plaît (zhuh voo-DRAY ung TAY, seel voo PLEH). Built from je voudrais = I'd like; un thé = a tea; s'il vous plaît = please.

Numbers

Key pieces: un–dix · vingt · C'est combien ?

Count from one to five: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq. These appear everywhere — prices, addresses, times.

• un (ung) — one
• deux (duh) — two Memory hook: 'deux' → 'duo'.
• trois (trwah) — three Memory hook: 'trois' → 'trio'.
• quatre (KAH-truh) — four Memory hook: 'quatre' → 'quart'.
• cinq (sank) — five

• six (seess) — six
• sept (set) — seven Memory hook: 'sept' → 'September' (the old Roman 7th month).
• huit (weet) — eight
• neuf (nuhf) — nine
• dix (deess) — ten Memory hook: 'dix' → 'decimal'.

To say “Three” in French: Trois (trwah). Built from trois = three. 'trio'.

To say “Ten” in French: Dix (deess). Built from dix = ten.

Bigger jumps: vingt (20) and cent (100). To ask a price: C'est combien ? — 'It's how much?'

• vingt (vang) — twenty
• cent (sahng) — hundred Memory hook: 'cent' → 'century, percent'.
• c'est combien (say kom-bee-AN) — how much is it Memory hook: c'est = it is, combien = how much.

To say “How much is it?” in French: C'est combien ? (say kom-bee-AN?). Built from c'est = it is; combien = how much.

To say “Twenty euros” in French: Vingt euros (vang uh-ROH). Built from vingt = twenty; euros = euros.

Food

Key pieces: le menu · l'addition · c'est délicieux

At a restaurant, ask for le menu (or la carte). Then use Je voudrais… from before to order.

• le menu (luh muh-NOO) — the menu Memory hook: = English 'menu'.
• la viande (lah vee-AHND) — the meat
• le poisson (luh pwah-SONG) — the fish
• délicieux (day-lee-see-UH) — delicious Memory hook: ≈ 'delicious'.

Vegetarian? Say Je ne mange pas de viande — 'I don't eat meat'. The frame ne … pas wraps the verb to make it negative.

To say “I don't eat meat” in French: Je ne mange pas de viande (zhuh nuh MAHNZH pah duh vee-AHND). Built from je = I; ne … pas = not; mange = eat; de viande = (any) meat.

To say “It's delicious” in French: C'est délicieux (say day-lee-see-UH). Built from c'est = it is; délicieux = delicious. ≈ English 'delicious'.

To say “I would like the menu, please” in French: Je voudrais le menu, s'il vous plaît (zhuh voo-DRAY luh muh-NOO, seel voo PLEH). Built from je voudrais = I'd like; le menu = the menu; s'il vous plaît = please.

To say “The bill, please” in French: L'addition, s'il vous plaît (lah-dee-see-ONG, seel voo PLEH). Built from l'addition = the bill; s'il vous plaît = please.

Getting around

Key pieces: Où est… ? · à gauche/à droite · tout droit

To find anything, ask Où est… ? — 'Where is…?'. Then listen for directions: left, right, or straight ahead.

• où est (oo eh) — where is Memory hook: où = where, est = is.
• à gauche (ah GOHSH) — to the left
• à droite (ah DRWAT) — to the right Memory hook: 'droite' → 'adroit'.
• tout droit (too DRWAH) — straight ahead

• les toilettes (lay twah-LET) — the toilets Memory hook: = 'toilets'.
• l'aéroport (lah-ay-roh-POR) — the airport Memory hook: ≈ 'airport'.
• un taxi (ung tak-SEE) — a taxi Memory hook: = 'taxi'.

To say “Where are the toilets?” in French: Où sont les toilettes ? (oo song lay twah-LET?). Built from où = where; sont = are; les toilettes = the toilets.

To say “Where is the airport?” in French: Où est l'aéroport ? (oo eh lah-ay-roh-POR?). Built from où est = where is; l'aéroport = the airport.

To say “Where is the hotel?” in French: Où est l'hôtel ? (oo eh lo-TEL?). Built from où est = where is; l'hôtel = the hotel.

To say “To the right, then straight ahead” in French: À droite, puis tout droit (ah DRWAT, pwee too DRWAH). Built from à droite = to the right; puis = then; tout droit = straight ahead.

I have / there is

Key pieces: j'ai · il y a · avez-vous… ?

Two workhorse phrases: j'ai ('I have') and il y a ('there is / there are'). Together they express possession and existence.

• j'ai (zhay) — I have Memory hook: je + ai squeezed together.
• il y a (eel-YAH) — there is / there are
• avez-vous (ah-vay-VOO) — do you have Memory hook: literally 'have you'.
• je n'ai pas (zhuh nay PAH) — I don't have Memory hook: ne … pas around 'ai'.

To say “I have a reservation” in French: J'ai une réservation (zhay oon ray-zair-vah-SYONG). Built from j'ai = I have; une réservation = a reservation.

To say “Is there a menu?” in French: Il y a un menu ? (eel-YAH ung muh-NOO?). Built from il y a = there is; un menu = a menu.

To say “Do you have water?” in French: Avez-vous de l'eau ? (ah-vay-VOO duh LOH?). Built from avez-vous = do you have; de l'eau = (some) water.

To say “I don't have money” in French: Je n'ai pas d'argent (zhuh nay PAH dar-ZHONG). Built from je n'ai pas = I don't have; d'argent = (any) money.

See the pattern? ne … pas wraps the verb. With ai it becomes n'ai pas because 'ne' drops its e before a vowel.

Talking about the past

Key pieces: j'ai mangé · je suis allé · j'ai vu

To speak of the past, French often uses j'ai (I have) + a past participle. J'ai mangé = 'I ate' (literally 'I have eaten').

• j'ai mangé (zhay mahn-ZHAY) — I ate / I have eaten Memory hook: j'ai = I have, mangé = eaten.
• j'ai vu (zhay VOO) — I saw Memory hook: vu = seen.
• j'ai visité (zhay vee-zee-TAY) — I visited Memory hook: ≈ 'visited'.
• je suis allé (zhuh swee zah-LAY) — I went Memory hook: movement verbs use 'suis' (am) instead of 'ai'.

To say “I ate at the restaurant” in French: J'ai mangé au restaurant (zhay mahn-ZHAY oh res-toh-RONG). Built from j'ai mangé = I ate; au restaurant = at the restaurant.

To say “I visited Paris” in French: J'ai visité Paris (zhay vee-zee-TAY pah-REE). Built from j'ai visité = I visited; Paris = Paris.

To say “I went to the airport” in French: Je suis allé à l'aéroport (zhuh swee zah-LAY ah lah-ay-roh-POR). Built from je suis allé = I went; à l'aéroport = to the airport.

To say “I saw the menu” in French: J'ai vu le menu (zhay VOO luh muh-NOO). Built from j'ai vu = I saw; le menu = the menu.

Mine & yours

Key pieces: mon/ma · votre · c'est à moi

'My' changes with the noun's gender: mon (masc.) and ma (fem.). 'Your' (formal) is votre for either.

• mon café (mong kah-FAY) — my coffee Memory hook: mon before masculine.
• ma table (mah TAH-bluh) — my table Memory hook: ma before feminine.
• votre menu (VOH-truh muh-NOO) — your menu Memory hook: votre = your (formal).
• c'est à moi (say tah MWAH) — it's mine Memory hook: literally 'it is to me'.

To say “It's my coffee” in French: C'est mon café (say mong kah-FAY). Built from c'est = it is; mon café = my coffee.

To say “It's mine” in French: C'est à moi (say tah MWAH). Built from c'est = it is; à moi = to me / mine.

To say “Where is your table?” in French: Où est votre table ? (oo eh VOH-truh TAH-bluh?). Built from où est = where is; votre table = your table.

To say “It's my water” in French: C'est mon eau (say mong-NOH). Built from c'est = it is; mon eau = my water. 'mon' used before eau for smoother sound.

Time & when

Key pieces: aujourd'hui · maintenant · quelle heure est-il ?

Anchor yourself in time: aujourd'hui (today), maintenant (now), demain (tomorrow), hier (yesterday).

• aujourd'hui (oh-zhoor-DWEE) — today
• maintenant (mant-NONG) — now
• demain (duh-MAN) — tomorrow
• hier (ee-AIR) — yesterday

To ask the time: Quelle heure est-il ? — 'What hour is it?'. Heure ≈ 'hour'.

To say “What time is it?” in French: Quelle heure est-il ? (kel UHR eh-TEEL?). Built from quelle = what; heure = hour; est-il = is it.

To say “I'm going to the airport now” in French: Je vais à l'aéroport maintenant (zhuh vay ah lah-ay-roh-POR mant-NONG). Built from je vais = I go; à l'aéroport = to the airport; maintenant = now.

To say “Tomorrow, not today” in French: Demain, pas aujourd'hui (duh-MAN, pah oh-zhoor-DWEE). Built from demain = tomorrow; pas = not; aujourd'hui = today.

To say “I ate there yesterday” in French: J'ai mangé là-bas hier (zhay mahn-ZHAY lah-BAH ee-AIR). Built from j'ai mangé = I ate; là-bas = over there; hier = yesterday.

Question words

Key pieces: qui · où · quoi · pourquoi · quand · comment

Master the question words and you can ask anything: qui (who), où (where), quoi/qu'est-ce que (what), pourquoi (why), quand (when), comment (how).

• qui (kee) — who
• où (oo) — where
• qu'est-ce que (kess-kuh) — what (what is it that)
• pourquoi (poor-KWAH) — why Memory hook: pour = for, quoi = what.

• quand (kahng) — when
• comment (koh-MONG) — how Memory hook: also 'comment' as in 'how do you say'.

To say “When?” in French: Quand ? (kahng?). Built from quand = when.

To say “Why not?” in French: Pourquoi pas ? (poor-KWAH pah?). Built from pourquoi = why; pas = not.

To say “What is it?” in French: Qu'est-ce que c'est ? (kess-kuh SAY?). Built from qu'est-ce que = what; c'est = it is.

To say “How much is it?” in French: C'est combien ? (say kom-bee-AN?). Built from c'est = it is; combien = how much.

Can / want / must

Key pieces: je peux · je veux · je dois · il faut

Three power verbs, each followed by another verb: je peux (I can), je veux (I want), je dois (I must). Add il faut for 'it's necessary'.

• je peux (zhuh PUH) — I can Memory hook: peux → 'potent, possible'.
• je veux (zhuh VUH) — I want
• je dois (zhuh DWAH) — I must / I have to
• il faut (eel FOH) — it is necessary / one must

To say “I want to eat” in French: Je veux manger (zhuh VUH mahn-ZHAY). Built from je veux = I want; manger = to eat.

To say “I must go” in French: Je dois aller (zhuh DWAH ah-LAY). Built from je dois = I must; aller = to go.

To say “Can I pay?” in French: Je peux payer ? (zhuh PUH pay-YAY?). Built from je peux = I can; payer = to pay.

To say “You have to turn right” in French: Il faut tourner à droite (eel FOH toor-NAY ah DRWAT). Built from il faut = one must; tourner = to turn; à droite = to the right.

Joining ideas & getting by

Key pieces: et · mais · parce que · Je ne comprends pas

Connect your thoughts: et (and), mais (but), aussi (also), parce que (because), très (very).

• et (ay) — and
• mais (meh) — but
• aussi (oh-SEE) — also / too
• parce que (par-suh-KUH) — because
• très (treh) — very

And your survival phrases: Je ne comprends pas (I don't understand) and Parlez-vous anglais ? (Do you speak English?).

To say “A coffee and a water” in French: Un café et une eau (ung kah-FAY ay oon OH). Built from un café = a coffee; et = and; une eau = a water.

To say “It's good but very expensive” in French: C'est bon mais très cher (say BONG meh treh SHAIR). Built from c'est bon = it's good; mais = but; très cher = very expensive.

To say “I don't understand” in French: Je ne comprends pas (zhuh nuh kom-PRAHN pah). Built from je = I; ne … pas = not; comprends = understand.

To say “Can you help me?” in French: Pouvez-vous m'aider ? (poo-vay-VOO meh-DAY?). Built from pouvez-vous = can you; m'aider = help me.

Shopping & bargaining

Key pieces: C'est combien? · trop cher

Let's shop. The magic question is C'est combien? = 'How much is it?'. Learn a few price words and you can bargain anywhere.

• cher (shair) — expensive
• bon marché (bon mar-SHAY) — cheap (good market)
• trop (troh) — too (much)
• moins (mwan) — less
• la taille (lah tie) — the size
• je prends (zhuh pron) — I take Memory hook: like 'apprehend' = take hold of.

To say “How much is it?” in French: C'est combien? (say kom-bee-AN). Built from c'est = it is; combien = how much.

To say “It's too expensive.” in French: C'est trop cher. (say troh shair). Built from c'est = it is; trop = too; cher = expensive.

To say “Do you have something cheaper?” in French: Vous avez quelque chose de moins cher? (voo-zav-ay kel-kuh shohz duh mwan shair). Built from vous avez = you have; quelque chose = something; de moins cher = of less expensive.

To say “I'll take it.” in French: Je le prends. (zhuh luh pron). Built from je = I; le = it; prends = take.

Family & people

Key pieces: la famille · mère/père

Talk about your people. la famille looks just like 'family'. Most family words are easy to remember.

• la famille (lah fah-MEE-yuh) — the family Memory hook: family.
• la mère (lah mair) — the mother Memory hook: maternal.
• le père (luh pair) — the father Memory hook: paternal.
• le fils (luh feess) — the son
• la fille (lah fee-yuh) — the daughter / girl
• le frère (luh frair) — the brother Memory hook: fraternal.
• la sœur (lah sur) — the sister Memory hook: sorority.
• le mari (luh mah-REE) — the husband Memory hook: marital.
• la femme (lah fam) — the wife / woman
• un ami (un ah-MEE) — a friend Memory hook: amicable.

To say “This is my family.” in French: Voici ma famille. (vwah-see mah fah-MEE-yuh). Built from voici = here is; ma = my (fem); famille = family.

To say “My mother and my father.” in French: Ma mère et mon père. (mah mair ay mon pair). Built from ma mère = my mother; et = and; mon père = my father.

To say “I have a brother and a sister.” in French: J'ai un frère et une sœur. (zhay un frair ay oon sur). Built from j'ai = I have; un frère = a brother; et = and; une sœur = a sister.

To say “She is my wife.” in French: C'est ma femme. (say mah fam). Built from c'est = it/this is; ma = my; femme = wife.

Colours & describing

Key pieces: adjectives agree

French adjectives agree: add -e for feminine. grand (m) → grande (f). vert → verte. The final consonant is silent in the masculine but pronounced in the feminine.

• grand (gron) — big / tall (m) Memory hook: grand.
• grande (grond) — big / tall (f)
• petit (puh-TEE) — small (m) Memory hook: petite.
• rouge (roozh) — red Memory hook: rouge.
• vert (vair) — green (m) Memory hook: verdant.
• verte (vairt) — green (f)
• bleu (bluh) — blue Memory hook: blue.
• blanc (blon) — white (m) Memory hook: blank.
• noir (nwahr) — black Memory hook: noir.

To say “a big house” in French: une grande maison (oon grond may-ZON). Built from une = a (fem); grande = big (fem to match maison); maison = house.

To say “a small dog” in French: un petit chien (un puh-TEE shee-AN). Built from un = a (masc); petit = small (masc); chien = dog.

To say “the red car” in French: la voiture rouge (lah vwah-toor roozh). Built from la = the (fem); voiture = car; rouge = red (same both genders).

To say “a green apple” in French: une pomme verte (oon pom vairt). Built from une = a (fem); pomme = apple (fem); verte = green (fem).

To compare: plus grand que = bigger than, le plus grand = the biggest.

• plus grand que (plu grahn kuh) — bigger than
• le plus grand (luh plu grahn) — the biggest

At the restaurant

Key pieces: réserver · une table pour deux

Dining out. réserver = 'to reserve'. Ask for a table, order a course, or take it away.

• réserver (ray-zair-VAY) — to reserve Memory hook: reserve.
• une table (oon tah-bluh) — a table Memory hook: table.
• l'entrée (lon-TRAY) — the starter Memory hook: entrée.
• le plat (luh plah) — the main dish Memory hook: plate.
• à emporter (ah om-por-TAY) — to take away
• l'addition (lah-dee-see-ON) — the bill Memory hook: addition.
• compris (kom-PREE) — included Memory hook: comprise.

To say “I'd like to reserve a table.” in French: Je voudrais réserver une table. (zhuh voo-DRAY ray-zair-VAY oon tah-bluh). Built from je voudrais = I would like; réserver = to reserve; une table = a table.

To say “A table for two, please.” in French: Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. (oon tah-bluh poor duh, seel voo PLAY). Built from une table = a table; pour deux = for two; s'il vous plaît = please.

To say “The starter and the main dish.” in French: L'entrée et le plat. (lon-TRAY ay luh plah). Built from l'entrée = the starter; et = and; le plat = the main dish.

To say “It's to take away.” in French: C'est à emporter. (say-tah om-por-TAY). Built from c'est = it is; à emporter = to take away.

Common mistakes and things to watch out for

• qu'est-ce que (kess-kuh): what is it that.
• bon marché (bon mar-SHAY): good market.
• je me lave (zhuh muh lav): myself.

Culture and etiquette

The daily bread

The baguette is bought fresh daily. A traditional one is protected by law and made with just flour, water, yeast and salt. Say "une baguette, s'il vous plaît" at any boulangerie.

La bise

Friends greet with cheek kisses (la bise) — usually two, but the number varies by region. In formal settings, a handshake is safer. When in doubt, follow the other person's lead.

Bon appétit

Meals are social and unhurried. Wait for everyone to be served and say "bon appétit" before eating. The bill (l'addition) won't come until you ask — it's considered rude to rush you.

Vous vs tu

French has two words for "you": formal vous and familiar tu. Use vous with strangers, elders, and in shops. Wait to be invited to use tu.

Politeness first

Always open with "Bonjour" before asking anything — walking into a shop and asking straight away can seem rude. A "Bonjour" and "merci" transform every interaction.

French beyond France

French is official in 29 countries — from Canada and Belgium to Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Accents and slang vary, but standard French is understood everywhere you go.

Example dialogues

Ordering at a café

Taking a taxi

Meeting someone

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.