Learn French, lesson by lesson
The French alphabet has 26 letters, just like English. However, the pronunciation of letter names is quite different—each letter has a specific name used when spelling aloud. Mastering these names is your first step to reading and spelling in French. The 26 Letters Letter French Name IPA Example Word A a a [a] ami [ami] … Read more
French uses 5 accent marks that change how letters are pronounced or distinguish between words that would otherwise look identical. They primarily modify pronunciation (especially on the letter “e”) and are essential for reading and writing French correctly. The 5 French Accents Accent French Name English Name Used On é accent aigu [aksɑ̃ tegy] acute … Read more
In French, many letters are written but not pronounced—French spelling often preserves historical letters that are no longer spoken. Most final consonants are silent, and certain letters in the middle of words can also be silent. Learning these patterns will help you predict pronunciation and speak naturally. 1. Silent Final Consonants Most consonants at the … Read more
In French, certain letters combine to create new sounds. These combinations (digraphs and trigraphs) produce sounds different from their individual letters. Once you learn these patterns, you can read almost any French word correctly. 1. Vowel Combinations When vowels appear together, they often make a single sound: Combination IPA Examples ou [u] vous [vu] — … Read more
La liaison is when you pronounce the final consonant of a word together with the vowel at the beginning of the next word. Many French words end with silent consonants, but when the next word starts with a vowel or silent “h”, that consonant comes alive and links to the next word—making French sound smooth … Read more
In French, elision occurs when certain short words lose their final vowel before a word beginning with a vowel or silent h. The dropped vowel is replaced by an apostrophe (‘). This is mandatory—not optional—and makes French sound smooth and natural. Words like je, le, la, de, ne, que, and se lose their final -e … Read more
French has different greetings depending on the time of day and level of formality. Choosing the right greeting shows respect and helps you make a good first impression. French IPA English When to Use Bonjour [bɔ̃.ʒuʁ] Hello / Good day Anytime during the day (formal + informal) Salut [sa.ly] Hi / Hey Informal, with friends … Read more
French has multiple ways to say goodbye depending on the situation and when you expect to see the person again. French IPA English When to Use Au revoir [o ʁə.vwaʁ] Goodbye Universal, formal + informal Salut [sa.ly] Bye Informal, with friends À bientôt [a bjɛ̃.to] See you soon When you’ll meet again soon À demain … Read more
Politeness is essential in French culture. Using s’il vous plaît and merci isn’t optional — it’s expected in virtually every interaction. French IPA English Formality S’il vous plaît [sil vu plɛ] Please Formal S’il te plaît [sil tə plɛ] Please Informal Merci [mɛʁ.si] Thank you Universal Merci beaucoup [mɛʁ.si bo.ku] Thank you very much Universal … Read more
French has three main ways to apologize or get someone’s attention, each with a different purpose. French IPA English Main Use Excusez-moi [ɛk.sky.ze mwa] Excuse me Getting attention, interrupting Pardon [paʁ.dɔ̃] Pardon / Sorry Bumping into someone, quick apology Désolé(e) [de.zɔ.le] Sorry Expressing regret, apology Je suis désolé(e) [ʒə sɥi de.zɔ.le] I’m sorry Sincere apology … Read more