Français · French
Learn French vocabulary
Silent letters and liaison, but lots of vocabulary shared with English.
French has a marked gap between spelling and pronunciation: many letters are silent and words link together when spoken. Learning each word by hearing it as well as seeing it matters a lot.
Many English words have French relatives, which is a head start, though you need to watch out for false friends. Nouns are masculine or feminine.
What to know
- Silent letters are very common.
- A lot of vocabulary shares roots with English.
- Learn noun gender with the word.
Study tips
- Listen to every new word.
- Double-check the meaning of words that look like English.
- Study gender as part of the word.
Where is it spoken?
French is official or widely used in France, parts of Belgium and Switzerland, Canada (especially Quebec) and many African countries.
Pronunciation and spelling notes
Final consonants are usually silent (final c, r, f, l are often pronounced: remember "CaReFuL"), there are nasal vowels (an, on, in) and a throaty "r". "u" and "ou" are different sounds, and words link together when spoken (liaison).
Which languages help?
It shares Latin roots with Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and many French-origin words entered English.
A roadmap for your first week
In week one, start with greetings, numbers and everyday words, but always listen to each one: much of French spelling is silent and words link together when spoken. Study nouns with le/la and give pronunciation time from the first day.
Common mistakes
- Reading a word from its spelling: many final letters are silent.
- False friends: "librairie" is a bookshop (library is "bibliothèque"); "actuellement" means "at the moment", not "actually".
- Ignoring liaison; memorising a word's sound without hearing it in a sentence.
A small sample word list
| French | English |
|---|---|
| bonjour | hello |
| merci | thank you |
| s'il vous plaît | please |
| l'eau | water |
| la maison | house |
| l'ami | friend |
| oui | yes |
| non | no |
| bon | good |
| aujourd'hui | today |
This list is our own; it is not an official list and only gives a feel for the first steps in this language.
Studying French in Frigya
When you add French in Frigya, you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for it. In Discover you meet new words and in Learn you reinforce them with spaced repetition; you can listen to words and example sentences. You can start without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Why does French spelling not match pronunciation?
Does English help with French vocabulary?
In Frigya you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for this language. For details see the levels guide.
Learn this language in Frigya
Try it without an account. If you like it, link your progress to one.
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