Conjugation
When we study verbs in French we arrange the information in an easy to understand format called conjugation. Starting in the singular (just one person or thing as subject), verbs are listed in the order of first person, second person,…
Months of the Year
The French months of the year are very similar to the English months. Notice that the last four months are almost exactly like English. We get the names of our months from the Roman calendar. Originally the first month was…
Numbers One to Twelve
Today’s lesson is about counting to twelve. Practice saying the French numbers. (Please note that the guides to pronunciation only give a rough idea of what things really sound like in French. Listen to the podcast to hear the correct…
Please and Thank You
To say please in French, we use the phrase: s’il vous plaît (SEEL voo PLAY) This polite expression literally means, “if it pleases you.” Perhaps you have received an invitation that contains the initials R.S.V.P. This is short for the…
Nasal Sounds in French
Hmmm… nasal sounds? Like somebody snoring? Not exactly! Some French sounds include forcing air through the back of the throat and into the nasal cavities. This cannot be taught by explanation. You need to hear the sounds and try to…
Vowel Sounds in French
French and English share some vowel sounds but others can be quite different. a (short a)sac (SAK) = bag a, â (ah)bas (BAH) = stockinggâteau (gah-TOH) = cakeé, ay, er, ez (long a)bébé (bay-BAY) = babypays (pay-EE) = countryparler (pahr-LAY)…
CH in French
Did you know that the letters CH say “sh” in French? Some English words that have been borrowed from French are pronounced this way, too. Do you know their English meanings? If not, use your dictionary to find out the…
TH in French
Did you know that in French, the letters th say “t,” like the letter T? If you look through the TH section of a French dictionary, many of the words will look familiar to you. That is because many of…
The French Alphabet
The French language uses an alphabet that is identical to the English alphabet. The names of the letters and their sounds are not the same however! Compare the French letter names with their English counterparts. (Please note that the guides…