Learning French

2 men in a cafe clasping hands in greeting, red wine on table

Learning French: Wishing others well

Bon appétit, bon voyage, bonne chance… French is a language full of phrases to wish others well, so much so that many are used frequently in English. Whether you want to mark a special occasion, offer your congratulations, or simply wish someone all the best, you’ll want to know what… Read More
2 men greeting each other in the street

Ça va ? Asking after others

If you’re catching up with a French-speaking friend, old or new, you’ll probably want to ask them how they are, and vice versa. As with English, there are several ways of asking after somebody in French, and a variety of ways to reply as well. One important thing to bear… Read More
post-it with Merci Beaucoup! written on it

Learning French: Common courtesies

Good manners are always important for good communication, whatever language it is you’re speaking, and whoever it is you’re addressing. With that in mind, our next French conversation blog looks at those common courtesies that feature in so many of our everyday interactions. Please In most cases, you would use… Read More
a man and woman greeting in the street

Salut! Meeting and greeting in French

Conversational French Creating a good first impression is important, so you’ll want to say hello to people properly. It’s not just about what you say, though, it’s making sure you know the correct etiquette when meeting people. French people are quite formal when initially introduced, shaking hands upon meeting and… Read More
a black board with je suis, tu es written on it

Understanding French verb tenses

One of the most challenging parts of learning a foreign language is getting to grips with all the different verb tenses. Verb tenses explain when events happen, whether in the past, present or future. In this short article, we will explain and provide some examples of the most common tenses… Read More
picture showing an open book with français written and white symbols shown on the blue background

Verb Tables for the 50 Most Common French Verbs

CollinsDictionary.com now has full verb conjugation tables for over 5,000 French verbs. There are links below to Verb conjugation tables for 50 of the most common French verbs, or you can search all French verb tables here. Search Collins French Verb Tables Enter the root form of the verb, for… Read More
man giving a woman directions on a street

Learning French: Understanding what’s being said

Learning a new language involves mastering lots of skills, and often our understanding of what’s being said comes before our ability to be able to speak the language and become confident enough to contribute to the conversation. However, there will likely be times when you might have a problem understanding… Read More
a tabby cat yawning in amongst bushes

French Expressions : Cats, Cockroaches and Buttered Spinach

Expressions. Idioms. Aphorisms. Whatever you call them, they add spice to any conversation. Tossing a few French idioms into your tête-à-tête adds that je ne sais quoi that makes learning a new language so much fun. Use French expressions correctly and you build rapport with your French-speaking friends. You… Read More

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