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Lesson 9: French Alphabet

In this lesson you will learn the sounds of French letters and how to spell the words in French.

1. French Alphabet

L’alphabet français:

French Letter
A 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-00.wav”]
B

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-01.wav”]
C 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-02.wav”]
D 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-03.wav”]
E 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-04.wav”]
F 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-05.wav”]
G 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-06.wav”]
H 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-07.wav”]
I 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-08.wav”]
J 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-09.wav”]
K 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-10.wav”]
L 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-11.wav”]
M 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-12.wav”]
N 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-13.wav”]
O 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-14.wav”]
P 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-15.wav”]
Q 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-16.wav”]
R 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-17.wav”]
S 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-18.wav”]
T 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-19.wav”]
U 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-20.wav”]
V 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-21.wav”]
W 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-22.wav”]
X 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-23-x.wav”]
Y 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-23-y.wav”]
Z 

[sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://simple-french.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/alphabet-24.wav”]
Louvre, Dimitry B. – Flickr
Eiffel Tower, Banajova – Flickr
Montmartre, Antonis Lamnatos – Flickr

2. Notes

The French alphabet consists of 26 letters five of which may have variations unknown to the English language. But to keep it simple, we say for now that all the letters of the French alphabet are the same as English ones.

3. Exercises

Spell the following words:

  1. Brown
  2. Dupont
  3. Richardson
  4. Kowalski
  5. Je suis à Paris.

 

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Lesson 8: French Basic Words and Expressions 3: Questions and Exclamations

The third part of “Learn the basic words and sentences in French”. Learn the basic Greeting words in French. If you want to start with something really simple or if you just want to to be speaking some basic French words to be polite with the French people on your journey to a French speaking country, then this lesson is for you. You may also see this lesson as a reminder of the words you had learned long, long time ago. Have fun !

1. French Basic Words: Questions and Exclamations

French English
1. Comment allez-vous ?  How are you ? (polite, formal)
2. Ça va ?  How are you doing ? / Is everything all right ? (informal)
3. Tout va bien ?  Is everything all right ? (more formal)
4. Il n’y a pas de problème !  No problem ! / That’s all right !
5. Allez-y !  (Please) Go on ! (formal)
6. Ça y est !   That’s it ! / Got it !
7. C’est du n’importe quoi !  That’s nonsense !
8. C’est fou !  That’s crazy !
9. C’est bon !  That’s ok ! / I got it / No worries !

2. Notes

There aren’t any notes so far.

Metro Paris

3. Exercise

Translate the following into French:

[xyz-ihs snippet=”french-basic-sentences-2″]

4. Homework

  1. Learn the words by heart.
  2. Try to imagine a scene in which each of these expressions could occur and write them down.

 

 

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Lesson 7: French Basic Words and Expressions 2: Requesting, Thanking, Apologising.

Learn the basic Greeting words in French. If you want to start with something really simple or if you just want to to be speaking some basic French words to be polite with the French people on your journey to a French speaking country, then this lesson is for you. You may also see this lesson as a reminder of the words you had learned long, long time ago. Have fun !

1. Basic French Words: Requesting, Thanking, Apologising.

French English
1. s’il te plaît !  Please ! (informal, friendly)
2. s’il vous plaît !  Please ! (formal, polite)
3. Merci !  Thank You !
4. Merci beaucoup !   Thank You very much !
5. De rien ! (formal)  You’re welcome !
6. Il n’y a pas de quoi !  Don’t mention it ! (friendly)
7. Je vous en prie !  You’re welcome ! (polite)
8. Excusez-moi !  Excuse-me / Sorry ! (formal, polite)
9. Je suis désolé !  I’m sorry !
10. Désolé.  (I’m) sorry !

2. Notes

The same as in the previous lesson with Greetings.

Eiffel Tower, Banajova – Flickr

3. Exercise

[su_spoiler title=”Click to show the explanation of the exercise”]

[content id=”439″]

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[xyz-ihs snippet=”french-basic-sentences-2″]

4. Homework

  1. Read all the words aloud 5 times. Read the words slowly, exaggerating the sounds with each word. Make a short break (5 seconds) after each reading.
  2. Learn the words by heart. (You need to hit 100 % in the translation exercise above without any help)
  3. Imagine in what situations could these words be used.

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Lesson 6: French Basic Words and Expressions 1: Greetings

Learn the basic Greeting words in French. If you want to start with something really simple or if you just want to to be speaking some basic French words to be polite with the French people on your journey to a French speaking country, then this lesson is for you.

1. Text: List of Basic French Words and Expressions 1: Greetings

 

French English
1. Salut  Hello
2. Bonjour  Good morning
3. Bonsoir  Good evening
4. Au revoir  Goodbye
5. à bientôt  See you soon
6. à plus tard  See you later
7. à demain  See you tomorrow
8. Bonne journée  Have a nice day
9. Bon après-midi  Enjoy your afternoon
10. Bonne soirée  Have a nice evening
11. Bonne nuit  Good night

2. Notes

What you should know about the French and their language is that in general the French are really polite. Whatever has been said about people from Paris (which is another subject), politeness is ubiquitous in France. While dealing with the locals, you will hear a lot of “merci”, “excusez-moi”, and “s’il-vous-plaît”. It is perfectly normal to say “Bonjour” to complete strangers, the people you are just passing by while walking alone on the street. No one will think you are strange or crazy. It is perfectly normal here!

3. Exercises

[su_spoiler title=”Click to show the explanation of the exercise”]

[content id=”439″]

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[xyz-ihs snippet=”french-basic-phrases”]

4. Homework

  1. Read all the words aloud 5 times. Read the words slowly, exaggerating the sounds with each word. Make a short break (5 seconds) after each reading.
  2. Learn the words by heart. (You need to hit 100 % in the translation exercise above without any help)
  3. Imagine in what situations you could use these words.

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Lesson 2: How old are you ?

Learn how to tell your age in French, ask and compare your age with others and speak about other members of your family. You will learn more about the conjugation and the use of the French Present Simple Tense ( Le présent de l’indicatif ), as well as the French comparatives and superlatives.

1. Dialogue: Quel âge as-tu ?

Quel âge as-tu ?
– J’ai 25 ans. Et toi?
Moi, j’ai 3 ans de moins que toi.
– Alors, tu as 22 ans.
C’est exact. Je suis plus jeune que toi.
– Tu veux dire que je suis vieux ?
Bien sûr que non ! 25 ans c’est le meilleur âge !
– Et quel âge a ta sœur ?
Elle a 15 ans. Je suis plus âgé qu’elle.
– Oui, ça fait 10 ans de différence entre vous deux.

simple french lessons, audio diaologue in a café
Paris-Louvre-Luc-Mercelis-Flickr

2. Notes

Notes on French grammar, vocabulary, phonetics and language in general.

[su_spoiler title=”Dialogue Vocabulary”]

 

French English
de moins que less than
alors so, then
exact correct, right
jeune young
(être) plus jeune que (to be) younger than
vouloir (Tu veux …) to want
dire to say
Bien sûr of course
(être) le meilleur the best
une sœur a sister
(être) plus âgé que older than
faire (ça fait …) to make, to do

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Additional Vocabulary”]

 

French English
1. Groupes d’âge 1. Age groups:
les personnes agées the elderly / the seniors.

Eg. Beaucoup de personnes agées vivent seules.
les adultes the adults
les adolescents the teenagers
les enfants the children
2. Membres de la famille 2. Family members
le père father

Mon père est brun.

la mère mother

Ma mère est infirmière.

un frère brother

Eg. J’ai deux frères.

une sœur sister

Eg. Je n’ai pas de sœur.
un fils son

Eg. J’ai un fils et une fille.
une fille daughter

Eg. Bénédicte est ma fille.

un mari husband

Eg. Voici Jean-Claude, mon mari.

une femme wife

Eg. Je vous présente Hélène, ma femme.

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Grammar”]

A. Etre / Avoir: Le Présent de l’indicatif ( Present Tense)

être ( to be ) avoir ( to have )
  • je suis français.
  • tu es vieux
  • il / elle / on est jeune
  • nous sommes désolés
  • vous êtes en retard
  • ils sont beaux
  • elles sont belles
  • j’ai un ami
  • tu as une jolie voiture
  • il / elle / on a plein d’amis
  • nous avons des livres intéressants
  • vous avez votre passeport
  • ils ont deux enfants

B. être plus que (+) / être moins que (-)

Je suis plus jeune que toi. I am younger than you.
On est moins riche que les autres. We are less rich than the others.

[wp-svg-icons icon=”warning” wrap=”i”] Je suis plus agé qu‘elle. [wp-svg-icons icon=”point-right” wrap=”i”] In French, there can’t be two vowels next to each other. That’s why the two words “que” and “elle” become one word in a way. It is pronounced as one word.

C. avoir …. de moins que

J’ai trois ans de moins que toi. I am 3 years younger than you.

D. être le plus … (the most … )

25 ans c’est le meilleur âge ! 25 is the best age ! 
Je suis le plus jeune. I’m the youngest.
Elle est la plus agée. She is the oldest. 

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Pronunciation”]

Pronunciation of eu, ue, on, an sounds

/œ/ jeune 
/ɛ/ quel 
/œ/ meilleur 
/ɔ̃/ non 
/ɑ̃/ ans 

[/su_spoiler]

3. Exercise: Translate into French

[su_spoiler title=”Click for more information about this exercise”]

[content id=”439″]

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[xyz-ihs snippet=”simple-how-old-are-you”]

4. Homework

  1. Read the dialogue aloud 3 times. Do it slowly, be careful with your pronunciation. You need to feel your facial and tongue muscles work. This will do miracles to your pronunciation and will make your speech more automatic and fluent.
  2. Write about your age. Compare yourself to your siblings. If you are the only child, compare yourself to your parents or cousins (les cousins).
  3. Get 100% of correct answers in the translation exercise.