Linguistics

A bit of background for this language that we love.

Grammar Lessons

Accented Capitals

French capitals with accents
There's a bit of debate with regard to accents on capital letters. Most everyone agrees that accents are required on lower case letters, but some French speakers claim that they are unneccessary or even incorrect on capital letters. Is this true? The answer depends in part on who you ask.

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Linguistics

Acute Accent: é

French acute accentIn French, E is the only letter that can be modified with l'accent aigu, the acute accent. With the accent, it may be called either e accent aigu or simply é, pronounced [e]. As indicated by the latter, the acute accent changes the vowel's pronunciation to [e].

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Fun with French

Alsatian Accent

Alsatian accent
Put your French listening comprehension and sense of humor to the test with this faux news report poking fun at Alsace and the Alsatian accent.

   

   

Fun with French

Breton Accent

Breton accent
Put your French listening comprehension and sense of humor to the test with this faux news report poking fun at Brittany and the Breton accent.

   

Linguistics

Cajun French

Cajun French
Learn about - and listen to - le cadien, aka Cajun French: a variety of French spoken in Louisiana. This Monde francophone video from Lawless French Immersion includes interactive subtitles.

   

Linguistics

Circumflex: â, ê, î, ô, û

French circumflexThe circumflex, aka "little hat," is the only French accent that may be found on each of the five vowels. In any given word, the circumflex may serve one or more purposes.

   

Linguistics

Development of the French Language

French language developmentFrench is a Romance language, but it has a number of characteristics that set it apart from the other members of its linguistic family. Here is an extremely simplified synopsis of its development.

   

Expressions

Expressions with français

French expressions with français
You know that "French" in French is français, but did you know this word also used in many idiomatic expressions? Learn to speak broken French, plain French, perfect French, and more with this list of expressions with français.

   

Linguistics

Français au Canada

Le français au Canada
Dans quelles provinces canadiennes parle-t-on le français ? La question en elle-même peut être source de confusion.

   

Linguistics

Français dans le monde

Le français dans le monde
Le nombre de Francophones atteint aujourd'hui 220 millions, ce qui fait du français la deuxième langue de l'Union européenne et la neuvième mondiale.

   

Linguistics

French-Speaking Countries

French speaking countriesThough it's named for the roughly hexagonally shaped country in Western Europe, the French language extends far beyond the borders of France, in myriad and frankly confusing ways.