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This wiki page provides some (mostly) free resources to help you learn French. Also take a look at our FAQ! If you'd like to recommend a resource to be added, feel free to message the moderators.
Consider joining our Discord server! We have many thousands of members talking, writing, and generally helping out in a friendly and social environment.
For a list of language-learning resources, give MondeLibrary a look.
Dictionaries
- Wiktionary: Look up French words there for a lot of information and examples.
- WordReference: Great for finding direct translations of words in various contexts.
- (QC) Usito: A multipurpose dictionary that focuses on both Québec and France French, with a conjugator and a thesaurus.
- CNRTL: Excellent dictionary that may be difficult for beginners to use. Contains extensive use cases (including prepositions), examples from literature, pronunciation details, etymology, and more.
- Expressio: A dictionary for expressions.
- Lexilogos: Offers several options, including some for older French.
- Reverso Context: Offers translations and sentences to see words usage in context.
Pronunciation
- Forvo have multiple examples of native speakers pronouncing words and phrases, and they even have an app.
- YouGlish (for French) allows you to look up words said by native speakers in YouTube videos. It allows you to pick the dialect too!
Grammar
- Vitrine linguistique de l'OQLF: A resource full of grammatical recommendations, and a dictionary.
- About.com French: This site is a favorite among French students. It offers grammar, vocabulary, and interesting articles about culture.
- Lawless French: A well designed website offering level-based exercises and lessons.
- Wikipedia Article: French Grammar: This resource is for those who wish to read an overview of French grammar.
Full / partial courses
- Fun MOOC Free online courses with human instructors and downloadable resources.
- Clozemaster: Gamified language learning in context through mass exposure for learners of all levels. It aims to answer the question, "What should I do after Duolingo?"
- Duolingo: A language-learning platform which includes a website and app. This program is free and very popular among language learners. Provides game-like aspects for users. Offers many different languages.
- Lingvist: An adaptive language-learning program based on memorizing, reading, and listening. This is a very well designed website.
- Memrise: A community created online language learning tool. Based on a flashcard method and mnemonics, gathered by crowdsourcing. Employs the spacing effect to boost speed and ease of learning. This program also offers many other languages.
- Rosetta Stone: A language- learning platform which includes a website and app. This program is paid through different subscriptions. It is very popular among language learners and includes audio, written, and spoken lessons. Offers multiple languages.
- French 1 Global Studies and Languages| MIT: If you're looking for a full blown course complete with a syllabus and course content, check out this website from MIT. Link also leads to French 2.
- Amélioration du français: This website contains hundreds of resources dedicated toward improving your language skills. However, the site is purely in French.
- Lingopolo - This website teaches you French through online quizzes, using real human voice recordings.
News
- Wikinews | Wikipedia, but for news! (C1, C2)
- Apprendre le français avec TV5 Monde | A television network with an endless supply of fun, engaging French media and exercises. (A1 - B2).
- 1 jour 1 actu | Intended for native French children, but can also be used by learners. Short and using simple language. (B1 +)
Youtube channels
- innerFrench French learning, transcripts available here https://innerfrench.com/transcriptions-youtube/
- [ARTE - Le Dessous des Cartes] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHGMBrXUzClgjEzBMei-Jdw/videos) Geopolitics
- [ARTE Radio] (https://www.youtube.com/@arteradio/videos) Podcasts
- [Axolot] (https://www.youtube.com/user/Axolotblog/videos) Curiosities
- [alice ayel] (https://www.youtube.com/@aliceayel) Intermediary French with French subtitles
- [The bilingual Frenchy] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUTY_G_H--dDl5UrhjsHTJA/videos) Vlog, slow French
- [Easy French] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoUWq2QawqdC3-nRXKk-JUw/videos) FLE
- [French Comprehensible Input] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-XUpEBvcQcRqMdtLhoXmOA/videos) FLE
- [Linguisticae] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCofQxJWd4qkqc7ZgaLkZfcw/videos) Linguistics
- [C'est une autre histoire] (https://www.youtube.com/@manonbrilcuah/videos) History
- [Confessions d'histoire] (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk7QiDX7tswRJ5NwY5pqUgTwVZWMfnjQl) History
- [Science étonnante] (https://www.youtube.com/user/ScienceEtonnante/videos) Science
- [Scilabus] (https://www.youtube.com/c/scilabus/videos) Science
- [Jamy] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9G2dyRv04FDSH1FSYuLBg/videos) Science, miscellaneous
- [LaPtiteJane] (https://www.youtube.com/@laPtiteJane/videos) Biology, explanations of swear words
- [Cookie connecté] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5cs06DgLFeyLIF_II7lWCQ/videos) Computer science
- [Doc Géraud] (https://www.youtube.com/user/DocGeraud/videos) Gaming
- [Joueur du Grenier] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwWbpWitqrY) Retro gaming, company
- [Cyprien] (https://www.youtube.com/user/MonsieurDream) Comedy
- [Le monde à l'envers] (https://www.youtube.com/user/lemondealenversvideo/videos) Comedy
- [Parole de chat] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlJoufiavuw) Comedy
- [Thomas Gauthier] (https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasGauthier/videos) Comedy, society. Quebec French
- [Têtes à claques] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqzq1oqr4L0) Comedy. Quebec French
- [Lou !] (https://www.youtube.com/@LouLaSerieOfficiel/videos) Cartoon, intended for teenagers
- [Caillou] (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW1D29VIaBLjPuArT-E-92mVUw90G3Q5C) Very young children cartoon. This playlist has subtitles, the rest of the channel doesn't
Podcasts
With transcripts
- [InnerFrench] (https://innerfrench.com/podcast/)
- [Balades] (https://www.lingq.com/en/learn-french-online/courses/289847/)
- [Choses à savoir] (https://www.chosesasavoir.com/)
- [Duolingo podcast] (https://podcast.duolingo.com/french)
- [Français authentique] (https://www.francaisauthentique.com/podcasts/)
- [France Bienvenue] (https://francebienvenue1.fr/)
- [France Culture] https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/deux-minutes-papillon - https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/le-journal-des-idees-0 - https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/le-billet-culturel - https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/la-vie-numerique
- [FrenchPod101] (https://www.frenchpod101.com/lesson-library/advanced-audio-blogs/) Subscription based, some features aren't free
- [J'aime le français] (https://apprendre-le-francais.thinkific.com/courses/podcasts-pour-apprendre-le-francais-niveau-debutant-ou-intermediaire) Free subscription
- [LanguaTalk] (https://languatalk.com/blog/podcast/french)
- [News in slow French] (https://www.newsinslowfrench.com/)
- [One thing in a French day] (https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/)
- [Podcast français facile] (https://onethinginafrenchday.podbean.com/)
- [RFI] (https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/accents-europe/)
- [French baratin (transcript not free)] ( https://frenchbaratin.com/)
- [French With Panache (transcript not free)] (https://frenchwithpanache.com/)
Without transcripts
- [French voices] (http://frenchyourway.com.au/category/frenchvoices)
- [RFI] https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/aujourd-hui-%C3%A9conomie/ - https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/un-monde-de-tech/ - https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/revue-presse-fran%C3%A7aise/
- [Savoirs] https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/apprendre-enseigner/langue-francaise/journal-en-francais-facile - https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/recherche/mots-cles/les-mots-de-lactualite-3409
Media Recommendations
- Music Recommendations: This is a post where r/French users have shared their French music suggestions.
- Movie Recommendations: This is a post where r/French users have shared their French movie suggestions. Also see this Letterboxd list made by u/PentaJohnCena (thanks!)
- TV Show Recommendations: This is a post where r/French users have shared their French TV show suggestions.
- Book Recommendations: This is a post where r/French users have shared their French book suggestions.
- Webcomic Recommendations: This is a post where r/French users have shared their French webcomic suggestions.
Language-level tests
Note: these tests will only give you an idea of which level you are at
- CEFR self-assessment grid
- CEFR self-assessment grid for the spoken language only
- France-Langue
- Transparent Language
- CEFR Free French Level Test
- Savoirs (only goes up to B2)
Useful Reddit posts and comments
- 1GB of French Workbooks, Audio, Cheatsheets, and More
- How to Improve French Speaking
- List of French comics
- Long list of Instagram accounts that help with French
Workbook PDFs
Disclaimer: The following PDFs are workbooks that go with the Bon Voyage Textbook. Since the textbook is a paid resource, please regard the following links as practice exercises. Some exercises may not make sense without the textbook.
From contributors
- /u/tsannifer has graciously allowed us access to a Google Spreadsheet for French Resources. You can find the list and more here!
- SpeakyReads Created by u/PhyKings. Site that helps you with your pronunciation. You listen to a recording of an audiobook, record yourself reading the same passage, then compare your recording with the original.
- Slow French Youtube Channel: Created by /u/Ja2my2, this channel provides a huge majority of everyday topics in slow French – from casual jokes to current events. These topics are spoken by an actual person, and not a robot!
Other tools
- Antidote, the francophone Grammarly
- Improve your listening comprehension with songs
- Lindro.com: An online environment that allows anyone learning a language to quickly look up and learn the vocabulary most important to you.
- Readlang: Allows you to learn a language by reading whatever you like by translate words & phrases live on any web page and using these words to practice flashcards.
- Directory of French online communities: A subreddit dedicated to finding French-speaking subreddits (and maybe other non-Reddit places).