formalities

Formal French

Français formel

This index includes a variety of French words, expressions, pronunciations, and grammatical and structures required in formal communciation.

For an explanation of the difference between formal and literary, see What is register?

Duper – to deceive, trick

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb duper.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Mistakes and Difficulties

E instable

In many words the letter e is potentially silent, a characteristic which has three French names: e caduc, e instable, and e muet. Though e muet is the most common term, e instable is the most accurate.

  C1 - Advanced French • formalities • informalities 

Éclore – to hatch; to appear, take form; (flower) to open; (literary, figurative) to be born

Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb éclore.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Enfreindre (formal) – to infringe, to break

Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb enfreindre.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Engendrer – to cause, generate; (formal) to father, beget

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb engendrer.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Enjoindre (formal) – to enjoin, charge (s.o. to do s.t.)

Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb enjoindre.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Literature

ENT

The third person plural verb ending -ent is often not pronounced. The rules for when and how to pronounce it are fairly straightforward: it has to do with two completely different issues.

  formalities • verbs 

Épanouir – (literary) to open, spread out (plant); to light up (face)

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -ir French verb épanouir.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Éterniser – to drag out; (literary) to immortalize, perpetuate

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb éterniser.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Étreindre (formal) – to embrace, hug; to clutch, seize, grasp

Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb étreindre.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Expressions

Falloir Expressions

The impersonal French verb falloir literally means "to be necessary" or "to need" and is used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say far from it, that's more than we need, it takes all kinds, and more with this list of expressions with falloir.

  formalities • informalities 

Feindre – to feign, pretend to; (formal) to dissemble, dissimulate

Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb feindre.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Grammar Lessons

Formal Negation

French has three negative constructions that are reserved for formal (usually written) French like literature and historical accounts.

  B2 - Upper-Intermediate French • formalities • negation 

Gager – (formal) to wager, bet; to guarantee (a loan)

Simple and compound conjugations for the spelling change French verb gager.

  conjugation tables • formalities 

Glâner (literary) – to glean

Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb glâner.

  conjugation tables • formalities