French Vocabulary Lists - Learn French at Lawless French

-age Suffix

The French suffix -age is added to verbs or nouns to make new nouns, which are always masculine.

-ci Suffix

Unlike other French suffixes, -ci does not create new words, but rather adds additional meaning to the nouns and pronouns it's attached to.

demonstratives • pronouns • suffixes

Grammar Lessons

-là Suffix

Unlike other French suffixes, -là does not create new words, but rather adds additional meaning to the nouns and pronouns it's added to.

demonstratives • pronouns • suffixes

Travel and Culture

7 Names for France

Have you ever noticed that "France" is called by several different names? Learn the various synonyms and the exact meanings of each one.

abbreviations • synonyms

Holidays and Celebrations

7 Things to Know About Bastille

For Francophiles, the word "Bastille" is likely to conjure up memories (or dreams) of fireworks and military parades, because the idea of la Bastille is inherently linked to 14 July - at least for English speakers. Chez les Français, not so much. Here are 7 things you should know about la Bastille: the holiday, the prison, and the word itself.

Grammar Lessons

A- Prefix

The French prefix a- is added to adjectives and nouns to create their antonyms; it's sometimes called the "alpha privative" (a privatif). The most common English equivalents are a- and non-.

negation • prefixes • spelling

Vocabulary Lists

Accessories and Jewelry

List of French names for assorted accessories and jewelry, with sound files.

Fun with French

Advent Calendar

A tiny French challenge every day until Christmas - translate each seasonal term to reveal an image.

Vocabulary Lists

Airport

If there's anything worse than having to spend time at the airport, it's having to spend time at the airport when you don't speak the local language. Sure, most airport employees speak another language or two, but you'll still be better off if you have these key words and phrases in your pocket. Bon voyage !

A1 French Lessons and Practice - Beginning French • travel French

Mistakes and Difficulties

An/jour/matin/soir vs année/journée/matinée/soirée

French has two words for each of the following: year, day, morning, and evening, and they cause no end of difficulties for non-native speakers. Why is it that English can get away with one word when French needs two? The answer lies in how you look at these temporal markers.

B1 French Lessons and Practice - Intermediate French • suffixes • synonyms

Vocabulary Lists

Aphereses

A few dozen French words have a shortened form called an apheresis or aphaeresis, which is created by dropping one or more syllables at the beginning of the word. Some of these are further modified by adding an extra sound to the end.

abbreviations

Vocabulary Lists

Apocopes

Many French nouns and adjectives have shortened forms called apocopes, which are created by dropping one or more syllables at the end of the word. Some of these are further modified by adding o to the end.

abbreviations • adjectives • informalities • nouns

Vocabulary Lists

Approximate Numbers

Approximate numbers are very useful for talking about generalities, making estimates, and just flat-out guessing. English only has one approximate number, content to use "about" in front of cardinal numbers any time a guess is required. In contrast, French has about a dozen approximate numbers.

A2 French Lessons and Practice - Low-Intermediate French • suffixes

Vocabulary Lists

Astronomy

Shoot for the stars with this French vocabulary related to astronomy.

Fun with French

Baby Talk

French has quite a bit of "baby talk" or "kiddie speak" - words and expressions which are typically used by children or when talking to children. Even if you don't talk to kids in French, this informal language is important to recognize, as baby talk can also be found in jokes and in conversations with friends.

informalities