Expressions

Expressions with (un) pas

The French word un pas literally means "step" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say a big step forward, in double time, drive slowly, and more with this list of expressions with pas.

Travel and Culture

Languages

Parlez-vous français ? What about another language? Here's how to say the most commonly spoken and studied languages in French, plus a few more for good measure.

  A1 - Beginning French • travel French 

Expressions

De rien

If you think de rien is the best way to respond to merci, you should definitely read this lesson.

  politeness 

Food and Drink

Le beaujolais nouveau

The third Thursday in November is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, but why?

  B2 - Upper-Intermediate French 

Grammar Lessons

Passer – to pass, go by

The regular -er French verb passer usually means "to pass" and may require either être or avoir as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses/moods, depending on how it's used.

  faux amis • verbs 

Food and Drink

Truffes

Parmi tous les délices français, la Tuber melanosporum, surnommée la truffe du Périgord, est sans doute le plus savoureux - et le plus cher.

  B1 - Intermediate French 

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 

Writing Resources

Writing Tips and Ideas

Check out these tips to help you improve your French writing skills and some ideas for putting them into practice.

Grammar Lessons

Encore

Encore is a French adverb of frequency with several different meanings, including again, another, more, and even.

  adverbs 

Vocabulary Lists

Train

Taking the train can be an excellent way to explore the country, so here's the French vocabulary you need to navigate the station, buy tickets, and arrive safely at your destination. Bon voyage !

  A1 - Beginning French • travel French 

Grammar Lessons

Progress with Lawless French

Progress with Lawless French is an adaptive, test-driven French learning system that will help you learn more efficiently with personalized kwizzes, writing challenges, and dictées.

  A1 - Beginning French • A2 - Low-Intermediate French • B1 - Intermediate French • B2 - Upper-Intermediate French • C1 - Advanced French 

Expressions

Petit à petit

Read this lesson on the French expression petit à petit to improve your French, little by little.

Grammar Lessons

Faire – Causative Construction

The causative is a grammatical construction with a lazy subject who, rather than performing some action himself, is making someone or something else do it: to make something happen, to have something done.

  B1 - Intermediate French • verbs 

Vocabulary Lists

United States (of America)

Though les États-Unis (d'Amérique) is the proper translation, the French often just say les USA. Likewise, most states keep their names in French, while a few undergo slight Frenchification. And of course, being nouns, they have gender in French.

  travel French 

Grammar Lessons

Superlative Adverbs

Superlative adverbs are used to profess absolute superiority or inferiority among two or more things. This superlative lesson will help you be the best at using them.

  adverbs • B1 - Intermediate French