In this lesson you will learn several useful measurement words in French. The French use the metric system which can be a bit tricky to learn for Americans and English speakers. However, it becomes very easy once you get used to it! The easy part about learning the words is that they’re very similar to English. Furthermore, most of the muse the masculine gender (le). Also, the French translations for words in English imperial measurement system are almost all the same in French (except for the word for inch, which is ‘le pouce’). NOTE: You can click on any of the French words below and listen. Make sure the page is done loading for the audio to work.

Soccer, called both “le football” and “le foot” is by far the most popular sport in France and is played thousands of people across the country. France has been a leader in soccer both in Europe and internationally as it hosted and won the FIFA World Cup in 1998. Here you will learn some basic soccer vocabulary in French including words for equipment and the various players on the field.

Lesson posted by David I.

In this lesson you will learn a list of French astronomy vocabulary words as well as how to say the planets in our solar system. The great thing that makes these terms easy is that they almost all are very similar to English. This is because astronomy terms in both English and French are derived from Latin and Greek.

l’astronomie astronomy

l’espace (m) space

l’étoile (f) star

l’astre (m) star

l’astronome (m&f) astronomer

l’astronaute (m&f) astronaut

le vaisseau spatial spaceship

l’univers (m) universe

la galaxie galaxy

le système solaire solar system

la constellation constellation

la planète planet

Mercure Mercury

Vénus Venus

Terre Earth

Mars Mars

Jupiter Jupiter

Saturne Saturne

Uranus Uranus

Neptune Neptune

Pluton Pluto

la comète comet

le météore meteor

la météorite meteorite

l’astéroïde (m) asteroid

la nébuleuse nebula

la lune moon

le soleil sun

le télescope telescope

“Alouette” is one of the most popular songs for learning French and teaching the language to kids. The song is over 100 years old and is said to have originated in Quebec, Canada. The song is about somebody telling a lark (a kind of bird) that they’ll pluck feathers off of it’s body.

For each verse you add an additional body part. The song goes, “Alouette, gentille alouette, alouette je te plumerai.” “Je te plumerai” means “I will pluck your feathers”. Note, it uses ‘plumer’ (to pluck) plus an “ai” making it in the future tense. Watch the video and sing along as you read through the lyrics! (For your reference and to add verses you may check out my French body parts lesson).

Words With English Translation

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Lark, nice lark

Alouette, je te plumerai
Lark, I will pluck you

Je te plumerai la tête
I will pluck your head

(Je te plumerai la tête)
(I shall pluck your head)

Et la tête
And your head

(Et la tête)
(And your head)

Alouette
Lark

(Alouette)
(Lark)

O-o-o-oh

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Lark, nice lark
Alouette, je te plumerai
Lark, I will pluck you

Je te plumerai le bec
I shall pluck your beak

(Je te plumerai le bec)
Et le bec
(Et le bec)
Et la tête
(Et la tête)
Alouette
(Alouette)
O-o-o-oh

For each verse add an additional body part and sing the body parts from previous verses:

Et le cou
And your neck
Et le dos
And your back
Et les ailes
And your wings
Et les pattes
And your feet
Et la queue
And your tail

O-o-o-o-oh

(Ending – repeat chorus)
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Lark, nice lark

Alouette, je te plumerai
Lark, I shall pluck you

In this lesson you will learn some useful vocabulary words that you can use when going for a haircut in French. At the very end of the lesson I’ll also teach you some words that you can say to the hairdresser when giving instructions for how to cut your hair.

aller chez le coiffeur to go to the hairdresser’s

le salon de coiffure hairdressing salon

un coiffeur pour hommes barber

un coiffure cheveux hairstyle/hairdo

le coiffeur hairdresser (masculine)

la coiffeuse hairdresser (feminine)

couper les cheveux to cut hair

une coupe de cheveux haircut

les franges fringes (UK), bangs (US)

laver les cheveux to wash hair

une permanente a perm

les soins capillaires haircare

un peigne à cheveux comb

les ciseaux de coiffure scissors

le fer à friser curling iron

le sèche-cheveux hairdrier (UK) blow-dryer (US)

la coloration des cheveux hair coloring

le shampooing shampooing

couper ici, s’il vous plaît please cut here

pas trop court not too short

un peu plus court a little shorter

très court very short

c’est parfait it’s perfect!

The French national anthem, or La Marseillaise, is one of the most famous national songs in the world. The song has a very has a melody and beat that are very inspiriting. The song was first written 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle and was originally called “Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin” or “War Song for the Army of the Rhine”. It’s called La Marseillaise as it was first song on the streets of Marseille. Over the years the song has come to symbolize the French revolution and revolutions worldwide. The theme of the song is based around war and citizens taking up arms against foreign forces. Below you can watch a YouTube video of the song as you read through the English and French lyrics and translation.

Lyrics & Translation

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L’étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us tyranny
Raises its bloody banner (repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They’re coming right into your arms

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchez, marchez!
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!

To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
March! March!
That an impure blood
Waters our furrows!

Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!

Sacred love of the Fatherland,
Lead, support our avenging arms
Liberty, cherished Liberty,
Fight with thy defenders! (repeat)
Under our flags, shall victory
Hurry to thy manly accents,
That thy expiring enemies,
See thy triumph and our glory!

Aux armes, citoyens…
To arms, citizens…

Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides
L’opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre,
S’ils tombent, nos jeunes héros,
La terre en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre!

Tremble, tyrants and you traitors
The shame of all parties,
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will finally receive their reward! (repeat)
Everyone is a soldier to combat you
If they fall, our young heroes,
The earth will produce new ones,
Ready to fight against you!

Aux armes, citoyens…
To arms, citizens…

(More verses not included in video)

Que veut cette horde d’esclaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés? (bis)
Français, pour nous, ah! quel outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter!
C’est nous qu’on ose méditer
De rendre à l’antique esclavage!

What does this horde of slaves,
Of traitors and conjured kings want?
For whom are these vile chains,
These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What fury it must arouse!
It is us they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!

Aux armes, citoyens…
To arms, citizens…

Quoi! des cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers!
Quoi! Ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers! (bis)
Grand Dieu! Par des mains enchaînées
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres de nos destinées!

What! Foreign cohorts
Would make the law in our homes!
What! These mercenary phalanxes
Would strike down our proud warriors! (repeat)
Great God ! By chained hands
Our brows would yield under the yoke
Vile despots would have themselves
The masters of our destinies!

Aux armes, citoyens…
To arms, citizens…

Français, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups!
Épargnez ces tristes victimes,
À regret s’armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère!

Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors,
You bear or hold back your blows!
You spare those sorry victims,
Who arm against us with regret. (repeat)
But not these bloodthirsty despots,
These accomplices of Bouillé,
All these tigers who, mercilessly,
Rip their mother’s breast!

Aux armes, citoyens…
To arms, citizens…

“Je M’appelle Funny Bear” is a fun video and song about Gummy Bears. The video comes from the CD “I Am Your Gummy Bear” and has been viewed on YouTube over 110 million times! It features a singing green-colored animated bear.

The bear sings and dances in all sorts of fun situations including in a hip-hop style bouncing car, western ranch, on a bouncing ball in the park, on a skateboard ramp, in a park playing the tuba, in the city and on a concert stage. The bear is also famous as he’s featured in newspapers! First watch the video and then read through the lyrics.

French Lyrics

Je m’appelle funny bear
je mappelle funny bear
je m’appelle funny funny funny funny funny bear
J’ai un p’tit ventre mou et un slip kangourou
je suis pas comme les autres tout doux moi je suis un p’tit loup

English Translation

My name is Funny Bear
My name is Funny Bear
My name is funny funny funny funny funny bear
I have a soft belly and kangaroo underwear
I’m not like all the others, all soft; me, I’m a little wolf

One of the best ways to learn French verbs is by singing songs. This is especially true for the irregular verbs such as avoir (to have) as they can take a little more time to learn. However, studying with the song definitely makes learning faster and more fun! First watch the video below then go through the verb table. The video has some really cute animals so you will definitely like it!

Avoir Verb Conjugation – Present Tense

j’ai – I have
tu as – you have (singular, informal)
Il/elle/on a – he/she/one has
nous avons – we have
vous avez – you have (plural and formal)
ils/elles ont – they have (ils is for a group of men or a group of men and women; elles is for a group of women only)

Here you can learn more about the verb avoir.

Today one of the most popular ways of learning French is with podcasts. Basically, a podcast is an audio or video file which you can download and listen or watch. The word podcast is a combination of the words pod (taken from iPod) and cast from “broadcast”. French language podcast lessons are usually taught by a male and female, cover a vocabulary list and offer a dialogue in a real-life situation.

The main advantage to studying the French language via podcasts is that you can put a strong emphasis on listening – the most natural way of learning languages – as well as download lessons to your PC or mobile device (iPhone, iPad, etc). Here’s a list of my favorite sites for learning French with podcasts.

FrenchPod101.com

FrenchPod101 is by far one of the most popular French podcast sites online today. The company offers hundreds of both audio and video French lessons that are packed with great educational material. Lessons cover all levels ranging from absolute beginner, beginner, intermediate and advanced. You can also choose to go through the lessons based on themes including studying, work, business, travel, living and family. Each audio lesson is about 5-10 minutes long and taught by a native speaker. You can download both the audio lessons (in MP3 format) as well as PDF lesson printouts to your computer or portable device. What’s also great about FrenchPod101 is that they keep coming out with new lessons every week so learning French never gets boring!

Rocket French

Rocket Languages offers a leading online course for learning French called “Rocket French”. While many people don’t know this, Rocket French is actually a podcast French course. The core part of Rocket French includes over 30 interactive audio lessons aimed at beginners. Lessons cover subjects such as introductions and greetings and meeting people, travel, food, dating and romance, shopping, family and friends and hobbies. You can download each lesson in MP3 format as well download lessons in PDF format. With Rocket French you can also get your questions answered on their forum which has over 17,000 members.

Frenchetc.org

A excellent resource for podcats for learning French is Frenchetc.org. The site was founded in 2007 by native-speaking online French teachers. Initially, they had the aim of teaching French as it’s actually spoken in France. Hence, it’s an excellent resource for learning how to speak the kind of French that the people actually use. The site offers a free access to its series of podcasts for beginners French. Furthermore, they offer access to series of podcasts covering grammar, songs, dictations as well as advanced study material.

iTunes Learn French Podcasts

Another great resource where you can find French podcasts is iTunes. What’s really good is that iTunes offers some high-quality free resources. Basically, three podcast providers offering free lessons: Learn French by Podcast, French for Beginners and Learn French for Beginners from DailyFrenchPod. These three links alone offer over 700 free downloadable individual lessons in audio MP3 format.

Radio Lingua

Radio Lingua is an industry leader in audio podcast lessons and offers a ton of material for learning French. The company offers a number of different courses. The main, flagship course is called “Coffee Break French” and offers weekly 20-minute lessons. This is an excellent starting point for beginners and comprises over 80 audio lessons. Intermediate students can find more advanced material in Season 3 of Coffee Break French. What’s also great is that the company lets you listen to lot so of the podcasts for free. The “One Minute French” course is for students who just want to learn the essentials and consists of 2-3 minute-long audio podcasts. They also offer a course which focuses on French grammar called “Walk, Talk and Learn French”. This is a series of video lessons. Finally, Radio Lingua offers a course designed for kids between the ages of 6-11 called “School Run French”. The course makes learning French for your children fun with audio shows, games and puzzles.

My name is David and I have been offering French lessons online since March, 2011 on this site, LearnFrenchVideo.com. Over the past year I have had a lot of people ask which websites are the best for learning French online. Here’s a list of my top-3 favorite and recommended sites for learning how to speak French:

1. BBC French

The UK-based BBC offers one of the most comprehensive sites for learning the French language. The site offers excellent audio tutorials covering beginners to intermediate French including vocabulary, grammar, conversations and even slang. You’ll also find some great resources including online tests and quizzes, games and much more.

2. IELanguages – French

Another top free resource for learning French online is Jennifer Wagner’s learning French page. Jennifer offers an extremely vast selection of study materials covering vocabulary, grammar and verbs. In addition she also provides lots of great listening resources taught by native speakers.  What makes Jennifer’s site stand out from other online resources is her extensive tutorials covering slang and informal language. Finally, Jennifer does an excellent job suggesting resources to help you further your studies.

3. YouLearnFrench

YouLearnFrench.com is a site I’ve just come across recently. Actually, it’s YouLearnFrench’s YouTube Channel that I like. The channel currently offers 99 lessons covering basic French including basic vocabulary, grammar rules and beginners conversation and dialogues. The lessons have animations, are fun to watch and taught by native speakers.