French is one of the world’s most well known and spoken languages and is a Romance language of the Indo-European family.
It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul.
An estimated 300 million people speak French as their native language or as a second language and it is one of the most widely used languages in the world after English.
Best Places to Study French
Why Study French?
Studying French can open many doors in life and can be your path to a successful future. Whether you have an interest in languages, most people study French for education, work or family and relationships. No matter what your reasons to wanting to learn French, language schools can help make sure you reach your goals and help find the best French course to suit you.
Where is French Spoken?
French is an official or a main second language in 29 countries worldwide, including France, and also other countries around the world including Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Canada, north and west Africa, Lebanon, and some destinations in south-east Asia.
French is also one of the working languages of the United Nations alongside English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. It is also one of the working languages of many other international institutions: OECD, UNESCO, UNHCR, NATO, UNICEF, the Council of Europe, FIFA, etc.
Basic French Phrases
If you would like to get started straight away, these important French everyday words and phrases are some of the essential to know when starting out as a beginner.
Hello – Salut
Good morning/good day – Bonjour
Good evening – Bon soir
What is your name? – Comment vous appellez-vous?
My name is – Je m’appelle
How are you? – Comment allez-vous?
Fine thanks and you? – Merci et vous?
So-so – Comme ci, comme ça
Good-bye – Au revoir
Do you speak English? – Parlez-vous anglais?
Excuse me/sorry – Excusez-moi
I’m sorry – Desolé/Pardon
Nice to meet you! – Enchanté!
I don’t understand – Je ne comprends pas
Please – S’il vous plaît
Please speak slowly – Parlez lentement s’il vous plaît
Thank you – Merci
That’s ok – De rien
Very well – Très bien
What? – Comment?
When – Quand
Where – Où
You’ re welcome – De rien