Looking to learn French for free? You’re in the right place! This curated collection of lessons will teach you the basics of French vocabulary and grammar.
You can use it in two ways. First, as a reference guide to check whenever you have a specific question or need to learn a particular topic. Second, as a textbook for learning French step-by-step, in which case you should alternate between the vocabulary and grammar sections, starting from the top. If you want to dig deeper into some topic, check out the lower sections.
Table of contents
Vocabulary lessons
- Greetings
- How to be polite
- Tu vs. vous
- How are you? Fine.
- Numbers
- Avoir (to have)
- Telling time
- Calendar
- Être (to be)
- Dates
- Saying good-bye
- Aller (to go)
- Weather
- Faire (to do, to make)
- Food
- Pouvoir (to be able)
- Feelings
- Family
- Drinks
- Parts of the body
- Toiletries and cosmetics
- Clothing
- Colors
- Descriptions
- Home and furniture
- Vouloir (to want)
- School
- Office
- Devoir (must, to have to)
- Transportation
- Savoir vs connaître (to know)
- Directions
- Personality
- Prepositions
- Professions
- Ordinal numbers
- Fractions
- Games, sports, hobbies
- Shopping
- Shops and businesses
- Weights and measures
- Restaurant
- Nationalities
- Languages
- On the phone
- Dishes and silverware
- Computers and technology
- Internet and texting slang
- Hospital
- Animals
- Cinema
- Vacation
- Swear words
- Acronyms
- Conversation fillers
- French idioms and expressions
You can find more vocabulary lessons here.
Grammar lessons
Basic grammar
- Articles
- Subject pronouns (I, you, he)
- Il y a (There is)
- C’est vs. Il est (It is, this is)
- Accents
- Easy questions (Est-ce que)
- Hard questions (inversion)
- Negation
- Preposition De
- Preposition À
- Possession
- Demonstrative adjectives (this, those)
- Dormir, Partir, Sortir (conjugation pattern)
- Dire, Écrire, Lire (conjugation pattern)
- Auxiliary verbs (Avoir vs. Être)
- Coordinating conjunctions (and, or, but)
- Subordinating conjunctions (as, that, if)
- Direct objects
- Indirect objects
- Verb moods
- Adverbial pronoun Y
- Adverbial pronoun En
- À vs De
- Infinitive
- Elision
- Stressed pronouns
- Present participle (gerund)
- Contractions
- Comparative adverbs
- Superlative adverbs
- Passive voice
- Indirect speech
Questions
- Introduction to asking questions
- Easy questions (est-ce que)
- Hard questions (inversion)
- Interrogative adjectives (which, what)
- Interrogative adverbs (when, where, why)
- Interrogative pronouns (who, what)
- Indirect questions
Nouns
- Introduction to French nouns
- Working out the gender of nouns
- Gender of nouns referring to animals
- Endings of masculine nouns
- Endings of feminine nouns
- Compound noun gender
- Plural nouns
- Possession in nouns
Verbs
- Introduction to French verbs
- Regular -er verbs
- Regular -ir verbs
- Regular -re verbs
- Pronominal verbs
- Reflexive verbs
- Stem-changing verbs
- Impersonal verbs
- Verb moods
- Imperative mood
- Conditional mood
- Indicative mood
- Subjunctive mood
- Infinitive
- Present participle (gerund)
- Past participle
Tenses
- Introduction to French tenses
- Present
- Recent Past (Passé récent)
- Compound Past (Passé composé)
- Imperfect
- Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
- Past Perfect (Pluperfect)
- Past Anterior (Passé antérieur, literary tense)
- Simple Past (Passé simple, literary tense)
- Future
- Future Perfect (Futur antérieur)
Adjectives
- Introduction to French adjectives
- Possessive adjectives (my, your)
- Demonstrative adjectives (this, those)
- Irregular adjectives
- Invariable adjectives
- Word order with adjectives
- Comparative and superlative adjectives
- Indefinite adjectives (all, every, other)
Pronouns
- Introduction to French pronouns
- Subject pronouns (I, you, he)
- Possessive pronouns (mine, yours)
- Stressed pronouns (me, him, her)
- Direct vs indirect objects
- Indefinite pronouns (someone, several)
- Relative pronouns (que, qui)
- Indefinite relative pronouns (ce que, ce qui)
- Demonstrative pronouns (celui, ceux)
- Indefinite demonstrative pronouns (ceci, cela)
Adverbs
- Introduction to French adverbs
- Irregular adverbs
- Adjectives used as adverbs
- Comparative adverbs
- Superlative adverbs
- Irregular comparative and superlative adverbs
- Word order of adverbs
French letters and pronunciation
- The letter I
- The letter A
- The letter E
- The letter U
- The letter H
- Nasal vowels
- Consonants
- The letter B
- The letter D
- The letter C
- The letter F
- The letter P
- The letter G
- The letter K
- The letter Q
- The letter L
- Letter combination LL
- The letter M
- The letter N
- The letter R
- The letter S
- The letter T
- The letter V
- The letter W
- The letter Y
- The letter Z
- Silent letters
- Liaisons (connecting sounds)
- Enchaînement (connecting sounds)
- E instable
Frequently asked questions
How can I learn French by myself?
Start by finding a good resource, like an app or textbook, to guide you through the basics of vocabulary and grammar. Set a regular study routine, even if it’s just 15-20 minutes a day, to keep things consistent. Try to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible — watch French videos, listen to podcasts, or follow French social media accounts. Practicing speaking out loud, even if you’re alone, can help a lot. Be patient with yourself, and remember that progress takes time!
How can I learn French quickly?
First, immerse yourself as much as possible — watch French TV shows, listen to French music or podcasts, and try to think in French throughout the day. Focus on high-frequency words and phrases you’ll use often. Practice speaking regularly and don’t shy away from making mistakes. Flashcards or apps with spaced repetition can help with vocabulary retention. Setting small, achievable goals and sticking to a daily routine will also speed up your learning.
Can I learn French for free?
Yes, you can definitely learn French for free! There are tons of resources online, from language apps to YouTube channels, podcasts, and websites offering free lessons. You can also find free textbooks, grammar guides, and vocabulary lists. Many language exchange platforms let you practice speaking with native French speakers at no cost. Public libraries may also have language learning materials you can access. While paid options offer more structured courses, it’s totally possible to make great progress without spending any money.
What is A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 for French?
These levels are part of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which helps measure your language skills. A1 and A2 are beginner levels, where you’re learning the basics, like simple phrases and everyday expressions. B1 and B2 are intermediate levels, where you can handle more complex conversations and understand standard French. C1 and C2 are advanced, meaning you’re nearly fluent (C1) or fully fluent (C2), able to understand and express yourself with ease in any situation. It’s a helpful guide to track your progress!
Is 3 years enough to learn French?
3 years is usually enough time to become fairly proficient in French, especially if you’re consistent with your practice. If you study regularly and immerse yourself in the language — listening, speaking, reading, and writing — you can reach an intermediate or even advanced level within that time. However, it’s important to understand that everyone learns at their own pace.
