French 101 Documentation

Release 1

Kyann Brown, Alex Kirkpatrick, Justin Hovey

May 08, 2017

 Contents

1 The Alphabet - L’Alphabet 3

2 Common Words 5

3 Conversation Questions 9

4 French Culture 11

5 Directions and Advice 13

6 Countries That Speak French 15

7 Introductory Phrases 17

8 French Numbers 19

9 Places to Visit in France 21

10 Traveling Tips 25

11 Words to Know for Specific Locations 27

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Contents:

Contents 1
French 101 Documentation, Release 1

2 Contents
 CHAPTER 1

The Alphabet - L’Alphabet

The French alphabet consists of 26 letters. The letters are the same as they are in English, but they have a different
pronunciation.
Letter Name Pronunciation
A A ah
B Bé beh
C Cé seh
D Dé deh
E E euh
F Effe eff
G Gé zheh
H Ache ahsh
I I ee
J Ji zhee
K Ka kah
L Elle ell
M Emme em
N Enne en
O O oh
P Pé peh
Q Qu kuh
R Erre air
S Esse ess
T Té tay
U U ooh
V Vé veh
W Double Vé doo bleh veh
X Ixe eeks
Y I Grec ee greks
Z Zéde zed

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Accents

In the French language, there are five different accents. They are not different letters but could change the sound of
the letter they are on.
• The Aigu Accent ( ´ ) = This marking only appears on an e, and makes the ay sound
• The Grave Accent ( ‘ ) = This mark can appear over any vowel but only alters the pronunciation of e.
• The Circonflexe Accent ( ) = This accent does not change the sound of any letters but still must be included in
writings.
• The Cedilla (ç) = This accent is the little tail on the c, and only appears on this letter. It makes an s sound.
• The Tréma = This mark is two little dots over the top of a vowel. When two vowels are put back to back, the
Tréma means the second one should be pronounced separately.

4 Chapter 1. The Alphabet - L’Alphabet

 CHAPTER 2

Common Words

First person

je I first person
nous we second person
tu you singular
vous you plural
il he, it third person
elle she third person
ils they third person
elles they third person

French articles

– le – the; him, it
– la – the; her, it
– l’ – the
– les – the, them
– au – at the, to the, in the
– aux – (a+ les) of the
– un – a, an, one
– une – a, an, one
– des – some, any
– du – some/any
– de la – some/any

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Conjuctions

– mais – but
– ou – or
– et – and
– donc – thus, therefore
– or – now, yet
– ni – neither
– car – for, because

Nouns

un homme – man – noun

– une femme – woman, wife – noun
– le temps – weather, time, times – noun
– la vie – life, lifetime, existence – noun
– le jour – day, daytime – noun
– personne – anyone, anybody – indefinite pronoun, noun
– un père – father – noun
– une fille – daughter, girl, gal – noun
– le monde – world, people – noun
– un ami – friend, friendly – noun, adjective
– besoin – need, demand, necessity – noun
– monsieur – gentleman, Mr. – noun
– madame – madam, Mrs. – noun
– enfant – child, infant – noun
– mère – mother – noun
– maman – mummy, mama, mom – noun
– maison – house, home – noun
– nuit – night – noun
– peur – fear, fright – noun
– problème – problem – noun
– argent – silver, money – noun

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Verbs

– être – to be
– avoir – to have
– faire – to do, make
– dire – to say, tell
– aller – to go
– voir – to see
– savoir – to know
– pouvoir – can, to be able to
– falloir – to be necessary
– vouloir – to want
– devoir – to have to, must
– venir – to come, occur
– suivre – to follow
– parler – to speak, talk
– prendre – to take, get
– croire – to believe, think
– aimer – to love, like, be fond of
– passer – to pass, go by, cross
– penser – to think
– laisser – to leave
– arriver – to arrive
– donner – to give, give away
– regarder – to look at, watch
– appeler – to call, ring
– rester – to stay, remain

2.5. Verbs 7
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8 Chapter 2. Common Words

 CHAPTER 3

Conversation Questions

Introduction

Having trouble starting a conversation? No worries! This guide will help you so that native French speakers can at
least start somewhere with you. Here are a couple ice-breakers to get you on your merry way!
Comment ça va? How are you?
Comment t’appelles-tu ? What’s your name?
Quel âge as-tu? How old are you?
Quand est ton anniversaire? When’s your birthday?
Comment est ta soeur/frère ? How is your sister/brother?
Comment sont tes parents ? How are your parents?
Qu’est-ce que tu fais en hiver/été/automne/printemps ? What do you do in the winter/summer/fall/spring?
Quelles musiques aimez-vous ? What music do you like?
Quels sont tes films favoris ? What are your favorite films?
Quelle est ta couleur préférée ? What is your favorite color?
Need more help? Don’t hesitate to visit our other pages:
Common Words Alphabet Conversation Questions Culture Directions French Speaking Countries Introductory Phrases
Numbers Traveling Tips Words for Locations
Pro tip: Don’t rely on Google translate. It’s usually inaccurate, and French people will have no idea what you’re trying
to say if you translate word for word. Once you get a better understanding of the French language, you’ll understand
why!

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10 Chapter 3. Conversation Questions

 CHAPTER 4

French Culture

School

Before university, children go to l’école maternelle (similar to preschool) and then l’école primaire from 3 to 5 years
old and 6 to 10 years old.
Then, children to go collége (a false cognate that actually means middle school) and then lycée (high school) from 11
to 14 years old and 15 to 18 years old.
In France, unlike America, the school system is laïque which means no form of religion whatsoever. In the United
States, however, schools must incorporate all religions.
School is also mandatory but free.
In France, like in the United States, there are also private schools, or des établissements privés.
Unlike Americans, the French have to pass what’s called le baccalauréat in order to go to university. This is kind of
like a diploma at the end of high school graduation. The difference? In America, we have a graduation ceremony; in
France, they don’t.
Once a student enters college, they choose une filière, or a major, in humanities (history, pschology, English, German,
etc.), medicine or pharmacy, economic and social science, law or commerce and marketing. Students do not choose
their courses.
Campus life is also different. In France, people go to college solely for academics. In America, stress is placed more
on the social aspect nowadays.

Food

French cuisine is the country’s staple, and it’s become a world treasure. The French pride themselves in their food as
it remains a prevalent part of their identity.
Here are some popular foods that come from France:

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Fig. 4.1: Crepe by Kyann Brown

– crêpes – baguettes – coq au vin – chocolate mousse – èclair – crème brûlée – quiche – blanquette de veau – soupe à
l’oignon – soupe de Poisson à la rouille – bœuf bourguignon

12 Chapter 4. French Culture

 CHAPTER 5

Directions and Advice

The four basic cardinal directions are:

to the North
au nord
to the West to the East
à l’ouest à l’est
to the South
au sud
Other commonly used directions:
À gauche Tout droit À droite
to the Left Straight to the Right

Direction Questions

There are many times that you may need to ask for directions. Some phrases that you should know:
• Excusez-moi
Excuse Me
• s’il vous plaît
Please
• Où est ____ ? or Où se trouve ______ ?
Where is ____ ?
• Où puis-je trouver ______ ?
Where can I find ______ ?
There are many places that you could be looking for, and it is always a good idea to know what they are called
beforehand. Here is a brief list of places, or things, you might be looking for.

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• l’aéroport - The airport

• le métro - The metro, and underground train
• l’hôtel - The hotel
• restaurant - Restaurant
• la banque - a bank
• le musée - a museum
• le cinéma - a movie theater
• le théâtre - a theater
• L’hôpital - the hospital
• le commissariat - a police station
• le W.C. - the bathroom
• rue - Street
• la carte - The map
• un taxi - A taxi
• la boîte de nuit - the dance club
• le-centre ville - downtown
• la bibliothèque - the library
• la pharmacie - the pharmacy
• le centre commercial - the mall (shopping center)
You’ll want to be able to recognize these words on any signs you may come across:
• Arrêtez Stop!
• Attention Warning!

14 Chapter 5. Directions and Advice

 CHAPTER 6

Countries That Speak French

There are currently 29 countries that have French as an official language. Of these 29, there are 16 were it is a co-
official language, meaning it exists as the official language alongside another. The other 13 have French set as their
only official language.

Countries

• Belgium - Also has Dutch and German as official languages

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi - Also has English and Kirundi as official languages
• Cameroon - Also has English as an official language
• Canada - Also has English as an official language
• Central African Republic - Also has Sango as an official language
• Chad - Also has Arabic as an official language
• Comoros - Also has Comorian and Arabic as official languages
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti - Also has Arabic as an official language
• Equatorial Guinea - Also has Spanish and Portuguese as official languages
• France
• Gabon
• Guinea
• Haiti - Also has Haitian Creole as an official language

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• Ivory Coast
• Luxembourg - Also has German and Luxembourgish as official languages
• Madagascar - Also has Malagasy as an official language
• Mali
• Monaco
• Niger
• Republic of the Congo
• Rwanda - Also has Kinyarwanda and English as official languages
• Senegal
• Seychelles - Also has English and Seychellois Creole as official languages
• Switzerland - Also has German, Italian, and Romansh as official languages
• Togo
• Vanuatu - Also has Bislama and English as official languages

16 Chapter 6. Countries That Speak French

 CHAPTER 7

Introductory Phrases

Welcome to our introductory phrases guide! Beginning to learn a new language starts with the basics. These phrases
are intended to help you start a conversation and break the ice should you find yourself in a foreign country that speaks
French. Any comments or questions? Let us know.

Get Started

Don’t be a stranger. Say hello!

Bonjour
Hello
This phrase, when translated literally, means “good day.” It is a formal salutation used among strangers and acquain-
tances. It’s also a more respectful way of saying hello. For less formal greetings, you can use “salut” or “ça va.”
Comment vous appelez-vous?
What’s your name?

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The best way to ask someone his/her name is to use this phrase. It literally means “What do you call yourself?”
Whomever you are speaking to will likely ask you the same question, so be prepared. Respond with “Je m’appelle
‘___.’
J’apprends le français mais je ne suis qu’un débutant.
I’m learning French, but I’m only a beginner.
When learning French as a second language, natives are usually understanding, as they adore (that’s French, for your
information) an American accent. But they also love their language. To show that you’re at least attempting to speak
their tongue, say that you’re trying but your level is not proficient. They’ll get a good chuckle out of it.
Je ne comprends pas.
I don’t understand.
Admit it. You don’t know it all – especially when you’re just starting out. When learning French, it’s easier to read
than to hear the language being spoken. If you don’t understand something, simply ask for the speaker to repeat
him/herself by saying, “Pouvez-vous répéter s’il vous plaît ?”
Est-ce que tu me comprends?
Do you understand?
Conversely, you are likely not to understand what the French native is saying because they are 1. speaking too fast or
2. using slang you might not be familiar with.
Comment dit-on ‘___’ en français ?
How do you say ‘___’ in French?
Because English is so prevalent in Europe, there’s a considerable chance the person you are speaking to knows what
you are trying to say. Or, if you’re with a French professor on a trip but you don’t want to break out into English just
yet, ask for a hint.
Pardon
Sorry
This is often used when interrupting a conversation to ask for help or bumping into someone.
Qu’est-ce qui se passe?
What’s happening?
You’re in a new place. You’re in an entirely different culture. You don’t know what’s happening. No worries. Be in
the know with this phrase.
Other useful phrases:
Je viens de...
I come from...
J’habite à...
I live in...

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 CHAPTER 8

French Numbers

Basic Numbers

One of the basics that you need to know to speak French is their number system. This will be useful for getting
directions with distance, house or hotel room numbers, as well as well asking for the price of souvenirs, food or tours.
The first ten numbers in French, as well as zero, are:
English Spelling French Spelling Number
Zero zéro 0
One un 1
Two deux 2
Three trois 3
Four quatre 4
Five cinq 5
Six six 6
Seven sept 7
Eight huit 8
Nine neuf 9
Ten dix 10
Further numbers that you should know would be the numbers between 0 and 100. Many numbers become a sum of
their parts. For example, twenty one is 20 and one.
Some strange numbers to be aware of for this pattern are 70, which is 60 and 10, 80, which is four 20’s, and 90, which
is four 20’s and ten.

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English Spelling French Spelling Number

Eleven onze 11
Twelve douze 12
Thirteen treize 13
Fourteen quatorze 14
Fifteen quinze 15
Sixteen seize 16
Seventeen dix-sept 17
Eighteen dix-huit 18
Nineteen dix-neuf 19
Twenty vingt 20
Twenty One vingt et un 21
Thirty trente 30
Forty quarante 40
Fifty cinquante 50
Sixty soixante 60
Seventy soixante-dix 70
Eighty quatre-vingts 80
Ninety quatre-vingt-dix 90
One hundred cent 100
One hundred and one cent un 101
Two hundred deux cents 200
One thousand mille 1000
Most numbers become combinations of previous numbers that make sense when you see them. For example, 21 is
vingt et un (twenty and one) and 31 is trente et un (thirty and one).
There are some interesting phrasings in the French numbers, specifically 70, 80, and 90. 70 is soixante-dix, which
translates to sixty-ten. 80 is quatre-vingts, which is four-twenties and 90 is quatre-vingt-dix, or four-twenties-ten.
However, the good new is that once you know these, the numbers above follow the standard number names - for
example, 81 is quatre-vingts un (eighty one). For 70 and 90, instead of 10, use the -teen number that would be
appropriate, ie. 92 is quatre-vingt-douze, or four-twenty twelve or eighty twelve.
For audio pronunciation of these numbers and more: Quizlet

20 Chapter 8. French Numbers

 CHAPTER 9

Places to Visit in France

There are several places that you will want to visit when or if you go to France.

The top Four Places to Visit:

• The Eiffel Tower, Paris - The Eiffel Tower, built in 1887 - 1889 by Gustave Eiffel, is one of the most well-known
monument in France. The tallest structure in Paris, and the second tallest in France, the Eiffel Tower offers an
amazing view from the third level, which can be accessed either by stairs or elevator.

Fig. 9.1: Eiffel Tower, by Kyann Brown

• The Arc de Triomphe, Paris - The Arc de Triomphe, at almost 200 years old, was built to honor the soldiers who
fought for France, especially those that fought during the Napoleonic Wars. The Arc de Triomphe also holds
the Memorial Flame, which has remained burning since it was first lit on November 11, 1923, 93 years as of
this November.
• The Louvre, Paris - The Louvre is the world’s largest museum and is located in Paris, France. Several key items
to see in the Louvre include the Mona Lisa painting, the Venus de Milo statue, the Great Sphinx of Tanis, and
the Liberty Leading the People painting.
• The Pont Saint-Bénézet, Avignon - Also known as the Pont d’Avignon, it is almost a thousand year old medieval
bridge that connects Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Avignon. The bridge was used as inspiration for the Sur le pont
d’Avignon song, and is also considered a landmark of Avignon.

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Fig. 9.2: Arc de Triomphe, by Kyann Brown

Fig. 9.3: Louvre, by Kyann Brown

Fig. 9.4: Mona Lisa, by Kyann Brown

Fig. 9.5: Venus de Milo, by Kyann Brown

Fig. 9.6: Great Sphinx of Tanis, by Kyann Brown

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Fig. 9.7: Pont d’Avignon by Alex Kirkpatrick

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24 Chapter 9. Places to Visit in France

 CHAPTER 10

Traveling Tips

Traveling can be intimidating, especially if it’s to a new country and one that speaks a language you do not. Below are
some tips on how to go about your trip, guide you, keep you aware, and help you have the best time possible.
Some of these are broad travel recommendations, while others are specific to taking a trip to France.

10 things to keep in mind while traveling

1. Keep extra cash on you, hidden, in case of any sort of emergency.

2. Distribute the money you do have between different spots and pockets.
3. If you are bringing a laptop, smartphone, or other electronic device, backup the files.
4. Keep an eye out for sketchy or potentially dangerous situations, but don’t let that become the focus of your trip.
5. Don’t over plan, leave time for exploring
6. Get travel insurance, as eventually (especially if you are doing a lot of traveling) something bad will happen.
7. Walk between places and be open to diversions.
8. In France, to call for an emergency, call 112 (the European equivalent to 911). Or call 15 for an ambulance and
medical help, and 17 for police.
9. Be aware that in Europe, dates are written Day/Month/Year, and they use a 24-hour clock.
10. Be careful of what you use free, public Wi-Fi for.

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26 Chapter 10. Traveling Tips

 CHAPTER 11

Words to Know for Specific Locations

When traveling, you may want to know words related to the location you are in. Places such as museums, restaurants,
or airports all have words specific to them that you’ll want to learn in order to navigate the location successfully. There
are many more to learn, but here are a few to get you started. To learn more French, please check out our other pages
such as Common Words or Introductory Phrases. The italics words are in French.

Fig. 11.1: A Museum, by Kyann Brown

Museum - Musée

• Art Gallery - Galerie d’art

• Artwork - Oeuvre
• Artist - Artiste
• Statue - Statue
• Map - Carte
• Study - Étude
• Book - Livre
• Tour - Tour
• Display - Afficher

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Restaurant - Restaurant

• Food - Nourriture
• Meal - Repas
• Dinner - Dîner
• Lunch - Le Déjeuner
• Menu - Le Menu
• Drink - Boisson
• Water - Eau
• Bathroom - Salle de Bains
• Table - Table
• Chair - Chaise
• Cost - Coût
• Thank You - Je Vous Remercie

Airport - Aéroport

• Plane - Avion
• Air - Air
• Landing - Atterrissage
• Take off - Décoller
• Bag - Sac
• Luggage - Baggage
• Time - Temps
• Arrival - Arrivée
• Escalator - Escalier Mécanique

Store - Boutique

• Money - Argent
• Clothes - Vêtements
• Shirt - Chemise
• Pants or Trousers - Pantalon
• Shoes - Chaussures
• Cash Register - Caisse Enregistreuse

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Hotel - Un Hôtel

• Room - Chambre
• Bed - Lit
• Pillow - Oreiller
• Television - Télévison
• Breakfast - Déjeuner
• Elevator - Ascenseur
• Stairs - Escaliers

On The Streets

• Car - Voiture
• Road - Route
• Street - Rue
• Travel - Voyager
• Bicycle - Bicyclette
• Building - Bâtiment
Welcome to French 101, the site that will give you a quick introduction to the French language, as well as culture and
travel advice!
For those new to this site, or to the French language in general, the best pages to start on would be the Alphabet page
and the Number pages. These pages help with the basics sounds of the French language, and basic and more complex
numbers.
For those who already know some of the basics of the French language, the Conversations, Common Words or
Introductory Phrases pages would be a great place to begin. These pages will cover different aspects of general
conversations.
If you are looking for some travel advice, check out the Places to Visit or Traveling Tips pages. You may also want
to look at the Directions and Advice or Specific Locations pages, so that you can confidently ask for help finding
where you are going next, or to find the nearest restroom, hotel, or airport.
If you are looking for French culture, such as schools, differences in the way of life, and foods, then you should try
the Culture page.
Or if you are looking for other countries that you could visit that also speak French, try the French Speaking Coun-
tries page. These are countries that have French listed as their, or one of their, official language(s).

11.5. Hotel - Un Hôtel 29