Learn to read French
A short, active path into reading French: decode real words before revealing their sound, learn the silent endings and the joins between words, follow where the pieces of a sentence sit, and read a small story before opening your first book.
How sentences work
3 sectionsFirst sentences: people, and the verb “to be”
- The verb endings are silent, so the little word in front of the verb has to stay — it names who the sentence is about.
- French has two words for “you”: tu for someone you know, vous for strangers, elders, and groups.
- êtreeh-truh“to be” is the most irregular verb in French — learn its forms whole; it covers what a thing is and where it is.
Who is doing it
| French | English |
|---|---|
| jezhuh | I |
| tutew | you — someone you know |
| ileel / elleel | he / she |
| nousnoo | we |
| vousvoo | you — formal, or a group |
| ilseel / ellesel | they |
il and ils sound identical — the plural s is silent. There is no word for “it”: a thing is il or elle.
être — to be
| French | English |
|---|---|
| je suiszhuh swee | I am |
| tu estew eh | you are |
| il esteel eh / elle estel eh | he is / she is |
| vous êtesvoo-zet | you are |
| ils sonteel soh(n) / elles sontel soh(n) | they are |
Forms like nothing else are a gift to read: you recognise them instantly. Notice vous êtes gluing.
The words that open and close every conversation
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjourboh(n)-zhoor | hello; good morning; good afternoon |
| Au revoiroh ruh-vwahr | goodbye |
| Mercimehr-see | thank you |
Which “you” a character chooses tells you what two people are to each other.
Name, age, where from
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Comment tu t'appelles ?koh-mah(n) tew tah-pel | What is your name? |
| Je m'appelle Mina.zhuh mah-pel mee-nah | My name is Mina. |
| Quel âge as-tu ?kel ahzh ah-tew | How old are you? |
| J'ai dix ans.zhay dee-zah(n) | I am ten. — literally “I have ten years” |
| Tu viens d'où ?tew vya(n) doo | Where are you from? |
| Je viens de Paris.zhuh vya(n) duh pah-ree | I am from Paris. |
Age is something you have, not something you are. With a stranger every tu here becomes vous: Comment vous appelez-vous ?koh-mah(n) voo-zah-play-voo.
Read, then reveal
- Je suis Mina.
Find the person word, then the verb.
Show answer +Hide answer −
“zhuh swee mee-nah.” — I am Mina. - La souris est dans la forêt.
mouse · is · in · forest
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“lah soo-ree eh dah(n) lah foh-reh.” — The mouse is in the forest. - Vous êtes ici.
The s of vous wakes before the vowel.
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“voo-zet ee-see.” — You are here.
Two words from earlier, no hints
- renard
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renardruh-nar“fox” - oiseau
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oiseauwah-zoh“bird”