Free online French course
Learn practical French through short, usable chunks.
240 chunk-based lessons for real conversation
Learn French through useful chunks
French rewards you for showing up often rather than showing up exhausted. Each lesson is short enough to finish on a commute, and long enough to teach something real.
That’s chunk learning — ready-made phrases and words you can actually say.
Every lesson comes with French audio, a short story or dialogue, a short practice, and a line you can record.
Your French learning path
The course runs from A1 to B2, in lesson order.
A1: Your first words and survival phrases
You start with the greetings, questions, and everyday phrases that get you through a first conversation. By the end of A1 you can understand simple sentences and introduce yourself without panicking.
A2: Everyday talk, from food to directions
Now you handle restaurants, transit, and small talk in everyday French. The lessons lean on the casual phrases you'll hear on the street.
B1: Opinions, stories, and longer reading
You move from surviving to actually chatting, with opinions, past events, and short texts. This is where listening and reading start to feel less like decoding and more like understanding.
B2: Work, news, and real conversations
The last stretch: longer talks, work and news topics, and saying what you mean with more nuance. By the end you can hold your own in a real conversation, not just get by.
A free French course that’s actually useful
Order breakfast at a café, chat with a neighbor, or follow a show with fewer subtitles. These lessons aim at the everyday French people actually speak in Paris.
Every French line comes with audio and an English translation.
Tiny lessons, tiny wins. That’s the deal.
The tone stays friendly. The learning logic is still serious: useful input, retrieval, context, then saying it out loud.
Bookmark this page. If you work through the lot, figure on about 60 hours, not a weekend miracle.
Progress stays as long as your cookies stay. We might add Google or Apple login later.
Built on practical, effective language-learning theory
A few choices we made on purpose, because real conversation runs on chunks.
The aim is simple: get you understanding and speaking French faster than a grammar-first approach would.
Listening before speaking
You hear and understand a phrase long before you're asked to say it on your own. Listening first, speaking next, sanity throughout.
Audio on everything
French has plenty of silent letters, so hearing each word while you learn it keeps pronunciation anchored.
Say it
Say the line out loud, and the lesson checks what it heard.
Browse all French lessons
Lessons 1–60In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 01Hello, how are youA1 · Greet someone, say hello during the day or evening, and answer how you are.
- 02Come in, sit downA1 · Welcome someone in, offer a seat, and bounce the question back.
- 03What's your nameA1 · Say your name, ask someone's name, and give a name to call you.
- 04Nice to meet youA1 · Say you are pleased to meet someone, say where you come from, and say you are new.
- 05Please and thank youA1 · Ask for something politely and say thank you and you're welcome.
- 06Excuse me, sorryA1 · Get attention, pass through a crowd, apologise, and accept an apology.
- 07See you tomorrowA1 · Say goodbye, say you have to go, and say when you will see someone again.
- 08Safe trip and take careA1 · Wish someone well when they leave, travel, or head home.
- 09Have a good eveningA1 · Wish someone a good day, evening or weekend as you leave, and say you'll see them later today.
- 10Yes and noA1 · Answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.
- 11Is it or isn't itA1 · Ask a yes-or-no question by offering both the yes and the no.
- 12Say what? I don't understandA1 · Say you did not understand, ask what a word means, and say how much French you have.
- 13Slower, pleaseA1 · Ask someone to repeat, slow down, write it, or say how to say something.
- 14What is thisA1 · Ask what, who, and when about things in front of you.
- 15Numbers one to tenA1 · Count from one to ten and say zero.
- 16How much is itA1 · Ask the price and say a price in euros.
- 17Bigger numbersA1 · Say prices with tens, hundreds and a thousand, and understand a bill read aloud.
- 18One cup, one bowlA1 · Count items and use a, some, and a little more when you order food and drink.
- 19Order breakfastA1 · Order a breakfast item and a drink at the café and say that is all.
- 20Eat here or take awayA1 · Say whether you will eat here or take it away, and refuse extras at the bakery.
- 21I wantA1 · Say what you want and what you need.
- 22No thanks, that's enoughA1 · Turn things down politely and say that is enough.
- 23I haveA1 · Say what you have and don't have.
- 24Whose is thisA1 · Say whose something is and whether it is yours.
- 25Where is itA1 · Ask where something is and say it is here or there.
- 26In front, behind, besideA1 · Say where one thing is in relation to another.
- 27What time is itA1 · Ask and tell the time on the hour and the half hour.
- 28Days of the weekA1 · Say today, tomorrow, and the days of the week.
- 29Can I?A1 · Ask permission to do something and answer yes or no.
- 30What's allowedA1 · Say what you can and cannot do in a place.
- 31Can you help meA1 · Ask for help and thank people for it.
- 32Borrow a phoneA1 · Ask to use a phone, call someone, and say what to do.
- 33Something's wrongA1 · Say something is lost, broken, or will not work.
- 34I forgot and I'm lateA1 · Say you forgot something, missed something, or are late.
- 35Don't worryA1 · Reassure someone: don't worry, no problem, take your time, it's not serious.
- 36Coffee, sugar and milkA1 · Order a café drink and say how you want the sugar and the milk.
- 37Looking for somethingA1 · Say what you are looking for in a shop and ask if they have it.
- 38Pay with cash or cardA1 · Say how you will pay, hand things over, and get change.
- 39The convenience-store counterA1 · Answer a clerk about a bag, a receipt, and a loyalty card.
- 40Are you openA1 · Ask if a place is open, what time it opens, and if there is room.
- 41Where is the metroA1 · Ask where a station, a shop, or a toilet is.
- 42Straight, left, rightA1 · Follow directions: go straight, turn, and say where it is on the way.
- 43How far is itA1 · Ask how far a place is, which way it is, and whether you are going the right way.
- 44Metro and transit cardA1 · Enter the metro, tap a transit card, and find the exit.
- 45Where I liveA1 · Say where you live and what the place is like.
- 46Keys from the landlordA1 · Receive keys and ask the landlord simple questions.
- 47Your phone numberA1 · Give and take a phone number and an email.
- 48Add me on WhatsAppA1 · Add a friend on a messaging app and send a location or a code.
- 49My familyA1 · Say who is in your family and how many.
- 50Wake up, sleep, and mealsA1 · Say when you get up, eat, and go to bed.
- 51Months and datesA1 · Say the month, day, and date, and ask when.
- 52Colours and sizesA1 · Describe something by colour and size.
- 53What I likeA1 · Say what you like, love, and don't like.
- 54You pickA1 · Make a small decision together: you pick, I don't mind, or let me check.
- 55Food I can't eatA1 · Say what you don't eat, and ask if something has an ingredient.
- 56Hungry, cold, tiredA1 · Say you are hungry, thirsty, cold, hot or tired, and that you're full.
- 57Hot, cold, rainyA1 · Describe today's weather.
- 58Write it down for meA1 · Ask for something to be spelled, written, or shown.
- 59Madame, monsieur, tu or vousA1 · Greet people the French way: madame and monsieur, tu or vous, and la bise.
- 60Are you from around hereA2 · Ask a neighbour where they live, how they got here, and keep in touch.
Lessons 61–120In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 61Chatting with coworkersA2 · Make small talk at the office about a busy day, the weekend, and getting a coffee.
- 62Running into a coworkerA2 · Welcome a coworker you've heard of, check in on a project, and not keep them.
- 63And then what happenedA2 · Ask follow-up questions that keep a story going.
- 64Tell me moreA2 · Ask for an example, a reason, and how often it happens.
- 65Say it a different wayA2 · Ask someone to rephrase, raise their voice, or confirm what you heard.
- 66What the neighbourhood is likeA2 · Describe the neighbourhood where you live.
- 67How my family isA2 · Say how old family members are, where they live, and what they do.
- 68What do you doA2 · Say your job and ask about someone else's.
- 69My work scheduleA2 · Say your hours, when you start and finish, and when you take time off.
- 70School and studyA2 · Say what you study, when classes are, and what you like best.
- 71Homework and testsA2 · Say you are late with homework, ask for more time, and how a test went.
- 72Asking your teacherA2 · Ask the teacher to repeat, explain, or answer a question.
- 73What to do in classA2 · Say what you need and ask what to do in class.
- 74Free timeA2 · Say what you do in your free time and ask what others do.
- 75How good I amA2 · Say how long and how well you do a hobby and why you like it.
- 76Evening and weekend routineA2 · Describe a longer daily routine in order.
- 77What I usually doA2 · Say what you usually do on weekdays and weekends.
- 78First this, then thatA2 · Say the order of what you do and what you do before or after.
- 79Once a weekA2 · Say how many times you do something and for how long.
- 80Always, often, neverA2 · Use frequency words from always to never.
- 81This one or that oneA2 · Choose between two things and say why.
- 82Foods I love and skipA2 · Describe food you like and dislike with details.
- 83Sharing a tableA2 · Ask to sit with others and say who is still coming.
- 84Getting a tableA2 · Ask for a table, a booking, and how long the wait is.
- 85Questions at the caféA2 · Ask what is in a dish, whether it comes with something, and fix the bill.
- 86Try it onA2 · Ask to try something on, ask for other sizes and colours, and decide.
- 87Refunds and holdsA2 · Ask about exchanges, refunds, and keeping an item for later.
- 88Excuse me, may I?A2 · Interrupt, queue, and take turns politely.
- 89Small everyday reactionsA2 · React briefly and softly to what someone just said.
- 90Soft repliesA2 · Say later and not now without a flat no.
- 91Maybe and almost thereA2 · Say you are on your way, on time or a few minutes late, it might work, or it is too late.
- 92Good news, bad newsA2 · React to good news and bad news.
- 93Wow, really?A2 · React to a surprise, from disbelief to delight.
- 94Agree and go alongA2 · Agree, go along, and accept a plan.
- 95Give a reasonA2 · Ask why and give a reason.
- 96More, less, sameA2 · Compare two things as more, less, or the same.
- 97Best and even betterA2 · Talk about the best one and something even better.
- 98Taking the busA2 · Ask which bus goes where and when it leaves.
- 99Getting offA2 · Ask to get off, say you missed your stop, and pay.
- 100In, out and upA2 · Say someone came in, went out, or went up, and suggest leaving together.
- 101Rent a shared bikeA2 · Rent a Vélib', find a dock, and fix a problem.
- 102High-speed railA2 · Buy a TGV ticket, find the platform, and pick a seat.
- 103Hail a taxiA2 · Tell a taxi driver where to go and ask how long it takes.
- 104Left something in the carA2 · Report something left in the taxi and sort out the fare.
- 105Hotel bookingA2 · Check in at a hotel, ask about breakfast, and ask the check-out time.
- 106Hotel problemsA2 · Report a problem with the hotel room and ask staff to fix it.
- 107Where it hurtsA2 · Name body parts and say where it hurts.
- 108Telling the doctorA2 · Tell the doctor your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how bad they are.
- 109The doctor's questionsA2 · Answer the doctor about pain, allergies, and what to do next.
- 110At the pharmacyA2 · Ask for medicine at the pharmacy and say what you need it for.
- 111How to take itA2 · Ask how often, how many, and when to take a medicine.
- 112Making an appointmentA2 · Make an appointment and ask which times are free.
- 113Change or check an appointmentA2 · Move or cancel an appointment, and check what to bring.
- 114Making plansA2 · Invite someone, suggest a time, and ask what works.
- 115Fix the time and placeA2 · Agree on a time and place and confirm the plan.
- 116Cancel plansA2 · Say you can't make it and why.
- 117Reschedule a planA2 · Suggest a new time and say you might be late.
- 118What's tonightA2 · Suggest a film for tonight, offer to pick someone up, and say you are busy or it is cancelled.
- 119Last weekendA2 · Say what you did last weekend.
- 120This weekendA2 · Say what you're doing this weekend and ask about theirs.
Lessons 121–180In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 121What I did todayA2 · Say what you did today and what you have not done yet.
- 122Have you everA2 · Say what you have done, what you have never done, and name an activity with faire du.
- 123When it happenedA2 · Say when something happened in the past and how it went.
- 124Trip storiesA2 · Say where you went, what was best, and what surprised you.
- 125Plans for laterA2 · Say what you plan to do and what you have not decided yet.
- 126Looking aheadA2 · Say what you are looking forward to, what you are saving for, and what you will not do.
- 127What I can doA2 · Say what you can and cannot do, and how well.
- 128Still learningA2 · Say what you are still learning and what you have never tried.
- 129EmergenciesA2 · Call for help in an emergency and use the French emergency numbers.
- 130Emergency helpA2 · Tell people what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe.
- 131Phone callsA2 · Ask for someone, say who is calling, and leave a message.
- 132Bad signalA2 · Talk about missed calls, bad signal, and calling back.
- 133Looking for a flatA2 · Ask if a flat is available, what it costs, and from when.
- 134Signing the leaseA2 · Ask what to prepare for a lease, who does repairs, and how to leave.
- 135What's in the flatA2 · Name things in the apartment and say what is broken or missing.
- 136Rent and billsA2 · Ask when rent is due, how bills work, and how to pay.
- 137The street marketA2 · Order street food at the Saturday market and ask what is in season.
- 138Fruit and bargainingA2 · Buy fruit by the kilo and ask for a small discount at closing time.
- 139Phone, charger and Wi-FiA2 · Ask for a charger, ask for the Wi-Fi, and fix a dead phone.
- 140Packages and deliveryA2 · Pick up a parcel or tell a driver where to leave it.
- 141The usualA2 · Ask how things are, order the usual, and talk about a stamp card.
- 142Treating friends to dinnerA2 · Pay for a meal, offer to treat, and split the bill.
- 143Weather forecastA2 · Read the forecast and ask if it will rain tomorrow.
- 144A strike dayA2 · Get ready for a strike day: check which lines run, stay home, and work from home.
- 145The lost umbrellaA2 · Describe a lost item and ask at lost and found.
- 146A birthday at the caféA2 · Wish someone a happy birthday and give a small gift.
- 147Talking about luckA2 · Walk somewhere quiet and talk about everyday luck and superstition.
- 148Put it thereB1 · Say where you put or moved something, using object pronouns.
- 149What happened to itB1 · Say what happened to someone or something, including theft, rain, and a repair.
- 150Understood, found, finishedB1 · Say you understood, found, or finished something.
- 151Explaining a problemB1 · Explain what is wrong with something and what has changed.
- 152What happened firstB1 · Describe the steps that led to a problem and what you think the cause is.
- 153Set up a meetingB1 · Ask for a meeting time and agree on an agenda.
- 154The meeting runs longB1 · Move a meeting along and say what is still left to cover.
- 155Project updatesB1 · Give a short progress update: done, in progress, or blocked.
- 156A polite work messageB1 · Write a short polite work message.
- 157The chat misunderstandingB1 · Notice a misunderstanding in a chat and fix it kindly.
- 158What do you thinkB1 · Ask and give opinions about something.
- 159Mixed feelingsB1 · Say you have mixed feelings and weigh both sides.
- 160I agreeB1 · Agree with different strengths.
- 161I disagreeB1 · Disagree politely and say what you think instead.
- 162Soften the noB1 · Add a cushion before disagreeing.
- 163Going along with itB1 · Agree with a plan or a view in a natural way.
- 164Why that wayB1 · Explain why you chose something and why it happened.
- 165For exampleB1 · Give an example to explain a point.
- 166When that happensB1 · Describe typical situations.
- 167On the one handB1 · Contrast two options in a longer sentence.
- 168The short versionB1 · Give the point first, then explain.
- 169In other wordsB1 · Restate something, explain a rule, and say what it means.
- 170A trip that went wrongB1 · Tell what went wrong on a trip and how you got through it.
- 171Planning a weekend tripB1 · Plan a weekend trip: the high-speed train, a hotel, and what to eat.
- 172How it turned outB1 · Say how things turned out, looking back.
- 173The wrong trainB1 · Deal with a wrong train and ask station staff for help.
- 174The famous snackB1 · Order a famous local snack and say what it tastes like.
- 175Old streets and passagewaysB1 · Describe an old neighbourhood and its history.
- 176The story growsB1 · Retell something and notice how the story grows with each telling.
- 177Wait, what?B1 · Follow up on a surprise and ask what happened.
- 178That must be hardB1 · Respond to someone's hard day.
- 179Listening to a friendB1 · Say you're there and that their feeling makes sense.
- 180It's not your faultB1 · Comfort someone and tell them it is not their fault.
Lessons 181–240In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 181Keep goingB1 · Encourage someone who is learning or struggling.
- 182We'll do it togetherB1 · Share the effort and tell someone they tried their best.
- 183What I'm intoB1 · Talk about a new interest and why it has stuck.
- 184Never gets oldB1 · Share recommendations and what you never tire of hearing about.
- 185My goalsB1 · Say what you want to achieve and what it takes.
- 186Small stepsB1 · Report progress, what is hard, and the next small goal.
- 187Are you followingB1 · Check someone is following and offer to repeat.
- 188What's unclearB1 · Ask which part is unclear and whether the answer helps.
- 189Thinking out loudB1 · Use fillers while you think of the next words.
- 190Change the subjectB1 · Bring up another topic.
- 191Linking what you sayB1 · Connect two points smoothly in the same conversation.
- 192Being unsureB1 · Buy time and say you are not sure.
- 193Moving onB1 · Close a topic and move to the next.
- 194Rainy Sunday indoorsB1 · Spend a rainy Sunday inside and listen to a story that stops halfway.
- 195Cooking at homeB1 · Follow and give a simple recipe in steps.
- 196How I'm feelingB1 · Describe your mood and what caused it.
- 197Online shopping and returnsB1 · Order online, track a delivery, and send something back.
- 198Giving adviceB1 · Give friendly advice, and take it without a fuss.
- 199Asking for a recommendationB1 · Ask for and give recommendations for food and places.
- 200DeadlinesB1 · Say when something is due and whether you can make it.
- 201If, thenB1 · Make everyday conditions and predictions with if.
- 202Although, butB1 · Concede a point and still make your own.
- 203While and evenB1 · Say you are doing two things at once, and even this.
- 204A leaking tapB1 · Report a repair in the flat and arrange a visit.
- 205Post office and bankB1 · Send a parcel, change money, or ask about an account.
- 206Taking a day offB1 · Ask your manager for time off and explain.
- 207I heardB1 · Say what you heard from others and pass it on.
- 208Passing on a messageB1 · Pass on a message accurately.
- 209Festivals and traditionsB1 · Greet people at French festivals and talk about the traditions.
- 210Borrow and returnB1 · Borrow something from a neighbour and say when you will return it.
- 211Run the meetingB2 · Open, chair, and close a short work meeting.
- 212Say no kindlyB2 · Disagree with a colleague or friend without losing the relationship.
- 213Negotiate a deadlineB2 · Ask for more time and agree on what is delivered when.
- 214Give feedbackB2 · Say what works, what doesn't, and what to change.
- 215A short presentationB2 · Open a short talk, present three points, and close.
- 216Sound naturalB2 · Use native-sounding fillers and hedges in everyday speech.
- 217Steer the conversationB2 · Take the lead and steer a conversation back on track.
- 218Link a storyB2 · Move through a story with linking words.
- 219Correct yourselfB2 · Correct yourself and say what you actually meant.
- 220If onlyB2 · Express wishes and what would have been.
- 221Not what I expectedB2 · Say that something turned out unlike what you expected.
- 222Now I seeB2 · Realise something and say what was missing.
- 223Persuade someoneB2 · Make a case, answer objections, and ask for a decision.
- 224A polite complaintB2 · Complain at a shop and ask for a fix.
- 225The repair argumentB2 · Argue politely with the landlord about a repair and who pays.
- 226The noise next doorB2 · Raise a neighbour problem without making enemies.
- 227Accepting a complaintB2 · Receive a complaint, apologise formally, and fix it.
- 228Helping a newcomerB2 · Help a newer visitor order and explain local café habits.
- 229The neighborhood meetingB2 · Take part in a residents' meeting: propose, object, and vote.
- 230Everyday idiomsB2 · Use a handful of common French idioms in speech.
- 231Back home and hereB2 · Compare life back home with life in Paris, fairly.
- 232Reading notices and signsB2 · Read a building notice, a sign, and a short formal message.
- 233Say thanks properlyB2 · Write a formal thanks and a farewell note.
- 234News and opinionsB2 · Talk about a local news item and give a balanced view.
- 235Let it restB2 · Close a topic with grace.
- 236Retelling the yearB2 · Tell the story of your year with a point.
- 237The Lyon story, told properlyB2 · Retell one story with details and a punchline.
- 238Renew the leaseB2 · Agree to renew the lease, ask what changes, and say you will stay.
- 239Everyone around the counterB2 · Thank people one by one and say what you will keep doing.
- 240The last morningB2 · Recognise an old drawing, take a sign off a table, and say a real goodbye.
