Both « aurais-tu … ? » and « tu aurais … ? » come from the conditional of the verb avoir (to have).
Literally they translate to “Would you have … ?” or “Would you … ?” in English.
They’re used for polite requests, softening questions, hypotheticals, or to talk about what might have happened.

Aurais-tu … ? — meaning & use

• Meaning: “Would you have…?” (polite/formal).
• Tone: Formal or polite — common in writing or polite speech.
• Why it feels different: Word order is inverted (verb before subject), which sounds more official or courteous.
• Example: Aurais-tu un stylo ? → Would you have a pen? (polite request)
• When to pick it: When you want to sound polite or formal — e.g., in an email, in a polite request, or a formal conversation.

Tu aurais … ? — meaning & use

• Meaning: Also “Would you have…?” but more casual; can mean “Do you have…?” depending on context.
• Tone: Neutral to informal — what people use in everyday spoken French. Rising intonation turns it into a polite question.
• Other uses:
  • Hypothetical: Tu aurais envie d’y aller ? → Would you feel like going?
  • Conditional past idea when followed by a past participle and an auxiliary sense: Tu aurais dû venir. → You should’ve come / You ought to have come. (expresses regret or reproach)
• Example: Tu aurais un stylo ? → Do you have a pen? / Would you happen to have a pen?

Neutral option: very commonly used

• Est-ce que tu aurais … ? — polite, safe, and common in spoken French.
  • Est-ce que tu aurais l’heure ? → Do you have time?

Common mistake to avoid

• Don’t saySi tu aurais… for a real condition.
  • Wrong: Si tu aurais le temps…
  • Correct: Si tu avais le temps, tu viendrais. → If you had the time, you would come.
    Use imperfect (avais) for the “if” clause, not the conditional.

Pronunciation

• Aurais-tu ≈ “oh-ray too” (with a soft French ‘r’).
• Tu aurais ≈ “tu oh-ray” (said in normal speech, often shortened: T’aurais…?).

“tu comprends” = second person singular, present indicative of the verb comprendre (to understand).

• Meaning: Statement: Tu comprends. — You understand.
• Meaning: Question: Tu comprends? — Do you understand?

It’s the informal “you” (used with friends, family, kids, people you know well). For formal or plural use vous comprenez.

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ty kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃]
• Guide: ty kohn-prahn — the « on » is nasal (not like English “on”).

Tip: link the two words slightly when you speak: tu comprends → ty kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃ (no hard pause).

Common forms and alternatives

• Affirmation: Tu comprends. — You understand.
• Question (by intonation): Tu comprends ? — Do you understand?
• Inversion (more formal): Comprends-tu ? — Do you understand?
• With est-ce que (neutral): Est-ce que tu comprends ? — Do you understand?
• Negative: Tu ne comprends pas. / colloquial Tu comprends pas. — You do not understand.

When to use it — nuances and tone

• Check understanding (teacher, parent, friend):
  « Je l’explique encore une fois, d’accord ? Tu comprends ? » — I’ll explain again, okay? Do you understand?
• Emphatic / rhetorical (to stress a point):
  « Tu comprends, ce projet est crucial. » — You must understand, this project is crucial.
• Show empathy (to show you grasp someone’s feelings):
  « Je sais que c’est dur. Tu comprends pourquoi je suis inquiet. » — I know it’s hard. You understand why I’m worried.
• Ask for agreement / check plans (informal) — like “you know?” or “right?” in English:
  « On se retrouve à 18h, tu comprends ? » — We meet at 6pm, you know?

Examples (French → English)

• Prof: « Répétez la règle, s’il vous plaît. Tu comprends ? »
  — Teacher: “Repeat the rule, please. Do you understand?”
• Ami: « J’ai perdu mon job la semaine dernière. Tu comprends pourquoi je suis stressé ? »
  — I lost my job last week. Do you understand why I’m stressed?
• Parent: « Tu dois finir tes devoirs avant de sortir. Tu comprends ? »
  — You have to finish your homework before going out. Do you understand?
• Conversation: « Non, je ne comprends pas ce que tu veux dire. »
  — No, I don’t understand what you mean.
• Formel / écrit: « Comprends-tu les raisons de cette décision ? »
  — Do you understand the reasons for this decision?
• Familier: « Tu comprends pas — on n’a plus d’essence ! »
  — You don’t get it — we’re out of petrol!

Common responses

• Oui, je comprends. — Yes, I understand.
• Non, je ne comprends pas. — No, I don’t understand.
• Je comprends ce que tu veux dire. — I understand what you mean.
• Pas encore, peux-tu répéter ? — Not yet, can you repeat?

#	French	Prononciation
0	zéro	ZAY-roh
1	un	uh(n)
2	deux	duh
3	trois	twa
4	quatre	KAT-ruh
5	cinq	sank
6	six	sees / seess
7	sept	set
8	huit	weet
9	neuf	nuf
10	dix	dees
11	onze	onz
12	douze	dooz
13	treize	trez
14	quatorze	ka-TORZ
15	quinze	kanz
16	seize	sez
17	dix-sept	dees-set
18	dix-huit	dees-weet
19	dix-neuf	dees-nuf
20	vingt	van
21	vingt et un	van ay uh(n)
22	vingt-deux	van-duh
23	vingt-trois	van-twa
24	vingt-quatre	van-kat-ruh
25	vingt-cinq	van-sank
26	vingt-six	van-sees
27	vingt-sept	van-set
28	vingt-huit	van-weet
29	vingt-neuf	van-nuf
30	trente	tront
31	trente et un	tront ay uh(n)
32	trente-deux	tront-duh
33	trente-trois	tront-twa
34	trente-quatre	tront-kat-ruh
35	trente-cinq	tront-sank
36	trente-six	tront-sees
37	trente-sept	tront-set
38	trente-huit	tront-weet
39	trente-neuf	tront-nuf
40	quarante	ka-RONT
41	quarante et un	ka-ront ay uh(n)
42	quarante-deux	ka-ront-duh
43	quarante-trois	ka-ront-twa
44	quarante-quatre	ka-ront-kat-ruh
45	quarante-cinq	ka-ront-sank
46	quarante-six	ka-ront-sees
47	quarante-sept	ka-ront-set
48	quarante-huit	ka-ront-weet
49	quarante-neuf	ka-ront-nuf
50	cinquante	san-KONT
51	cinquante et un	san-kont ay uh(n)
52	cinquante-deux	san-kont-duh
53	cinquante-trois	san-kont-twa
54	cinquante-quatre	san-kont-kat-ruh
55	cinquante-cinq	san-kont-sank
56	cinquante-six	san-kont-sees
57	cinquante-sept	san-kont-set
58	cinquante-huit	san-kont-weet
59	cinquante-neuf	san-kont-nuf
60	soixante	swah-SONT
61	soixante et un	swah-sont ay uh(n)
62	soixante-deux	swah-sont-duh
63	soixante-trois	swah-sont-twa
64	soixante-quatre	swah-sont-kat-ruh
65	soixante-cinq	swah-sont-sank
66	soixante-six	swah-sont-sees
67	soixante-sept	swah-sont-set
68	soixante-huit	swah-sont-weet
69	soixante-neuf	swah-sont-nuf
70	soixante-dix	swah-sont-dees
71	soixante et onze	swah-sont ay onz
72	soixante-douze	swah-sont-dooz
73	soixante-treize	swah-sont-trez
74	soixante-quatorze	swah-sont-ka-TORZ
75	soixante-quinze	swah-sont-kanz
76	soixante-seize	swah-sont-sez
77	soixante-dix-sept	swah-sont-dees-set
78	soixante-dix-huit	swah-sont-dees-weet
79	soixante-dix-neuf	swah-sont-dees-nuf
80	quatre-vingts	KAT-ruh-van(t)
81	quatre-vingt-un	KAT-ruh-van uh(n)
82	quatre-vingt-deux	KAT-ruh-van-duh
83	quatre-vingt-trois	KAT-ruh-van-twa
84	quatre-vingt-quatre	KAT-ruh-van-kat-ruh
85	quatre-vingt-cinq	KAT-ruh-van-sank
86	quatre-vingt-six	KAT-ruh-van-sees
87	quatre-vingt-sept	KAT-ruh-van-set
88	quatre-vingt-huit	KAT-ruh-van-weet
89	quatre-vingt-neuf	KAT-ruh-van-nuf
90	quatre-vingt-dix	KAT-ruh-van-dees
91	quatre-vingt-onze	KAT-ruh-van-onz
92	quatre-vingt-douze	KAT-ruh-van-dooz
93	quatre-vingt-treize	KAT-ruh-van-trez
94	quatre-vingt-quatorze	KAT-ruh-van-ka-TORZ
95	quatre-vingt-quinze	KAT-ruh-van-kanz
96	quatre-vingt-seize	KAT-ruh-van-sez
97	quatre-vingt-dix-sept	KAT-ruh-van-dees-set
98	quatre-vingt-dix-huit	KAT-ruh-van-dees-weet
99	quatre-vingt-dix-neuf	KAT-ruh-van-dees-nuf
100	cent	sahn

Other Important Numbers in French:

#	French	Prononciation
101	cent un	sahn uh(n)
110	cent dix	sahn dees
120	cent vingt	sahn van
125	cent vingt-cinq	sahn van sank
150	cent cinquante	sahn san-kont
199	cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf	sahn kat-ruh-van-dees-nuf
200	deux cents	duh sahn(s)
300	trois cents	trwa sahn(s)
500	cinq cents	sank sahn(s)
999	neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf	nuf sahn kat-ruh-van-dees-nuf
1 000	mille	meel
2 000	deux mille	duh meel
10 000	dix mille	dees meel
100 000	cent mille	sahn meel
1 000 000	un million	un mee-lyon
1 000 000 000	un milliard	un mee-yar(d)

Français	English	Pronunciation (IPA)	Abbrev.
janvier	January	/ʒɑ̃vje/ — zhahn-vyay	janv.
février	February	/fevʁije/ — fev-ree-ay	févr.
mars	March	/maʁs/ — mars (French r)	mars
avril	April	/avʁil/ — ah-vreel	avr.
mai	May	/mɛ/ — meh	mai
juin	June	/ʒɥɛ̃/ — zhwɛ̃ (approx. “zhwen”, nasal)	juin
juillet	July	/ʒɥijɛ/ — zhwee-yay	juil.
août	August	/u/ — oo (some speakers say /ut/)	août
septembre	September	/sɛptɑ̃bʁ/ — sep-tahm-bruh	sept.
octobre	October	/ɔktɔbʁ/ — ok-toh-bruh	oct.
novembre	November	/nɔvɑ̃bʁ/ — noh-vahm-bruh	nov.
décembre	December	/desɑ̃bʁ/ — day-sahm-bruh	déc.

Note: in French, month names are not capitalized (unless at the start of a sentence)

Infinitif : défendre — Participe présent : défendant — Participe passé : défendu
Auxiliaire : avoir
Prononciation (infinitif) : /de.fɑ̃dʁ/ — respelling : deh-fahn-druh

Personne	Présent	Imparfait	Futur simple	Conditionnel présent
je	je défends	je défendais	je défendrai	je défendrais
tu	tu défends	tu défendais	tu défendras	tu défendrais
il / elle / on	il défend	il défendait	il défendra	il défendrait
nous	nous défendons	nous défendions	nous défendrons	nous défendrions
vous	vous défendez	vous défendiez	vous défendrez	vous défendriez
ils / elles	ils défendent	ils défendaient	ils défendront	ils défendraient

Défendre Conjugation for Passé composé, Plus-que-parfait, Futur antérieur, Conditionnel passé:

Personne	Passé composé	Plus-que-parfait	Futur antérieur	Conditionnel passé
je	j’ai défendu	j’avais défendu	j’aurai défendu	j’aurais défendu
tu	tu as défendu	tu avais défendu	tu auras défendu	tu aurais défendu
il/elle/on	il a défendu	il avait défendu	il aura défendu	il aurait défendu
nous	nous avons défendu	nous avions défendu	nous aurons défendu	nous aurions défendu
vous	vous avez défendu	vous aviez défendu	vous aurez défendu	vous auriez défendu
ils/elles	ils ont défendu	ils avaient défendu	ils auront défendu	ils auraient défendu

Subjonctif présent / Subjonctif passé

Personne	Subjonctif présent	Subjonctif passé
que je	que je défende	que j’aie défendu
que tu	que tu défendes	que tu aies défendu
qu’il/elle/on	qu’il défende	qu’il ait défendu
que nous	que nous défendions	que nous ayons défendu
que vous	que vous défendiez	que vous ayez défendu
qu’ils/elles	qu’ils défendent	qu’ils aient défendu

Impératif

Personne	Passé simple
je	je défendis
tu	tu défendis
il/elle/on	il défendit
nous	nous défendîmes
vous	vous défendîtes
ils/elles	ils défendirent

Participes · Infinitifs · Gérondif

Type	Forme
Infinitif présent	défendre
Infinitif passé	avoir défendu
Participe présent	défendant
Participe passé	défendu
Gérondif présent	en défendant
Gérondif passé	en ayant défendu

Nous in French primarily means “we” — the subject pronoun for the first-person plural.

Quick points and examples:

• Subject (we):
  Nous allons au cinéma. — We are going to the cinema.
• Object (us): nous is also used as the direct/indirect object pronoun.
  Il nous voit. — He sees us.
  Donne-nous le livre. — Give us the book.
• Reflexive (ourselves): used in reflexive verbs:
  Nous nous lavons. — We wash ourselves.
• Prepositions: avec nous = with us, chez nous = at our place / at home.
• Pronunciation: [nu] (like “noo”).

Grammar tip: in spoken French, people often use on (literally “one”) to mean “we” informally: On y va ≈ Nous y allons.

Saying “no” in French is simple, the basic word is non, which is pronounced as /noh(n)/.

But French has many ways to refuse, contradict, softly deny, or strengthen a negative (formal, casual, emphatic, polite, etc.). 

Below are the most common ways to say no with short explanations, and examples.

Ways to Say No in French

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example (French → English)
non	/noh(n)/	no — standard, neutral	Tu veux du café ? Non, merci. → Want coffee? No, thanks.
non merci	/noh(n) mehr-see/	polite refusal	Non merci, je n’ai plus faim. → No thanks, I’m not hungry.
pas du tout	/pah doo too/	not at all — strong negation	Tu veux y aller ? Pas du tout. → Do you want to go? Not at all.
absolument pas	/ab-so-lu-mahn pah/	absolutely not — emphatic	Absolument pas je ne peux pas. → Absolutely not I can’t.
bien sûr que non	/byehn sewr kuh noh(n)/	of course not — emphatic reply	Il viendra ? Bien sûr que non. →   Will he come? Of course not.
nan / non (colloquial)	/nahn/ or /noh(n)/	nope/nah — informal	Nan, j’ai pas envie. → Nah, I don’t feel like it.
bah non	/bah noh(n)/	“well no” — casual, slightly surprised/disapproving	Il a fini ? Bah non. → Is it finished? Well no.
ni… ni…	/nee… nee…/	neither… nor…	Je n’aime ni le thé ni le café. → I like neither tea nor coffee.
personne / rien (neg pronouns)	/pehr-sohn/ , /ree-eh(n)/	nobody / nothing (used with ne)	Je ne vois personne. / Il ne dit rien. → I see nobody. / He says nothing.

Polite Refusals in French

• Je suis désolé(e), mais non. — I’m sorry, but no.
• Je préfère pas. — I’d rather not. (informal)
• Ce n’est pas possible. — That’s not possible.
• Merci, mais non. — Thanks, but no.
• Pas maintenant. — Not right now.

Short grammar & Important notes

• Basic “no”: use non for a neutral refusal.
• Non merci (No, thank you) is the standard polite way to decline.
• Pas du tout (not at all), absolument pas (absolutely not), bien sûr que non (of course not) add strength while saying no — use these when you need to be clear.
• Colloquial: nan (or spelled non) and bah non are common in speech and texting — avoid using these in formal contexts.
• Double negatives in French: French commonly uses ne…pas (Je ne veux pas), ne…jamais (never), ne…personne (no one), ne…rien (nothing). In spoken French, ne is often dropped: Example, Je veux pas.
• Contradicting a negative: to answer “yes” when someone makes a negative statement, French uses si. Example: — Tu n’aimes pas ça ? — Si.
• Combining negatives: ni… ni… = neither… nor… (example: Il n’a ni temps ni argent.).

Examples of saying ‘no’ in French

1. Tu veux venir ce soir ? — Non merci, j’ai du travail.
   → Do you want to come tonight? — No thanks, I have work.
2. Il a fini son devoir ? — Pas du tout.
   → Has he finished his homework? — Not at all.
3. Tu aimes les champignons ? — Non, je n’en veux pas.
   → Do you like mushrooms? — No, I don’t want any.
4. Il va accepter ? — Bien sûr que non.
   → Will he accept? — Of course not.
5. Use ni…ni: Je n’aime ni la pluie ni le froid.
   → I like neither rain nor cold.

Saying “yes” in French is straightforward — oui, which is pronounced as /wee/.

But French also has several useful ‘yes’ alternatives that change the tone (formal, casual, surprised, contradicting a negative, hesitant, etc.).

Use the examples below to learn when to pick which form.

Different ways to say ‘yes’ in French with meanings

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example (French → English)
oui	/wee/	yes — standard, neutral	Oui, j’aime le café. → Yes, I like coffee.
si	/see/	yes used to contradict a negative (“Yes, you are” after someone said “You’re not”)	Tu n’as pas faim ? — Si. → Aren’t you hungry? — Yes (I am).
ouais / ouaip	/weh/  /wep/	yeah / yep — informal, casual	Ouais, je viens. → Yeah, I’m coming.
mouais	/mweh/	um, yeah — hesitant or noncommittal	Mouais, pourquoi pas. → Um, yeah, why not.
ouah !	/wah/	yes! / wow! — exclamation of surprise or joy	Ouah ! J’ai réussi l’examen ! → Yes! I passed the exam!

Short notes on the main forms

Oui — the default yes

Use oui whenever you want a plain, neutral “yes”. Use this for answers to direct questions, acceptance, confirmations.

Si — the special “yes after no”

Si is used specifically to contradict a negative statement or negative question. English has no exact one-word equivalent — you say “Yes” to mean “No, that negative is not true / the opposite is true.”

Example: “Tu n’aimes pas le chocolat ? — Si.” means “You don’t like chocolate? — Yes (I do).” 

Ouais / ouaip — casual “yeah”

Ouais and ouaip are informal, like English “yeah” and “yep.” Good with friends, not for formal situations. Texting short form: oué.

Example: Tu viens au cinéma ce soir ? — Ouais, pourquoi pas. Which in English means:  You coming to the movies tonight? — Yeah, why not.

Note: ouaip works the same (slightly lazier). In texting you might see oué.

Mouais — hesitant agreement

Mouais expresses weak agreement or reluctance — closer to “meh,” “um… yeah,” or “I’m not so sure.” Useful to show doubt without a full refusal. 

Ouah — exclamation of delight / surprise

Used like “Yes!” or “Wow!” when you’re excited, amazed, or celebrating. Not a neutral “yes” — it’s emotional.

Other common ways to say yes

• bien sûr — of course
• d’accord — okay / agreed
• avec plaisir / volontiers — with pleasure / gladly
• certainement / absolument / tout à fait — certainly / absolutely
• ça marche — that works (informal)
• These alternatives are handy when you want to add tone or politeness.

Everyday basic words & phrases

French Word/Phrase	Pronunciation (approx.)	Meaning (English)	Example (FR) → English
Bonjour	bon-zhoor	Hello / Good morning	Bonjour — Hello / Good morning.
Bonsoir	bon-swahr	Good evening	Bonsoir, nous sommes arrivés. → Good evening, we arrived.
Salut	sah-loo	Hi (informal)	Salut! Ça va? → Hi! How are you?
Au revoir	oh ruh-vwar	Goodbye	Au revoir, merci! → Goodbye, thanks!
S’il vous plaît	seel voo pleh	Please (formal/polite)	L’addition, s’il vous plaît. → The bill, please.
Merci	mehr-see	Thank you	Merci pour votre aide. → Thank you for your help.
Merci beaucoup	mehr-see boh-koo	Thank you very much	Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much.
De rien	duh ryen	You’re welcome / It’s nothing	De rien — You’re welcome.
Excusez-moi	ex-kew-zay-mwah	Excuse me / Sorry (formal)	Excusez-moi, où est la porte 12 ? → Excuse me, where is gate 12?
Pardon	par-dohn	Sorry / Excuse me (to get past)	Pardon — Sorry / excuse me (to pass by).

Travel & practical phrases in French (food, transit, emergencies)

French Phrase	Pronunciation	Meaning (English)	Example (FR) → English
Parlez-vous anglais ?	par-lay voo ahn-glay?	Do you speak English?	Parlez-vous anglais ? → Do you speak English?
Je ne parle pas français	zhuh nuh parl pah frahn-say	I don’t speak French	Je ne parle pas français, désolé. → I don’t speak French, sorry.
Je comprends un peu	zhuh kom-prohn uh puh	I understand a little	Je comprends un peu, mais pas très bien. → I understand a little, but not very well.
Pouvez-vous répéter ?	poo-vay voo ray-pay-tay?	Can you repeat?	Pouvez-vous répéter ? → Can you repeat?
Où sont les toilettes ?	oo sohn lay twah-let?	Where are the restrooms?	Où sont les toilettes ? → Where are the restrooms?
Combien ça coûte ?	kohm-byen sah koot?	How much does it cost?	Combien ça coûte ? → How much does it cost?
L’addition, s’il vous plaît	la-dee-syon seel voo pleh	The bill, please	L’addition, s’il vous plaît. → The check/bill, please.
Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît	oon tahl poor duh, seel voo pleh	A table for two, please	Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît. → A table for two, please.
Je voudrais…	zhuh voo-dray	I would like…	Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. → I would like a coffee, please.
Où est… ?	oo eh	Where is… ?	Où est la gare ? → Where is the train station?
À quelle heure… ?	ah kel uhr	At what time… ?	À quelle heure part le train ? → At what time does the train leave?
Un billet pour…	uhn bee-yay poor	A ticket to…	Un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plaît. → A ticket to Paris, please.
Où est la pharmacie ?	oo eh la far-mah-see	Where is the pharmacy?	Où est la pharmacie ? → Where is the pharmacy?
J’ai perdu mon sac	zhay pehr-doo mon sak	I’ve lost my bag	J’ai perdu mon sac. → I’ve lost my bag.
Aidez-moi !	eh-day mwah!	Help me!	Aidez-moi ! → Help me!
Appelez une ambulance !	ah-peh-lay uhn ahm-byoo-lahns	Call an ambulance!	Appelez une ambulance ! → Call an ambulance!
Je suis allergique à…	zhuh swee zah-ler-zheek ah…	I’m allergic to…	Je suis allergique à les arachides. → I’m allergic to peanuts.
Est-ce que c’est loin ?	ess-kuh say lwan?	Is it far?	Est-ce que c’est loin ? → Is it far?
Pouvez-vous m’aider ?	poo-vay voo may-day?	Can you help me?	Pouvez-vous m’aider ? → Can you help me?

Learning French? Nice. Apps can help a lot, but only if you pick one that matches what you actually want to do. Below are clean tables (top French learning apps, ratings, pros and cons, app pricing) to make the app choice quick in 2026.

Before you pick, ask yourself one simple question:
Do I want to practice speaking (listening + talking with real people) or do I want to build vocabulary & grammar?

• If you want to learn spoken French and master real life conversations, then you should prioritize audio and exchange apps like Pimsleur and Tandem/HelloTalk.
  
• If you want to prioritise French vocab and grammar, choose Babbel or LingoDeer and pair them with an SRS tool — Spaced Retention Tool (like Memrise or Anki) for long-term retention.

Pick the path that matches your goal, and the tables below will tell you which French learning apps will get you there fastest.

Top app picks for 2026

App	Best for	Reason
Duolingo	Daily habit & beginners	Duolingo has gamified micro-lessons that build consistent French vocabulary practice.
Babbel	Grammar & structure	Babbel gives you clear lesson paths and explicit grammar explanations.
Busuu	Human corrections	Bussu provides community-native feedback on your French writing & speaking.
Pimsleur	Speaking & pronunciation	Pimsleur app provides audio-first lessons for spoken recall and fluency.
Memrise	Vocabulary retention	Memrise provides spaced Repetition System for vocabulary retention; and native-speaker clips for long-term recall.
Tandem / HelloTalk	Real conversations	Language exchange (voice notes, texts, calls) with natives.
LingoDeer	Grammar-focused alternative	Systematic grammar scaffolding, less gamey than Duolingo.

App Ratings (1–5)

App	Ease	Speaking	Grammar	Vocab	Feedback	Engagement	Value
Duolingo	5	3	3	4	3	5	4.5
Babbel	4	4	4.5	4	3	3.5	4
Busuu	4	4	4	4	4.5	3.5	4
Pimsleur	4	5	3	3.5	2.5	3	3.5
Memrise	4	3	2.5	5	2.5	4	4
Tandem/HelloTalk	3	5	3	4	5	4	5
LingoDeer	4	3	4	4	2.5	3.5	4

Pros and Cons

App	Pros	Cons
Duolingo	It has huge free tier, addictive streak system, ideal for beginners	Limited deep grammar; speaking is auto-checked
Babbel	Gives clear explanations and realistic dialogues	Babbel has smaller free experience and is less gamified
Busuu	Provides native-speaker corrections; structured path	Correction speed/quality varies
Pimsleur	Provides excellent spoken recall; works during commutes	Little written grammar; lessons ~30 min
Memrise	Best SRS for vocab; real-speaker clips	Not a full grammar course
Tandem / HelloTalk	Authentic correction and conversation practice	Experience varies by partner; needs initiative
LingoDeer	Strong grammar scaffolding; progressive lessons	Few social/exchange features

Pricing comparison

App	Free tier?	Typical monthly (USD)	Notes
Duolingo	Yes	~$12–13 (Super)	Max/AI tier extra for advanced features
Babbel	Trial	~$9–15	Structured lessons; look for promos
Busuu	Yes	~$6–12	Premium speeds up corrections
Pimsleur	Trial samples	~$19–21	It is audio-first; All-Access gives many languages
Memrise	Yes	~$8–12	SRS and native clips; annual discounts common
Tandem	Yes	Pro ~$9–13	Free exchange is usually enough
HelloTalk	Yes	VIP varies ~$5–10	Free exchange robust
LingoDeer	Trial/limited	~$14.99/mo or ~$95/yr	Lifetime promos sometimes available

So which French learning app should you use?

Pick the app that solves your problem today.

In 2026, if you want habit and fast onboarding, start with Duolingo.

If you need clear grammar and steady progress, choose Babbel or LingoDeer.

If speaking French is the priority, use Pimsleur (audio) + Tandem/HelloTalk (real exchange).

For French vocabulary that sticks, use Memrise (SRS + native clips).

So, pick the app that suits your requirements.

French color words mostly behave like regular adjectives: they usually match the noun’s gender and number. That means changing endings for feminine and adding -s for plural— but there are a few common exceptions which I’ll point out.

I’ll also give easy pronunciations (not IPA —  just friendly respellings you can read out loud).

Basic rules of french colors:

• Put the color word after the noun. For example: une voiture rouge (not une rouge voiture).
• If the color is variable, change it for feminine and plural: bleu → bleue → bleus → bleues.
• Some colors are invariable (they don’t change): orange, marron, turquoise.
• Compound shades like bleu clair or vert foncé are usually treated as invariable: des chemises bleu clair.

Pronunciation key (simple respellings)

• zh = /ʒ/ as in measure
• sh = /ʃ/ as in shoe
• ahn / on = nasal vowel (English doesn’t have an exact match)

These are friendly respellings, not IPA.

Variable Colours in French with Pronunciation & Examples: (Male, Female, Singular, Plural forms)

English	French colors & pronunciations	Examples
Blue	Male Singular: bleu — bluh Female Singular: bleue — bluh Male Plural: bleus — bluh Female Plural: bleues — bluh	Un jean bleu. → A blue pair of jeans. Une chemise bleue. → A blue shirt.
White	Male Singular: blanc — blahn Female Singular: blanche — blahnsh Male Plural: blancs — blahn Female Plural: blanches — blahnsh	Un t-shirt blanc. → A white T-shirt. Une robe blanche. → A white dress.
Red	Male Singular: rouge — roozh Female Singular: rouge — roozh Male Plural: rouges — roozh Female Plural: rouges — roozh	Un ballon rouge. → A red balloon. Une jupe rouge. → A red skirt.
Yellow	Male Singular: jaune — zhon Female Singular: jaune — zhon Male Plural: jaunes — zhon Female Plural: jaunes — zhon	Un chapeau jaune. → A yellow hat. Une lampe jaune. → A yellow lamp.
Green	Male Singular: vert — vehr Female Singular: verte — vehrt Male Plural: verts — vehr Female Plural: vertes — vehrt	Un manteau vert. → A green coat. Une veste verte. → A green jacket.
Pink	Male Singular: rose — rohz Female Singular: rose — rohz Male Plural: roses — rohz Female Plural: roses — rohz	Un pull rose. → A pink sweater. Une fleur rose. → A pink flower.
Black	Male Singular: noir — nwar Female Singular: noire — nwahr Male Plural: noirs — nwar Female Plural: noires — nwahr	Un sac noir. → A black bag. Une robe noire. → A black dress.
Grey	Male Singular: gris — gree Female Singular: grise — greez Male Plural: gris — gree Female Plural: grises — greez	Un manteau gris. → A grey coat. Des chaussettes grises. → Grey socks.
Purple	Male Singular: violet — vee-oh-lay Female Singular: violette — vee-oh-let Male Plural: violets — vee-oh-lay Female Plural: violettes — vee-oh-let	Un chapeau violet. → A purple hat. Une robe violette. → A purple dress.
Beige	Male Singular: beige — behzh Female Singular: beige — behzh Male Plural: beiges — behzh Female Plural: beiges — behzh	Un canapé beige. → A beige sofa. Une chaise beige. → A beige chair.

Note: written plural -s is usually silent in speech. Feminine forms sometimes add a consonant sound (e.g., blanche, grise, violette) — the pronunciations above reflect that.

Invariable Colours in French with Pronunciation & Examples: (Male, Female, Singular, Plural forms)

English	French colors & pronunciations	Examples
Orange (invariable)	orange — oh-rahnzh	Un fruit orange. → An orange fruit. Une robe orange. → An orange dress.
Brown — marron (invariable)	marron — mah-ron	Un sac marron. → A brown bag. Des ceintures marron. → Brown belts.
Turquoise (often invariable)	turquoise — tur-kwoaz	Un collier turquoise. → A turquoise necklace. Une robe turquoise. → A turquoise dress.
Light blue (compound)	bleu clair — bluh clair	Un pull bleu clair. → A light-blue sweater. Des pulls bleu clair. → Light-blue sweaters.
Dark blue (compound)	bleu foncé — bluh fon-say	Une veste bleu foncé. → A dark-blue jacket. Des vestes bleu foncé. → Dark-blue jackets.
Olive green (compound)	vert olive — vehr oh-leev	Un pantalon vert olive. → Olive-green trousers. Des pantalons vert olive.
Salmon (often invariable)	saumon — soh-mohn	Une robe saumon. → A salmon-coloured dress. Des chemises saumon.

Travelling in France is a lot more fun when you know a few basic words. You don’t need fluent French — just enough to order food, ask for help, and get around with confidence.

This list of 50 essential French words with pronunciation covers the simple, everyday phrases travellers actually use with example usage, so you can feel more comfortable and enjoy your trip a little more.

French Word / Phrase	Meaning + Example sentence (French → English)	Pronunciation
Bonjour	Meaning: Hello / Good morning Example: Bonjour ! J’ai une petite question. → Hello! I’ve got a quick question.	bohn-zhoor
Salut	Meaning: Hi / Bye (informal) Example: Salut ! Quelle surprise de te voir ici. → Hey! What a surprise to see you here.	sa-loo
Au revoir	Meaning: Goodbye Example: Au revoir — à bientôt ! → Bye — see you soon!	oh ruh-vwahr
S’il vous plaît	Meaning: Please Example: Un croissant, s’il vous plaît. → A croissant, please.	seel voo pleh
Merci	Meaning: Thank you Example: Merci, vous m’avez vraiment aidé. → Thanks, you really helped me.	mehr-see
De rien	Meaning:You’re welcome Example: Merci ! — De rien, avec plaisir. → Thanks! You’re welcome, happy to help.	duh ree-ehn
Excusez-moi	Meaning: Excuse me / Sorry Example: Excusez-moi, est-ce que je peux passer ? → Excuse me, can I get by?	ex-kew-zay-mwah
Oui	Meaning: Yes Example: Oui, je veux bien. → Yes, I’d like that.	wee
Non	Meaning: No Example: Non merci, ce n’est pas nécessaire. → No thanks, that’s not necessary.	noh
Peut-être	Meaning: Maybe Example: Peut-être demain, j’en saurai plus. → Maybe tomorrow, I’ll know more then.	peuh-tet-ruh
Je ne comprends pas	Meaning: I don’t understand Example: Désolé, je ne comprends pas très bien le français. → Sorry, I don’t understand French very well.	zhuh nuh kom-prahnd pah
Parlez-vous anglais ?	Meaning: Do you speak English? Example: Parlez-vous anglais ? Ce serait super. → Do you speak English? That would be great.	par-lay voo ahn-glay
Comment ça va ?	Meaning: How are you? Example: Salut ! Ça va aujourd’hui ? → Hey! How are you today?	koh-mahn sa vah
Comment vous appelez-vous ?	Meaning: What is your name? Example: Comment vous appelez-vous ? → What’s your name?	koh-mahn voo zap-play voo
Je m’appelle…	Meaning: My name is… Example: Je m’appelle Claire, enchantée. → I’m Claire, nice to meet you.	zhuh mah-pell
Où ?	Meaning: Where? Example: Où se trouve la rue principale ? → Where’s the main street?	oo
À gauche	Meaning: To the left Example: Prenez la première à gauche. → Take the first left.	ah gosh
À droite	Meaning: To the right Example: Après le magasin, tournez à droite. → After the shop, turn right.	ah drwaht
Tout droit	Meaning: Straight ahead Example: Continuez tout droit jusqu’au pont. → Keep going straight until the bridge.	too drwah
La gare	Meaning: Train station Example: Excusez-moi, où est la gare ? → Excuse me, where’s the train station?	lah gahr
L’aéroport	Meaning: Airport Example: Je dois rejoindre l’aéroport cet après-midi. → I need to get to the airport this afternoon.	lay-roh-por
Le métro	Meaning: Subway Example: Le métro arrive dans cinq minutes ? → Does the metro come in five minutes?	meh-troh
Le billet	Meaning: Ticket Example: Je voudrais acheter un billet aller-simple. → I’d like a one-way ticket.	bee-yay
Un	Meaning: One Example: Un ticket, s’il vous plaît. → One ticket, please.	uhn
Deux	Meaning: Two Example: Deux s’il vous plaît , pour moi et mon ami. → Two please, for me and my friend.	duh
Trois	Meaning: Three Example: Nous sommes trois à la table, merci. → There are three of us at the table, thanks.	trwah
Dix	Meaning: Ten Example: C’est à dix minutes à pied. → It’s a ten-minute walk.	dees
Vingt	Meaning:Twenty Example: J’ai attendu vingt minutes déjà. → I’ve already waited twenty minutes.	van
Cent	Meaning: One hundred Example: L’hôtel est à cent mètres d’ici. → The hotel is a hundred meters from here.	sahn
Combien ?	Meaning: How much? Example: Combien ça coûte pour la visite ? → How much is the tour?	kohm-byen
L’eau	Meaning: Water Example: Une bouteille d’eau, s’il vous plaît. → A bottle of water, please.	loh
La nourriture	Meaning: Food Example: La nourriture ici est excellente. → The food here is excellent.	noo-ree-toor
L’addition	Meaning: The bill / check Example: L’addition quand vous aurez une seconde, merci. → The bill when you have a second, thanks.	la-dee-syon
Je voudrais…	Meaning: I would like… Example: Je voudrais goûter le plat du jour. → I’d like to try the dish of the day.	zhuh voo-dray
Délicieux / délicieuse	Meaning: Delicious Example: C’était vraiment délicieux, merci ! → That was really delicious, thanks!	day-lee-syuh
Végétarien / végétarienne	Meaning: Vegetarian Example: Je suis végétarienne, avez-vous des options ? → I’m vegetarian, do you have options?	vay-zhay-tah-ryen
Sans gluten	Meaning: Gluten-free Example: C’est sans gluten ? J’ai une allergie. → Is this gluten-free? I have an allergy.	sahn gloo-ten
Le menu	Meaning: Menu Example: On peut regarder le menu, s’il vous plaît ? → Can we see the menu, please?	muh-new
Le prix	Meaning:Price Example: Est-ce que le prix inclut les taxes ? → Does the price include tax?	pree
La carte	Meaning:Map / menu / card Example: Je vais prendre quelque chose sur la carte. → I’ll pick something from the menu.	kart
Ouvert	Meaning:Open Example: Ça a l’air ouvert — allons y jeter un coup d’œil. → Looks open — let’s go check it out.	oo-vehr
Fermé	Meaning: Closed Example: Dommage, c’est fermé aujourd’hui. → Too bad, it’s closed today.	fehr-may
Reçu	Meaning: Receipt Example: Puis-je avoir un reçu pour ça ? → Can I get a receipt for that?	ruh-soo
Aidez-moi !	Meaning: Help me! Example: Aidez-moi, je suis vraiment perdu. → Help me — I’m really lost.	eh-day-mwah
Au secours !	Meaning: Help! Example: Au secours ! Quelqu’un m’a volé mon sac ! → Help! Someone stole my bag!	oh suh-koor
La police	Meaning: Police Example: Il faut prévenir la police tout de suite. → We need to call the police right away.	po-leess
Ambulance	Meaning: Ambulance Example: Appelez une ambulance, s’il vous plaît ! → Call an ambulance, please!	ahm-byoo-lahns
Médecin	Meaning: Doctor Example: Je ne me sens pas bien, vous connaissez un médecin ? → I don’t feel well, do you know a doctor?	may-duh-sahn
Pharmacie	Meaning: Pharmacy Example: Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ? → Where’s the nearest pharmacy?	far-mah-see
Les toilettes	Meaning: Toilets / Restroom Example: Pardon, où sont les toilettes, s’il vous plaît ? → Sorry, where are the restrooms, please?	lay twah-let

You can build a useful beginner level of French in thirty days if you practice regularly and follow a focused plan. 

The goal of this plan is to help you speak simple sentences, understand short clips, and feel confident enough to keep learning after the month ends. 

You will not be fluent in thirty days, and that is not the intention; instead, you will gain practical skills you can use right away.

Before Day One: a ten-minute setup

Choose a daily time that you will keep, for example during your morning coffee or right after dinner. 

Install a flashcard app such as Anki or any other spaced-repetition tool that you prefer. 

Create a small YouTube playlist with categories named “Pronunciation,” “Short Dialogues,” and “French Verbs”, “French Grammar and Tenses” etc., 

Keep a notebook or a notes app for new words and example sentences. Use headphones for listening, and use your phone or laptop to record your voice.

A daily routine you can follow (45 minutes)

• Review your flashcards for ten minutes and add eight to twelve new words.
• Spend ten minutes on one focused grammar point, such as articles, a verb conjugation, or the structure of a simple tense.
• Spend ten minutes on active listening using a short YouTube clip or podcast, listening once for the general idea and once for details.
• Spend ten minutes speaking by shadowing a thirty- to sixty-second clip or by recording yourself and replaying it.
• Spend five minutes writing one or two sentences that use the vocabulary and grammar you practiced that day.

If you only have twenty minutes, review flashcards and speak out loud for the full session.

Weekly Milestones

• Week 1: Learn key French sounds such as nasal vowels and the French r. Memorize greetings and numbers. Use short pronunciation clips and loop the hard parts until they feel natural.
• Week 2: Focus on everyday nouns and verbs, practice articles, and learn the present tense for -er verbs. Watch short themed vocab videos and write two example sentences for each new theme.
• Week 3: Practice phrases you will actually use, such as “Où est…?” and “Je voudrais…”. Roleplay ordering in a café or asking for directions. Record yourself and compare to the clip.
• Week 4: Study the passé composé for a handful of common verbs and the futur proche. Write and record a short paragraph about your day. Rewatch a short vlog and try to spot examples of the tenses you studied.
• The last 2 days: Review flashcards, polish your three-minute monologue, and complete a short voice chat or exchange with a language partner.

Recommended French Learning YouTube channels

• Easy French. This channel features short street interviews and honest conversations, which are excellent for hearing natural speed and real vocabulary. Use Easy French for shadowing a single speaker’s 20–30 second turn, and repeat that turn twice a day for three days.
• InnerFrench. This channel offers clear, slightly slowed monologues on interesting topics that are great for comprehension and vocabulary in context. Use InnerFrench in week four to model tempo and to practice longer listening sessions.
• Français Authentique. This channel focuses on natural phrasing and pronunciation. Watch short videos from Français Authentique in week one to practice sounds and rhythm.
• Learn French With Alexa. Alexa provides structured, beginner-friendly lessons that help you cover basics like greetings and numbers. Follow her short lessons in week one and week two.
• Comme une Française (Géraldine). This channel gives cultural tips and realistic expressions that help you sound natural rather than textbook. Use it in week three for phrases you will use in real situations.

A sample 45-minute session using these channels

1. Review and add flashcards for ten minutes.
2. Watch a two- to three-minute pronunciation clip from Français Authentique and repeat aloud for ten minutes.
3. Listen to a four- to six-minute InnerFrench or Easy French clip once for gist and once for details for ten minutes.
4. Shadow a thirty- to sixty-second Easy French or Comme une Française clip, record yourself, and replay it for ten minutes.
5. Write one tidy sentence using the new words for five minutes.

Practice methods that give real results

Shadowing forces you to match rhythm and intonation while you speak at the same time as a native speaker. 

The echo method helps because you listen to a sentence, pause the audio, and then repeat the sentence exactly before checking your pronunciation by recording and comparing. Using the transcript to translate three short lines and then saying them aloud improves reading comprehension and speaking at the same time. 

Writing one sentence per day using new vocabulary helps you produce language rather than only consume it. Changing one small daily habit, such as swapping ten minutes of phone scrolling for ten minutes of French clips, creates steady progress without a large time commitment.

Learning the days of the week in French is a lot of fun!

In our pronunciation guide, we will first look at the respellings, then watch the pronunciation video, and finally practice with some example phrases in the end. We shall also discuss about the nasal sounds and the French r pronunciation.

Days French with respelling

English	French	Respelling
Monday	Lundi	lun-dee (nasal lun)
Tuesday	Mardi	mar-dee
Wednesday	Mercredi	mehr-kruh-dee
Thursday	Jeudi	zhuh-dee (soft zh)
Friday	Vendredi	vahn-druh-dee (nasal vahn)
Saturday	Samedi	sam-dee
Sunday	Dimanche	dee-mahnsh (nasal mahn, sh at end)

Important note: the respelling is a learner-friendly approximation — the French r is guttural and some vowels are nasal.

Watch this video for pronunciation practice

Phrases that include days of Week in French

French: Quel jour sommes-nous ?
English Translation: What day is it?

French: Aujourd’hui, c’est mardi.
English Translation: Today is Tuesday.

French: Demain, ce sera jeudi.
English Translation: Tomorrow will be Thursday.

French: Hier, c’était dimanche.
English Translation: Yesterday was Sunday.French: Je travaille du lundi au vendredi.
English Translation: I work Monday to Friday.

Quick pronunciation tips

• Week usually starts on lundi in French.
• For nasal sounds (lun-, vahn-, mahn-), don’t add an n — let the vowel resonate through the nose.
• If the French r is hard, use a soft English r at first — focus on vowel and nasal sounds.