Vocabulary
Beginner Word Lists
Essential French vocabulary organized by theme. Click 🔊 to hear any word pronounced in French. IPA transcriptions are included for pronunciation reference.
Reading IPA — key symbols
ʁ
French R: back of throat
ɑ̃ ɛ̃ ɔ̃ œ̃
Nasal vowels: air through nose
ø œ
Front rounded vowels (bleu, neuf)
ɥ
'Glide' in huit, nuit
ʃ ʒ
sh (chat) / zh (je)
[ ]
Square brackets = IPA transcription
Colours
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| rouge | [ʁuʒ] | red | |
| bleu | [blø] | blue | |
| vert | [vɛʁ] | green | |
| jaune | [ʒon] | yellow | |
| blanc | [blɑ̃] | white | |
| noir | [nwaʁ] | black | |
| orange | [ɔʁɑ̃ʒ] | orange | |
| violet | [vjɔlɛ] | purple | |
| rose | [ʁoz] | pink | |
| gris | [ɡʁi] | grey |
Numbers 1–20
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| un | [œ̃] | one | |
| deux | [dø] | two | |
| trois | [tʁwa] | three | |
| quatre | [katʁ] | four | |
| cinq | [sɛ̃k] | five | |
| six | [sis] | six | |
| sept | [sɛt] | seven | |
| huit | [ɥit] | eight | |
| neuf | [nœf] | nine | |
| dix | [dis] | ten | |
| onze | [ɔ̃z] | eleven | |
| douze | [duz] | twelve | |
| treize | [tʁɛz] | thirteen | |
| quatorze | [katɔʁz] | fourteen | |
| quinze | [kɛ̃z] | fifteen | |
| seize | [sɛz] | sixteen | |
| dix-sept | [dis.sɛt] | seventeen | |
| dix-huit | [diz.ɥit] | eighteen | |
| dix-neuf | [diz.nœf] | nineteen | |
| vingt | [vɛ̃] | twenty |
Days of the week
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| lundi | [lœ̃di] | Monday | |
| mardi | [maʁdi] | Tuesday | |
| mercredi | [mɛʁkʁədi] | Wednesday | |
| jeudi | [ʒødi] | Thursday | |
| vendredi | [vɑ̃dʁədi] | Friday | |
| samedi | [samdi] | Saturday | |
| dimanche | [dimɑ̃ʃ] | Sunday |
Months
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| janvier | [ʒɑ̃vje] | January | |
| février | [fevʁije] | February | |
| mars | [maʁs] | March | |
| avril | [avʁil] | April | |
| mai | [mɛ] | May | |
| juin | [ʒɥɛ̃] | June | |
| juillet | [ʒɥijɛ] | July | |
| août | [u] | August | |
| septembre | [sɛptɑ̃bʁ] | September | |
| octobre | [ɔktɔbʁ] | October | |
| novembre | [nɔvɑ̃bʁ] | November | |
| décembre | [desɑ̃bʁ] | December |
Common verbs
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| être | [ɛtʁ] | to be | |
| avoir | [avwaʁ] | to have | |
| aller | [ale] | to go | |
| faire | [fɛʁ] | to do / make | |
| parler | [paʁle] | to speak | |
| manger | [mɑ̃ʒe] | to eat | |
| aimer | [ɛme] | to like / love | |
| regarder | [ʁəɡaʁde] | to watch | |
| écouter | [ekute] | to listen | |
| jouer | [ʒwe] | to play | |
| habiter | [abite] | to live (somewhere) | |
| travailler | [tʁavaje] | to work |
Common adjectives
| French | IPA | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| grand | [ɡʁɑ̃] | big / tall | |
| petit | [pəti] | small | |
| bon | [bɔ̃] | good | |
| mauvais | [movɛ] | bad | |
| beau | [bo] | beautiful | |
| vieux | [vjø] | old | |
| nouveau | [nuvo] | new | |
| facile | [fasil] | easy | |
| difficile | [difisil] | hard / difficult | |
| intéressant | [ɛ̃teʁesɑ̃] | interesting | |
| sympa | [sɛ̃pa] | nice / friendly | |
| rapide | [ʁapid] | fast |
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