articles to read in french

French Texts for Beginners

French texts for beginners (A1/A2) and intermediates (B1/B2) to practice your French reading and comprehension skills. Learning to read French well is a genuine accomplishment. For beginning learners, we offer an enjoyable way to improve your comprehension with the brief, text-based lessons below.

Professional French teachers designed the texts and exercises with easy vocabulary and elementary grammar to help you grow in ability and confidence. Following your review of each text, answer the questions of comprehension in our online exercises, and we'll evaluate it immediately. You get instant feedback about your French reading skills. It's challenging, fun and free!

Hint: Download our texts and exercises as pdf and use it as free teaching materials for your students.

• Cinéma DIALOGUE PREMIUM How about we go to the movies? ? »
• Les vacances d'été PREMIUM Summer holidays and the French ? »
• Séjour à la ferme PREMIUM A day off away from the city ? »
• Du soleil sous la neige PREMIUM Clean, fresh air: just what was needed ? »
• Formation en anglais PREMIUM I need information about the English class. ? »
• Journée en forêt PREMIUM A walk in the woods with grandpa ? »
• La réunion de famille PREMIUM The only time of the year when the family gets together ? »
• Le chat et la taupe PREMIUM The mole was lucky to escape ? »
• Le jour du marché PREMIUM I'm going to buy the vegetables for today's meal ? »
• Les courses d'Arthur PREMIUM The days when Arthur does the shopping ? »
• Les lectures de Hector PREMIUM ? »
• Trouver l'amour sur internet PREMIUM Will Amelie find the love of her life? ? »
• Un instant de détente PREMIUM A bit of relaxation after lots of work ? »
• La nouvelle année PREMIUM Sabrina's goal for next year ? »
• Le français, langue de Molière PREMIUM One of the greatest writers in the French language ? »
• La photographie PREMIUM ? »
• Le jardinage PREMIUM ? »
• Les voyages en bus PREMIUM ? »

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French Reading Practice

Reading exercises by level.

Boost your French comprehension with our collection of interactive reading exercises. You'll find content tailored to every level from beginner (A0) to advanced (C1).

All of our texts are carefully crafted by  native French teachers , so you know you're practising real French. Most come paired with audio, offering you a powerful  blend of reading and listening practice.

Choose one of the texts from the list below. As you read, click on any tricky phrases to reveal their English translation and delve into insightful grammar lessons. You can save any lesson that captures your interest in your Notebook.

Test your French level  with our FREE level test to choose the correct exercises according to your current level. Dive in now and find out how our interactive readers will help you find your fluent!

A1: Beginner French reading exercises

• Cher journal Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Pronom réfléchi Préposition Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Discover Lisa's daily routine while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Entretien avec un vampire Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes avec -OIR Question/Interrogative Forme négative Family & Relationships Literature, Poetry, Theatre Check out this interview inspired by Anne Rice's novel to practise your French listening and reading comprehension.
• James se présente Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif Question/Interrogative Family & Relationships Listen to this interview of James while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• La Comptine des Vêtements Free Genre masculin Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Deuxième personne Genre féminin Family & Relationships Practise your A1 French listening skills with a nursery rhyme about clothing.
• Marie in France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Pluriel Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Enjoy a day in France while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Petits Portraits entre Amis Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Family & Relationships Discover these portraits of six friends while practising your reading and listening comprehension.
• Une semaine bien chargée Free Futur Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Genre masculin Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover Sylvain and Tina's plans for the week, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive l'automne ! Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Pluriel Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Find out why fall is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive l'hiver ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Article Sports & Leisure Find out why winter is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive le chocolat ! Free Article Article défini Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Food & Drink Enjoy this little poem by Aurélie for chocolate lovers everywhere, while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive le printemps ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Find out why spring is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.

A2: Lower Intermediate French reading exercises

• Carte postale Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Enjoy this postcard about Magalie's stay with her grandparents, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Chaud ou froid ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Préposition Pronom sujet Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Too hot or too cold? Luc and Amélie discuss their preferences in this A2 bilingual reader.
• Dame Tartine (Comptines de France) Free Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Adjectif possessif Music Sing along to this delicious French nursery rhyme while practising your French listening comprehension.
• En arrivant à l'hôtel Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Check into a French hotel with Mrs Vallée, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Halloween Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Préposition Adjectif Pronom Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Learn about Hallowe'en, while practising your A2 French reading and listening skills.
• Kwiziq French Film Fest Free Adjectif Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Film & TV Discover Kwiziq team's French film mini reviews of their favorite movies.
• La fin des vacances Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Enjoy this podcast interview about the end of holiday [US: vacation] while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• La semaine des Martin Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Préposition Article défini Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Article about a busy week of activities for the Martin family.
• Lettre à France - Michel Polnareff Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom disjonctif Comparatif Pronom d'objet direct Famous People Music Enjoy French singer Michel Polnareff's cult love "letter" to France, and sing along while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Lettre à un ami Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adjectif Family & Relationships Catch up with Kévin's life in this letter, while practising your A2 French reading and listening skills.
• Léo et Popi : la Galette des Rois Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Pronom d'objet Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV Food & Drink Enjoy this lovely children's cartoon about la Galette des Rois, featuring classic French characters Léo et Popi, while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Ma première rentrée des classes Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Préposition Family & Relationships Language & Education Élodie remembers her first day of school in this A2 bilingual article.
• Mes chats Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Préposition Verbes avec -OIR Family & Relationships Meet Cécile's lovely cats, while practising your French A2 reading and listening comprehension.
• Petit Ours Brun fait des crêpes Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Accord Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Food & Drink Make delicious crêpes with cute cartoon Petit Ours Brun, while practising your French A2 listening and reading comprehension.
• Petit Pangolin Malin - Comptine d'Afrique Free L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Adjectif Adjectif possessif Pronom Music Listen and sing along to this cute African nursery rhyme, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Rosh Hashana Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom sujet Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Celebrations & Important Dates Learn some traditions related to Rosh Hashana, a two-day celebration for the Jewish New Year.
• Thanksgiving chez mon correspondant Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Participe passé Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Enjoy Eric's first Thanksgiving experience, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Un dîner d'automne au restaurant Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Question/Interrogative Food & Drink Order a nice autumnal meal at a French restaurant, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Un mauvais numéro Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Wrong number! Listen to this friendly exchange while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Un samedi à Paris Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Take a stroll around Paris while working on your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Une journée chargée Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Article Futur Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Lucas has a busy day of shopping and socialising in this bilingual article.
• What is Ramadan? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Article défini Préposition Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the holy month of Ramadan, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• À la gare Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet indirect Question/Interrogative Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Buy some train tickets with Geoffrey and Agathe, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.

B1: Intermediate French reading exercises

• Ainsi Font, Font, Font (Comptines de France) Free Article Article défini L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Music Dance and sing along with this famous French nursery rhyme's little puppets while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Après le coronavirus Free Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover Marianne's post-lockdown plans, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Aux arbres citoyens - Yannick Noah Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Music Celebrate the planet and sing for its protection with Yannick Noah's eco-militant song, while practising your French B1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Beaujolais nouveau : ne l'appelez plus piquette ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Adverbe Pronom d'objet Food & Drink It's that time of year again, when wine lovers gather to taste the young wine known as Beaujolais Nouveau. But is it really as good - or bad? - as they say?
• Bonne fête des Mères ! Free Préposition Article Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Politics, History & Economics Learn about Mother's Day in France while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Bonne fête des Pères ! Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about Father's Day in France, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Bretagne news - sketch by Les Inconnus Free Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Adjectif Film & TV Language & Education Get an (exaggerated) idea about French as it's spoken in Bretagne in this humorous sketch by Les Inconnus (a famous French trio of humorists from the 90's).
• Bricolage "Avion" pour la Fête des Pères Free Futur Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Pronom Art & Design Celebrations & Important Dates Learn how to make a cute Father's Day present in this fun tutorial, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• C'est qui Coluche ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Préposition Famous People Learn about French icon Coluche in this cute animated video.
• C'est quoi le 14 juillet ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Pronom Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about France's National Holiday and its origins, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• C'est quoi les soldes ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Employment Politics, History & Economics Sports & Leisure Learn about the specific French sales, "les soldes", in this fun and instructive video, while practising your French listening and reading skills.
• C'est quoi, la Carte Nationale d'Identité française ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Adjectif Genre féminin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Immigration & Citizenship Learn about the French National Identity Card and what it features, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Ce soir - Amir Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom Pronom sujet Article Mode impératif Music Sports & Leisure Dance and sing along to Amir's irresistible party call "Ce soir", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comme d'habitude - Claude François Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Famous People Music Discover the lyrics of "Comme d'habitude", the original French version of Sinatra's "My Way", while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Comment est née la langue française ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Adjectif Article Préposition Language & Education Politics, History & Economics Where did the French language come from? Get the short answer in this cute animated video for children.
• Comment fabriquer une piñata d'Halloween Free Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Adjectif Adjectif indéfini Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn how to make a special piñata for Halloween, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment rafraîchir les villes et les maisons tout en restant écologique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Adverbe Adjectif Technology & Science Discover interesting ways to sustainably cool down buildings and cities in this video, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Comment rester en bonne santé Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Adjectif Genre féminin Genre masculin Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Get tips to stay healthy while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Connaissez-vous bien le fromage français ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Question/Interrogative Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Test your knowledge about French cheeses with this fun questionnaire, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Connaissez-vous bien le vin ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif Food & Drink Test your knowledge about wine making in France with this fun questionnaire, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Célébrations de Thanksgiving Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Celebrations & Important Dates Our international Kwiziq team take a look at holidays from their respective countries that resemble the American Thanksgiving.
• D'où vient la tradition du marché de Noël ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Question/Interrogative Pluriel Adjectif Politics, History & Economics Learn a bit of the history behind France's traditional Christmas markets in this cute video.
• D'où vient le nom des Schtroumpfs ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet indirect Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Film & TV Learn how the name of les Schtroumpfs (Smurfs) came to be, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• DIY Pâques - Œuf avec message surprise à l'intérieur Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Follow this tutorial to make a fun decorated egg with a surprise message inside, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Dernière Danse - Indila Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Music Sing along to Indila's stirring ballad "Dernière Danse", while practising your French B1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Des températures record pour le mois de mai en France et en Espagne (2022) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Technology & Science Listen to this news report about May 2022 heatwave in France and Spain, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Divali : la Fête des Lumières à Vancouver Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Article défini Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the joyful festival of Diwali, celebrated by Indians all over the world, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Encore plus de faits intéressants sur le français Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Pronom réfléchi Language & Education Politics, History & Economics By popular demand, more interesting facts about French, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Euro 2016 Free Genre Pluriel Article Article défini Le Présent (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn about the Euro (European football/soccer championship) 2016, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Festival de Cannes Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV One of the most famous and prestigious film festivals in the world is held annually in Cannes. Learn a bit of its history and traditions in this French video with transcript and translation.
• Festival des cerfs-volants Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom d'objet Pronom démonstratif Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Berck-sur-Mer is home to an annual kite-flying festival - and it's going on right now! Learn about this colorful event with this video while working on your French listening comprehension.
• France Gall, la groupie du pianiste Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Pluriel Genre masculin Famous People Music France Gall passed away in January 2018. Learn about this French singer with a unique voice in our bilingual article.
• French Elections Free Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Adjectif indéfini Préposition Infinitif Politics, History & Economics Learn about French elections while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Fête des Lumières à Lyon Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Lyon's Festival of Light is a must-see event where the walls of buildings become movie screens. Here's a taste of what's in store in 2017, including the newest security measures.
• Game of Thrones (no spoilers) Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Film & TV For all you GoT fans out there (and anyone who'd just like to know what all the fuss is about), here's a video talking about all the records this fantasy TV show broke in its eight-year run.
• Hajj Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Il est né le divin Enfant (Chant de Noël) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Le Subjonctif Présent Voix pronominale Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV Sing along to this very popular French Christmas carol, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Il y a un monstre sous mon lit ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Family & Relationships Enjoy this lovely monster story, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Inventions françaises Free Article Article défini Préposition Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Technology & Science Hundreds if not thousands of products you use every day started out as nothing more than an idea - and many of those ideas were originally French.
• Jardin d'hiver, de Keren Ann Free Pronom d'objet indirect Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Music Practise your French listening and reading comprehension with this wintery song.
• Je suis malade - Serge Lama Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Deuxième personne Genre féminin Family & Relationships Music Feel the heartache with Serge Lama's harrowing song "Je suis malade", while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Joyeux Hanoucca ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Learn more about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Kwiziq French Film Fest - C.R.A.Z.Y. Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Film & TV Here's Aurelie's selection for the Kwiziq French Film Fest: French Canadian film "C.R.A.Z.Y."
• Kwiziq French Film Fest - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Article défini Film & TV Here's Grzegab's review of this French comedy classic for the Kwiziq French Film Fest.
• L'Année Bissextile (Leap Year) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Adverbe Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about Leap Day and Leap Year, while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• L'Arnacœur - French Film Fest Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet Film & TV The first Kwiziq French Film Fest review comes from none other than our CEO, Gareth "Gruff" Davies.
• L'anniversaire de Cyril Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Practise listening and reading with this story about a surprise party.
• L'enseignement en ligne : Témoignage de Céline Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Adverbe Pronom disjonctif Language & Education Technology & Science Learn about some of the pros and cons of online teaching in this interview with Céline.
• L'oral de français en Première Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Pluriel Genre masculin Language & Education At the end of "Première," the penultimate year of French high school, French students have to take a literary oral exam. Many of the tips offered in this video can be applied to other oral exam
• La Bretagne se révèle en Côtes d'Armor Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Préposition Genre Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations The northwestern corner of France is a beautiful region called Bretagne, or Brittany. Discover a few of its secrets and myths in this fast-paced video.
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B2: Upper Intermediate French reading exercises

• 20 Mars : Journée de la Francophonie Free Adjectif Article Article défini Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Language & Education Celebrate Francophonie by learning about a few less known French-speaking countries, while practising your reading and listening comprehension in French.
• 3 Villes Francophones où fêter le Nouvel An Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about New Year's Eve celebrations in Paris, Quebec City and Marrakech, while practising your B2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• 5 Artistes Noirs Francophones à (Re)découvrir Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Adjectif possessif Genre masculin Art & Design Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Music (Re)discover 5 amazing Francophone Black artists, while practising your B2 French listening and reading comprehension.
• 6 juin 1944 : voyage à travers le temps Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Witness the commemoration of the Allied landing in Normandy, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• 8 mai 1945 : la capitulation de l'Allemagne à Reims Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Adjectif Article défini Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about Germany surrendered to Allied forces on the 8th of May 1945, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Allô les urgences vétérinaires ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Cat stuck in a tree? Call the emergency vet service.
• Alpine French School Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adverbe Language & Education Sports & Leisure Learn about the Alpine French School where you can ski and learn French at the same time, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Assomption Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom relatif Adjectif possessif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics August 15 is the Catholic holiday of Assomption (Assumption Day) and is férié (a public holiday) in France.
• Au Clair de la Lune (Comptines de France) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Deuxième personne Music Sing yourselves to sleep with this classic French lullaby while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Au Restaurant de la Plage Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Adjectif possessif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Enjoy lunch at a beachside restaurant, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Au secours ! Je n'ai plus internet ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Technology & Science Need help dealing with customer support when your internet goes out? Check out this audio article for some useful phrases.
• Basique - OrelSan Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom démonstratif Forme négative Adjectif Famous People Music Politics, History & Economics Practise your French rapping skills with OrelSan's "Basique".
• Bastille Day Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Happy Bastille Day! Learn about the French national holiday in our bilingual audio article.
• Bruxelles je t'aime - Angèle Free Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Famous People Music Celebrate the Belgian capital with Angèle's upbeat love song to Brussels, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Bûche de Noël : recette Free Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Food & Drink Find out how to make the most classic of French Christmas desserts: la bûche de Noël.
• C'est quoi la "Fête des mères" ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Celebrations & Important Dates Find answers to your questions about French Mother's Day in this fun video, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Charles Aznavour s'éteint à 94 ans Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Pluriel Famous People Music Famed French-Armenian singer passed away in October 2018. Watch this video highlighting aspects of his talented career, then scroll down for the transcript in our bilingual reader.
• Charles Perrault (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Genre féminin Genre masculin Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn about timeless French raconteur Charles Perrault, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Adjectif démonstratif Futur Art & Design Famous People Learn about the story behind the unique way Claude Monet's Water Lilies are displayed, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Colette (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Adjectif Pluriel Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn about passionate French writer Colette, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Comme Avant (ConfinementSong) Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sing along to GiedRé's bittersweet song about life before lockdown, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment demander la nationalité française (1ere partie) Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Immigration & Citizenship Learn how to apply for French citizenship with the first half of this informative article, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment demander la nationalité française (2e partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Adjectif Adverbe Verbes modaux Immigration & Citizenship Learn how to apply for French citizenship with the first half of this informative article, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment préparer son bagage en cabine Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Get some useful packing tips with Catherine Schwaab, while practising your French B2 listening and reading comprehension.
• Conseils pratiques pour profiter des marchés de Noël Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Get some practical advice to help you make the most of Christmas markets, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Coupe du Monde 1998 Free Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Twenty years ago, France beat Brazil to become world champions of European football (aka soccer). In this video, trainer Aimé Jacquet shares his first thoughts.
• Dans les coulisses du Moulin Rouge Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Music The Moulin Rouge is a world-famous revue in Paris. Take a look behind the scenes and sequins with this video report.
• Demande d'emploi Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Pluriel Employment Language & Education This audio article about a job letter was specially written to help you prepare for the listening and reading portions of the AP French exam.
• Des initiatives pour parents et enfants pendant le confinement Free Préposition Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover some initiatives in Belgium to teach and entertain children during lockdown, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Des vacances mémorables Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Le Subjonctif Présent Préposition Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Laurence and Arnaud go on a dream vacation to celebrate 5 years together in this audio article.
• Devant un match de foot Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Sports & Leisure Join two friends to watch a football [US:soccer] game on TV, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Dialectes et langues régionales Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Language & Education Politics, History & Economics For centuries, France was divided into two main dialectal regions. Learn about the development of French in this bilingual article.
• Dix pour cent : la bonne recette (1ere partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Film & TV Discover "Dix pour cent", a humorous French TV series about the trials and tribulations of movie star agents.
• Dix pour cent : la bonne recette (2e partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet direct Film & TV Part 2 of the video about "Dix pour cent", a humorous French TV series about the trials and tribulations of movie star agents.
• Découvrez les candidats français à l'Eurovision 2022 ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Music Discover France's 2022 Eurovision contestants and their song, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Décès de l'ancien président Jacques Chirac, l'animal politique Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom d'objet indirect Pluriel Famous People Politics, History & Economics Former French president and mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac passed away on 26 September 2019. Learn about the legacy of this political animal in this video from France24.
• Départ en Vacances 1 - Sur la route des vacances Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Forme négative Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Dreading going on holiday [US: vacation] with small children? Fortunately, Céline is here with some fun tips to prepare for your car trip!
• Départ en Vacances 2 - Sur place Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Infinitif Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Dreading going on holiday [US: vacation] with small children? Fortunately, Céline is here with some fun tips to pick your holiday [US:vacation] rental!
• Engrenages (Séries françaises) - Interview "flashback" de Thierry Godart et Caroline Proust Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Pronom Préposition Film & TV Enjoy a lively interview with actors Thierry Godart and Caroline Proust from the successful TV show "Engrenages" (Spiral), while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Et tout le monde s'en fout : L'eau Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Technology & Science Funny video (with some vulgar language) about a serious subject: water.
• Films français (2) - La sélection de Cécile Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Adjectif Genre masculin Film & TV Here's another selection of 3 great French movies to (re)discover and enjoy!
• Films français - La sélection de Céline Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Adjectif possessif Film & TV Here's a selection of 3 great French movies to (re)discover and enjoy!
• Fête de la Musique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif indéfini Adjectif démonstratif Immigration & Citizenship Music Politics, History & Economics La Fête de la Musique is an annual celebration in France and around the world. Learn a bit of its history in our bilingual audio article, then listen to a few French variety classics.
• Fête de la musique : interview de Jack Lang Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom disjonctif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Music Discover how 1981 Ministre de la Culture Jack Lang explain came up with "la Fête de la Musique", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Haiti's story of independence Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Le Présent (Indicatif) Politics, History & Economics Haiti was the first French colony to gain independence, in large part thanks to one man.
• Hallowe'en in France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Forme négative Article Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates At a nursery school in Biarritz, kids get ready for Halloween with stuffed pumpkins and favorite costumes.
• Histoire d'animaux Free Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Language & Education Learn or practise some French expressions with animals in this cute bilingual story.
• Histoires d'argent Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Pluriel Article Language & Education A bilingual text about different relationships to money, rich in French idioms.
• Héritage de Johnny Hallyday Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Adverbe Verbe irrégulier Famous People Politics, History & Economics Despite being French, Johnny Hallyday wrote his will in the United States, which allowed him to disinherit his children. Find out how they're challenging the will and whether they have a case in this
• Immigrer au Canada Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom sujet Immigration & Citizenship If you dream of immigrating [UK: emigrating] to Canada, this official video has the vital information you need.

C1: Advanced French reading exercises

• 4 astuces anti-fatigue pour faire le plein d'énergie ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Préposition Pronom réfléchi Technology & Science Discover French doctor Michel Cymes's useful tips to fight tiredness, while practising your French C1 listening and reading skills.
• Alsatian accent Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Préposition Film & TV Language & Education Get an (exaggerated) idea about French as it's spoken in Alsace in this humorous sketch by Les Inconnus (a famous French trio of humorists from the 90's).
• Ces fautes qui deviennent des règles - La Chronique Langue de Laélia Veron Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom démonstratif Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet Language & Education Learn about the fascinating evolution of the French language, when today's mistakes become tomorrow's rules.
• Chez Victor Hugo à Guernesey Free Préposition Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Famous People Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Discover Victor Hugo's amazing mansion Hauteville House on the island of Guernsey, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Coco Chanel (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Genre féminin Adjectif Art & Design Famous People Learn about the iconic French haute couture designer Coco Chanel, while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Dans les coulisses de "Plus Belle La Vie" (Séries Françaises) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Pronom d'objet direct Film & TV Sneak behind the scenes of France's most popular soap opera "Plus Belle la Vie", while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Georges Brassens et la ville de Sète Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Music Discover the lovely Southern city of Sète through its most iconic singer Georges Brassens, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Henri Matisse au Centre Pompidou Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Genre masculin Préposition Art & Design Famous People Enjoy a fascinating retrospective on French painter Henri Matisse at the Pompidou Center in Paris, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Histoire des Jeux Olympiques Modernes Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Politics, History & Economics Sports & Leisure Discover how the modern Olympic Games came to be, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Histoire et origine du français canadien Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article Article défini Genre Language & Education Politics, History & Economics The French spoken in Québec is different than what you might be used to - but why? Check out this animated video for an explanation of the Québécois accent ...
• Hymne à l'Amour - Édith Piaf Free Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Music Let yourself be moved to tears by Édith Piaf's heartwrenching "Hymne à l'Amour", while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• J'attends - Ben Mazué & Pomme Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Voix pronominale Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Music Discover all the sincerity of French singer Ben Mazué in his beautifully written duet with Pomme, "J'attends", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• J'irai où tu iras - Céline Dion & Jean-Jacques Goldman Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Genre féminin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Music Rock 'n' roll with Céline Dion & Jean-Jacques Goldman's irresistible fast-paced duet "J'irai où tu iras", while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Jeanne d'Arc (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Adjectif Famous People Politics, History & Economics Learn about Joan of Arc - Jeanne d'Arc - while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Kwiziq dans le "Crystal Maze" Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure In May 2018, the Kwiziq Team met in London for a week of work - and just a bit of fun, including a visit to The Crystal Maze Experience.
• L'Ascension Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the mobile jour férié and Christian holiday of Ascension, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• L'histoire de la Fête Nationale Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about the history of France's national holiday, le 14 juillet, in this informative video.
• L'histoire de la Saint-Sylvestre Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Pronom d'objet Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Discover why December 31st is also known as "la Saint-Sylvestre" in France, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• La Fête du Travail du premier mai en France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Employment Politics, History & Economics Learn how May 1st became a public holiday called Labour Day, while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• La Sorcière - Le Diable aux Corsets Free Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Music Celebrate Hallowe'en with the band Le Diable aux Corsets's bewitching folk song "La Sorcière", while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• La Toussaint Free Adjectif Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the importance of la Toussaint, or All Saints' Day in France, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Le Café - Oldelaf et Monsieur D Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Music Sing along to Oldelaf's hilarious "ode" to coffee drinkers, while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Le Carnaval de Dunkerque comme si vous y étiez Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Discover Dunkirk's colourful Carnival, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Le confinement, quelle vie de chien ! Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Find out what confinement is like from a new perspective in our bilingual audio article.
• Le ski - Têtes à Claques Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Verbe irrégulier Film & TV Sports & Leisure Challenge yourself with this hilarious Québécois claymation video, while practising your French C1 listening and reading skills.
• Les Accras de Morue des Antilles (Spécialités de France) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Learn about one of the most popular culinary specialities in the West Indies: Guadeloupe's famous accras de morue (cod fritters).
• Les Copains D'abord - Georges Brassens Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Pronom réfléchi Reflexive verbs Music Sing along to Georges Brassens's best celebration of friendship, "Les Copains D'abord", while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Les cours d'anglais - Gad Elmaleh Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom sujet Film & TV Language & Education Enjoy Gad Elmaleh's stand-up comedy about learning English in this video.
• Les origines du Tournoi des Six Nations Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn about the origins of this European rugby competition, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Lynda Lemay - Les Maudits Français Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Article Préposition Music To celebrate Quebec's National Day, la Saint-Jean-Baptiste (June 24th) and la Fête de la Musique (June 21st), here is a song by Québécois singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay.
• Ma routine pendant le Ramadan Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Idioms about Time Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Learn about Ramadan celebrations with Hajar, while practising your C1 French listening and reading skills.
• Mon Noël d'antan Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Remember what Christmas was like when you were a child in this bilingual audio article.
• Omar Sy - Interview Cinéma Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Famous People Film & TV French actor Omar Sy is known for a number of international hits, including Les Intouchables, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World. In this interview, he talks (quickly!) about some of his fa
• Ouragan Irma Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Participe passé Adjectif indéfini Family & Relationships Technology & Science Read Guadeloupe resident Laura's account of crossing the path of Hurricane Irma in early September 2017.
• Pourquoi est-on ivre plus vite lorsqu'on n'a pas mangé ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Technology & Science Learn the fascinating answer to this question in this fun short program, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Pourquoi la rentrée scolaire est-elle en septembre ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Learn about the origin and evolution of France's back-to-school date, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Premier Mai, poème de Victor Hugo Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif indéfini Verbe irrégulier Pluriel Literature, Poetry, Theatre Listen to Victor Hugo's lovely poem about spring "Premier Mai", while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Quand Mai 68 changea la France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Adjectif Politics, History & Economics May 1968 was a turning point in French history. On this 50th anniversary, learn how students and workers revolutionalized France.
• S'occuper sans écran - La drôle d'humeur de Marina Rollman Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom démonstratif Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Technology & Science Enjoy this funny radio sketch by Swiss comedian Marina Rollman about life without computer screens, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Strasbourg, le plus grand marché de Noël d'Europe ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Art & Design Celebrations & Important Dates Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover the enchanting Strasbourg Christmas Market, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Thanksgiving contre les Indiens d'Amérique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about some of the controversy surrounding the US celebration of Thanksgiving, while practising your B2 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Un escape game pour personnes âgées Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Discover the cool initiative of this French retirement home, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Une Saint-Valentin entre filles Free Préposition Pronom sujet Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships No Valentine? No problem!
• V pour Vendetta Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif démonstratif Mode impératif Pronom réfléchi Verbe irrégulier Film & TV In honour of Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th), let's take a look at V for Vendetta, a 2006 political thriller film set in a dystopian United Kingdom under the rule of a neo-fascist regime, where V, the
• Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - Une rétrospective en images Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Genre féminin Famous People Politics, History & Economics Former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing died of Covid-19 on 2 December, 2020, at the age of 94. Take a look back at his life and career in this video from Le Monde.
• Vendée Globe 2016 / 2017 Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Vendée Globe is a grueling, non-stop solo round the world race without assistance.
• Very Low Cost Airlines Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Think the last flight you took was bad? It probably doesn't compare to this one!
• Victor Hugo (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Pluriel Adjectif Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn more about famous author Victor Hugo, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Visite de Fort Royer sur l'île d'Oléron Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom Pronom démonstratif Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover the fascinating site of Fort Royer on Île d'Oléron while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Vivre en Suisse : Préparer votre expatriation (1ère partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Adverbe Comparatif Employment Immigration & Citizenship Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about the (many) advantages to moving to Switzerland in the first part of this informative video, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.

In this section

• Improve Your French Reading Skills
• French Glossary and Jargon Buster

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FRENCH READING PRACTICE A1

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Learn French the easy way with our French - English parallel texts with slow French audio

One of the best ways to get your daily dose of French is to read in French. Read articles, books, notes, news and any other texts that you enjoy.  You will improve your French reading comprehension a lot. In this post, you will discover great and free French readings to learn French for beginner and intermediate levels. Enjoy these French readings organized by levels!

Readings Level 1

1. At the farm: À la ferme (Test) 2. My family: Ma famille (Test) 3. Coco Chanel: Coco Chanel   (Test) 4. Disney’s characters: Les personnages de Disney   (Test) 5. Lolo and Lili: Lolo et Lili   (Test) 6. French cheese: Les fromages français (Test) 7. Tahiti: Tahiti  8. My friend karol: Mon amie Karol 9. My friend Ananya: Mon amie Ananya 10. My friend Victoire: Mon amie Victoire 11. Olivier the writer: Olivier l’écrivain 12. The mysterious message: Le message mystérieux

Kids stories Level 1

1. Tembo the baby elephant: Tembo le Bébé Éléphant 2. Doudou the baby dolphin: Doudou le Bébé Dauphin 3. Gisèle the baby dolphin: Gisèle le bébé girafe

Readings Level 2

1. Describe your day: Décrivez votre journée 2. The house: La maison (Test) 3. Dad knows everything: Papa sait tout (Test) 4. When I was a kid: Quand j’étais enfant 5. Bleubeard Part 1: Barbe bleue (partie 1) (Test) 6. Bleubeard Part 2: Barbe bleue (partie 2) (Test) 7. Bleubeard Part 3: Barbe bleue (partie 3) (Test) 8. The five senses: Les cinq sens 9. My city and my neighborhood: Ma ville et mon quartier   (Alexa’s explanation) 10. Canada Day: La Fête du Canada 11. France Day: La Fête de la France 12. Thanksgiving: Action de grâce 13. My name is Chef Pepin: Je m’appelle Chef Pepin

Kids stories Level 2

1. The careful buffalo: Le Buffle Prudent

Readings Level 2 and 3 (French Made Simple)

1. Who is Mr. Brown?: Qui est Monsieur Brown? (Test) 2. The family of Mr. Brown: La famille de Monsieur Brown (Test) 3. At Mr. Brown’s office: Au bureau de Monsieur Brown (Test) 4. In the living room of Mr. Brown: Dans le salon de Monsieur Brown (Test) 5. What time is it?: Quelle heure est-il? 6. The good French kitchen: La bonne cuisine Française 7. What a bad weather!: Quel Mauvais Temps! 8. Mr. Brown’s day: La journée de M. Brown 9. Mr. Brown buys a lottery ticket: M. Brown achète un billet de Loterie

Readings Level 3

1. La francophonie:                                    a) Les pays francophones                                   b) La semaine de la francophonie 2. At the restaurant: Au restaurant 3. The special autograph: L’autographe spécial 4. My decisions: Mes décisions 5. A new career: Une nouvelle carrière (Test) 6. Their wedding plans: Leurs projets de mariage 7. Free time: Le temps libre   (Alexa’s explanation) 8. A romantic stay: Un séjour romantique 9. The bakery: La boulangerie 10. 10 good resolutions for the new year: 10 bonnes résolutions pour le nouvel an 11. 11 good resolutions for children: 11 bonnes résolutions pour les enfants 12. This weekend: Ce weekend 13. A Day at the Beach: Une Journée à la Plage 14. Back to school: La rentrée à l’école

Readings Level 3 and 4 (Extra French)

1. Extra French Episode 1 2. Extra French Episode 2 3. Extra French Episode 3 4. Extra French Episode 4 5. Extra French Episode 5 6. Extra French Episode 6 7. Extra French Episode 7 8. Extra French Episode 8 9. Extra French Episode 9 10. Extra French Episode 10 11. Extra French Episode 11 12. Extra French Episode 12 13. Extra French Episode 13

Readings Level 4

1. A trip to England (Preterit):  Un voyage en Angleterre   (Passé composé) 2. The story of Snow White  (Preterit):  L’histoire de Blanche-Neige  (Passé composé) 3. A memorable weekend (Preterit):  Un weekend mémorable  (Passé composé) 4. The guillotine (all tenses):  La guillotine 5. Go to Belgium (present tense):  Allez en Belgique (présent) 6. Dreams of the future (Conditional):  Rêves d’avenir (Conditionnel) 7. Meals at home:  Les repas à la maison 8. Some portraits:  Quelques portraits 9. Spring:  Le printemps 10. Summer: L’été 11. Holy Week:  La Semaine Sainte 12. Autumn: L’automne 13. The last day of the year: Le dernier jour de l’année

Histoires pour chaque mois

1. A story for January: Une histoire pour janvier 2. A story for February: Une histoire pour février 3. A story for March: Une histoire pour mars 4. A story for April: Une histoire pour avril

Readings Level 5

1. International day of happiness: Journée internationale du bonheur   2. Boundin: Saute mouton 3. Internet outage: Une panne d’internet 4. The day without a laptop: La journée sans portable 5. The video game: Le jeu vidéo 6. Online shopping: Les achats en ligne 7. Veganism: Le véganisme 8. At the bank: À la banque 9. Winter in Quebec: L’hiver au Québec 10. Three things I would like to accomplish in my life: Trois choses que j’aimerais accomplir dans ma vie 11. An autumn story: Une histoire d’automne

Readings Level 6

1. 24 character strengths: 24 forces de caractère 2. The qualities of an athlete: Les qualités d’un sportif 3. Covid-19 pandemic: pandémie de covid-19 4. Claire the waitress: Claire la serveuse 5. Different types of tourism: Différents types de tourisme 6. Speed: La vitesse 7. Ordinary day: Jour ordinaire

Readings Level 7

1. Eating insects: Manger des insectes 2. The artist: a silent film in black and white: L’artiste: un film muet en noir et blanc 3. Beware of theft: Attention aux vols 4. Cinema loves holidays: Le cinéma aime les vacances 5. Homeopathy to treat animals: L’homéopathie pour soigner les animaux 6. In the Pyrenees: Dans les Pyrénées

Readings Level 8

1. The carpenter: Le menuisier 2. The magic guitar: La guitare magique 3. How to lose weight?: Comment perdre du poids? 4. African cocoa production: La production de cacao africain 5. Copyright: Le droit d’auteur 6. Ban on wild animals in circuses: Interdiction des animaux sauvages dans les cirques 7. Free transport in Dunkirk: Les transports gratuits à Dunkerque 8. Christmas – explanation for kids : Noël – explication 

Readings Level 9

1. The influence of the weather on our lives: l’influence de la météo sur nos vies 2. The National Library of France : La Bibliothèque nationale de France 3. Participants in a space flight : Participants à un vol spatial 4. The domestic animals : Les animaux de compagnie 5. Regulation of television programs: Régulation des programmes de télévision

Do you want to listen to other Kids stories Level 1?

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LireCreer.org - French Classics

LanguageGuide.org - Interactive Reading in French

Le Monde - Read a Daily Newspaper

Franzoesisch-Lehrbuch.de - French Classics

20 Minutes - Read a Magazine

France 24 - International Television

France Info - News

E-Books libres et gratuits - French Books and Classics

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The French Experiment: French Stories for Beginners

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Top magazines and newspapers for all French learners

Updated: April 10, 2021 by Mylene in Entertainment   ▪ English Français  

Do you want to read a magazine or a newspaper in French? I’ll give you a selection of well-known French magazines and newspapers to improve your French understanding and reading skills.

But not all magazines and newspapers are suitable for every French learner. The advice is to choose the right level first and then pick a topic you’re interested in.

In this article you’ll learn :

The benefits of French newspapers and magazines

French magazine vocabulary, french newspaper vocabulary.

• Top French magazines and newspapers for basic French learners
• Top French magazines and newspapers for intermediate French learners
• French regional newspapers
• Top French magazines and newspapers for advanced French learners
• Where to find French magazine s?
• Where to buy French newspapers and magazines?

We’ve previously discussed learning French with French comics and recently explored a list of books set in Paris to discover the city and to improve your French skills. Newspapers and magazines can also help learners to level up their French language. In reality, reading in French has many benefits for learners of all levels:

• Practice your understanding by reading short stories
• Discover the French culture
• Expand your vocabulary by reading different topics
• Learn better sentence structures
• Test your French skills with some games like crosswords

First, let’s cover the magazine’s vocabulary that you’ll need if you’re learning French:

• un magazine: a magazine
• hebdomadaire: weekly
• mensuel: monthly
• bimensuel: bimonthly
• s’abonner: to subscribe
• un abonnement: subscription
• un abonné: subscriber
• les lecteurs: readers
• la politique: politics
• l’actualité: news
• la presse féminine: women’s magazines
• un reportage: a news story or report
• les mots croisés: crossword puzzle
• la couverture: the cover

Similarly, when reading a French newspaper you’ll often hear the following vocabulary:

• un journal: a newspaper
• un quotidien: a daily newspaper
• un canard: an informal term for newspaper
• un journaliste: journalist
• à la une: the front-page story, top story or stories

A selection of magazines and newspapers for basic French learners

Children’s newspapers are an excellent choice for French learners because they use simple language and often explain expressions and concepts in more detail than traditional newspapers. It’s easier to understand children’s books and it encourages learners to read more and more.

J’aime lire

Each issue contains an illustrated short novel. You’ll also find games and comic strips.

Mon quotidien

It is a daily newspaper for children between 10 and 14 years old. The simple language being used is especially great for basic French learners!

Le Journal des enfants

This weekly newspaper is for children aged between 8 and 14 years old, so the content is perfect for beginners as well as for lower intermediate French learners. The covered topics are usually related to sport, science, culture, news.

This magazine publishes one news story every day. Contributors use basic French, so it’s perfect for beginner and lower intermediate learners.

20 minutes is a free daily newspaper. It’s called 20 minutes because you just need 20 minutes to read it. Each edition covers local, national, and international news.

Famous French magazines and newspapers for Intermediate learners

The choice is yours. Pick the subject you’re interested in:

• women’s magazines 
• parenting magazines
• general information
• news publications

Those magazines and newspapers are perfect for B1 to B2 level.

Art and culture

Télérama covers TV, music, cinema, and more.

Les Inrockuptibles

Often referred to as “Les Inrocks”, as its name suggests, it features critiques, essays, and stories about all sorts of events and releases in the entertainment and cultural landscape.

Science and geography

Science et avenir.

This popular science magazine is published weekly.

A magazine devoted to travel and learning about places around the globe.

L’équipe Magazine

L’Équipe, offering in-depth coverage of many different sports stories.

Ça m’intéresse

It covers interesting topics in subjects like science, culture, health, and society.

Weekly French news magazine, it was previously known as  Le Nouvel Observateur. The topics are politics as well as cultural topics like the literary world.

It tries to showcase different points of view.

Le Parisien

Le Parisien is the best newspaper to follow if you’re interested in Paris-related news and events. It covers national and international news.

La Croix is a newspaper dedicated to world news, economy, and culture.

Notre temps

It covers topics like tips on things like saving money, parenting, guides to legal procedures, health, and more.

French Regional Newspapers

If you want to get familiar with French regional newspapers, here are the most popular editions for each major region in the country.

Ouest France

Brittany/Normandy/Pays de Loire

Southwest France (Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Dordogne)

La voix du Nord

Northern France (Hauts de France, Pas-de-Calais)

Paris and the Île-de-France and Oise

Le Dauphiné Libéré

Southeast France (including Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,  Provence, Alpes, Cote d’Azur, Savoie)

L’Est Républicain

Lorraine, Franche-Comté, and surrounding areas

Top magazines and newspapers for advanced French learners

They are most suited to learners around the C1 to C2 level.

Le Monde is one of the most widely-distributed French newspapers. It covers French events, world news, culture, economy and politics.

Focus on economics, politics, and world news.

Founded in 1846, Le Figaro is the oldest newspapers in the world. Focus on French current event and economics.

French daily newspaper founded by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. It is focused on French events, politics and economics.

It publishes economic analyses from leading economists, but also covers topics such as science and innovation.

Courrier international

It translates news articles from other languages into French. For example, you could read the news of your country in French.

Science & Vie

French science magazine publishes since 1913.

Le Canard enchaîné

A satirical newspaper that is published weekly. Its name literally means “the chained duck”. Canard is also a French slang word for “newspaper”. This newspaper investigates political and economic scandals and heavily relies on cultural references.

Where to buy French magazines and newspapers?

All these magazines can be found:

• in France: in a “bureau de tabac” (tobacco store)
• in France:  grocery stores
• online version
• overseas subscriptions
• French bookstores that sell at least a few periodicals

When it comes to French magazines’ websites, they offer a lot of content that you can enjoy for free. These websites feature articles that are available without a subscription. You can subscribe to the online version, which is richer and more interesting than the paper version because it has color photos and videos. According to this study by Statista , the revenue in the digital newspaper & magazines segment is projected to reach US$1,751m in 2021.

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Reading Comprehension

Want to improve your French reading skills? There’s no better place than Lingolia!

Below you can find a selection of French texts featuring words and phrases from our themed vocabulary section.

Test your understanding via the comprehension questions and check any new vocabulary in the translation.

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Home » Articles » Read in French: 10 French Reading Tips, Resources and Exercises

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Benny Lewis

Language: French

Reading time: 9 minutes

Published: Apr 9, 2021

Updated: Aug 15, 2022

Read in French: 10 French Reading Tips, Resources and Exercises

Do you read in French? If you’re learning French, I hope you do! And I’m here to help you find more French reading material.

I’ve searched the web for a variety of reading resources that will help you learn French more quickly. The best part is: they won’t cost you a penny!

And in case you’re wondering, “to read” in French is lire .

Now, here are the French reading resources I’ll be sharing in this article:

Table of contents

Apprendre à lire – french phonics lessons, the french experiment – children’s stories in french, children's books forever – children’s books in french, languageguide – short french texts, the works of guy de maupassant – short stories in french, ebooks libres & gratuits – free french ebooks, amilova – graphic novels and comic books in french, cuisine à la française – french online cookbook, test yourself: french reading comprehension quizzes, 5 tips to learn to read better in french, you’re ready to read in french.

Level: Absolute Beginner

Apprendre à lire means “learn to read” in French.

Apprendre à Lire is incredibly useful for absolute beginners in French. The site is meant to teach French children how to read, but there’s no reason why you can’t use it too!

It covers virtually every French sound, including those not found in English. There are several exercises for each letter, so you can choose the ones that you find most helpful.

Apprendre à lire teaches you:

• how to read sounds
• how to use them in real words,
• how to pronounce them.

This is handy for beginners! Although the French alphabet is identical to the English alphabet, many of the letters sound very different.

The site is all in French, including the instructions for each exercise. But don’t worry! They’re relatively simple. If you struggle with them, plug them into Google Translate to get the gist with an OK English translation.

Level: Beginner

The French Experiment offers some of the most popular children’s fairy tales in French.

Stories like The Three Little Pigs , Goldilocks and the Three Bears , Little Red Riding Hood and The Ugly Duckling are translated into French on this website and accompanied by an optional audio recording. Since you’re probably already familiar with these stories, you’ll pick up the vocabulary more quickly than you would reading a brand new story.

Plus, you’ve got the option to see each paragraph’s English translation right when you read!

You can find even more fairy tales in French on The Fable Cottage . Even though the video and audio versions are not free, you can still make the most out of the text and translation!

Children’s Books Forever was created by Hans Wilhelm, an author of children’s stories. 

After Wilhelm’s most popular book series went out of print, it saddened teachers, parents, and children. So Wilhelm decided to upload all of his books on a free website to allow children across the world to still enjoy them.

Wilhelm’s books are available in 12 languages, including 13 books in French. They come with pictures and can be read online or downloaded.

I absolutely love their presentation!

Some of the stories also have an English translation you can use if you need some help.

Level: Beginner to Intermediate

LanguageGuide is a superb website that provides a simple, condensed way to learn the basics of vocabulary and grammar for many languages.

It is one of the best sources I’ve found for beginner to intermediate French reading comprehension.

The French section features several reading samples, each accompanied by a spoken recording. The more difficult words are highlighted, letting you hover your mouse over them to see the English translation.

You can also see the English translation of entire sentences by hovering your mouse over the punctuation mark at the end of each sentence.

If you want pure reading practice without the audio, just click the pause button any time to pause the recording and focus on reading.

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Maupassant.free.fr is a great place to find French short stories. If you want to expand your knowledge of classic French literature, this is one of the best places to start.

Guy de Maupassant was a famous French writer who wrote more than 300 works of fiction during the late 19th century. He is often considered one of the fathers of the modern short story, and for good reason!

The website contains nearly all of de Maupassant’s short stories, most of which come with an English translation. Each of his stories is only about 3000 words long, but is remarkably captivating. I haven’t yet read one that I didn’t like.

This is definitely one of the more advanced resources in this list, but don’t let that scare you. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself! You’ll learn more quickly if you don’t just stick to books where you know all of the words.

Plus, the English translations are always there to help you if you get stuck.

Ebooks Libres & Gratuits is an absolute goldmine of free French ebooks.

You can choose from hundreds upon hundreds of free, complete books. They’re available in almost every file format you could hope for: from Kindle, Kobo and Sony e-reader formats to PDF and HTML for reading on your computer.

Ebooks Libres & Gratuits has dozens of masterpieces such as Le Petit Prince (“The Little Prince”) and Alice au Pays des Merveilles (“Alice in Wonderland”).

Some ebooks even have full-colour illustrations!

If you’re a beginner, go to the search box at the top of the page, and select “ Jeunesse ” (“youth”) from the dropdown menu next to “Genre”. This will show you all of the books for children and young adults.

Amilova is a huge online community for graphic novel enthusiasts. It contains almost a thousand high-quality stories in their entirety, available to read online for free.

Comic books and graphic novels aren’t just for kids and geeks anymore. You wouldn’t believe the variety of genres that are available today, for every taste imaginable: horror, romance, drama, parody…you name it!

The big advantage of using graphic novels to help improve your French is that many of them are strongly dialogue-orientated. This means you get to read a lot of everyday spoken vocabulary that people use in real life.

Instead of reading the purely classical literary form, you’re improving your spoken informal French skills and reading an engaging story at the same time.

Tip: Be sure to click the flag in the upper right corner to change the language to French. That way you’ll only see the stories available in French.

Cuisine à la Française has a database of nearly 2,000 classic recipes alphabetically or by category.

I don’t normally recommend cookbooks to help improve your target language, but I’ll make an exception for French. After all, French cuisine is one of the most popular and influential in the world. It was added to UNESCO’s intangible world heritage list because of its global reputation.

If you ever visit France, you’ll notice immediately how big a role the cuisine plays in everyday life. It’s a good idea, then, to read as much as you can about French cuisine while you’re studying the language.

You’ll learn practical vocabulary to use when visiting France, eating at French restaurants, or when talking with native speakers. You’ll get valuable insight into an essential aspect of French history and culture and learn to cook delicious recipes.

Cuisine à la Française is the perfect place to start your reading on French cuisine .

Be sure to click on the “ Histoire de la Cuisine ” tab to learn all about the long and fascinating history of food in France, from 12,000 years ago up to modern day! Also check out “ Recettes Anciennes ” (”ancient recipes”) at the bottom of the page. You’ll find authentic French recipes from hundreds of years ago.

Give French cooking a try yourself, and improve your French reading comprehension in the process!

Instead of just reading in French, why not test yourself to see how well you understand what you’re reading?

This page on Thoughtco.com provides you with several excerpts in French that you can read and then do a quiz to check your comprehension.

For each excerpt, first click Lire (“read”) to read the text, then click Étudier (“study”) to see a list of key vocabulary from the excerpt along with the English translations. Finally, click Passer l’examen to do the quiz related to the excerpt.

It’s useful to open Passer l’examen in a separate window so you can see the test questions and the text at the same time.

Bonne chance ! (“Good luck!”)

Written French is very different to spoken French, and the differences can trip you up.

Think about:

• silent letters, like in de h or s (“outside”) and parfai t (“perfect”),
• the words written in different ways but that sound alike, such as sang (“blood”) and sans (“without”),
• the liaison that makes separate words sound like one, as in les oiseaux ( ”lez‿wazo” , “the birds”).

So, before you leave, let me give you a few of my best tips to help you read in French:

• Read according to your level and preferences. If you read something too hard or that you don’t like, you’ll be more likely to drop it.
• Don’t translate everything. Instead of getting stuck and looking up every word, try to understand the words you don’t know based on the concept.
• Take notes. It can be of the vocabulary you’re learning or of a special sentence structure. The point is: make sure you can come back to study them.
• Be consistent. Read every day.
• Accept mistakes and make them a part of your learning process .

Choose one or several of the resources from this post, follow these tips, and you’re all set up to work on your French reading!

But remember: to learn French faster and better, you have to focus on both written French and spoken French.

If you want to work on your spoken French, check out some of my favourite resources from all over the Internet . Some of the most amazing tools on there is Preply (our review is here ): it helps you find native speakers to have conversations with!

Bonne lecture ! (“Happy reading!”)

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

Have a 15-minute conversation in your new language after 90 days

The 25 best French newspapers to read in 2024

This article contains affiliate links. This means French Together may earn a commission for purchases made through these links. Read our full affiliate disclosure .

There are many ways to get to know  France and French culture. One is by reading French newspapers – or at least knowing what those newspapers are and what they stand for. Another is learning French .

As is the case for most countries with a free press, France has a number of newspapers, and each one has a particular connotation. For instance, a bobo ( bourgeois- bohemian , roughly equivalent to a hipster) will probably buy Libération at the news kiosk, while a businessman will tuck a copy of Le Monde into his briefcase.

As someone learning French, there is another advantage to learning about the major French newspapers: reading one(s) that interest(s) you can be a great way to expand your language skills and vocabulary.

Let’s look at the best-known French newspapers, from the key differences between them, to how to read them wherever you are in the world.

14 must-know French newspapers

There are many newspapers in France, but these are the best-known.

Note that, as this helpful article about the press in France points out, France doesn’t have a tradition of Sunday newspapers; most of its major newspapers are published daily. 

Founded at the demand of Charles de Gaulle at the end of the Second World War, Le Monde is one of the most widely-distributed French newspapers, and the easiest to find in print outside France.

Considered the newspaper of the establishment, it adopts a centre-left stance which makes it the closest French equivalent of the  New York Times  and  the Guardian .

Published daily, it covers French current events, world news, economy, politics, and culture.

Founded in 1846, Le Figaro is the oldest French newspaper still in print and one of the oldest newspapers in the world.

Considered centre-right, Le Figaro is the equivalent of conservative newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal or the Times. It’s published daily.

Madame Figaro is a magazine supplement published with the Saturday edition. As its name suggests, it’s considered a “women’s magazine” in the traditional sense, and features articles on beauty and fashion – but also some pieces about issues like feminism and the condition of women around the world.

Founded by famous philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and journalist Serge July, Libération started with a rather revolutionary stance following the protests of May 1968.

This daily newspaper is now considered centre-left, although it’s clearly more on the left than Le Monde, for example.  It’s the typical newspaper for serious Leftists, but also bobos ( bourgeois-bohemians ) to read. Many of its readers refer to it as Lib é .

Le Parisien – The Paris newspaper

Founded in 1942 as the newspaper of the  French Resistance , Le Parisien (The Parisian) is dedicated to news of the Paris region, but also has a national edition called  Aujourd’hui en France  (Today in France). Both are published daily.

Although it covers some national and international stories, Le Parisien is the best newspaper to follow if you’re interested in Paris-related news and events.

Mediapart is a news website created in 2008 by the former editor in chief of Le Monde.

Unlike most French newspapers, its income comes entirely from subscription fees to guarantee its independence.

Thanks to its independence, Mediapart has been able to play a major role in the revelation and investigation of a number of political scandals .

Le Canard Enchainé

Le Canard Enchainé is a satirical newspaper  that is published weekly. Its name literally means “the chained duck”. C anard is also a French slang word for “newspaper”.

It regularly investigates political and economic scandals and heavily relies on puns and cultural references, which makes it particularly hard to understand for French learners.

Charlie Hebdo

Founded  in 1982, Charlie Hebdo is a weekly satirical newspaper featuring cartoons and articles that regularly stir controversy.  You could think of it as a very rough equivalent to the show South Park , in terms of its crude humor and provocation that can be quite on point, nonetheless.

The newspaper is proudly anti-conformist, which means that its content regularly mocks everything (and everyone), from politics, to religion. Due to its provocative cartoons of Muhammed, it was the target of terrorists in 2011 and, famously, in 2015.

Unfortunately, you may know Charlie Hebdo not because of its content, but because of the 2015 attack , which killed 12 people, including several famous French cartoonists and contributors to the paper. The tragedy is an event that has marked recent French history.

Although not everyone was a fan or subscriber of Charlie Hebdo, and not everyone agreed with its content, after the 2015 terrorist attack, French and international communities rallied to support it and uphold the freedom of the press. You’ve probably seen the slogan “Je suis Charlie” (I am Charlie), which was created to show solidarity with both the newspaper itself, and the larger idea of freedom.

Charlie Hebdo continues to publish – and provoke controversy – weekly.

Le Monde Diplomatique

Le Monde Diplomatique is a left-wing newspaper available in 26 languages.

Even though its parent company is the newspaper Le Monde, Le Monde Diplomatique enjoys full editorial independence and is known for its dislike of capitalism.

Published monthly, it features in-depth articles about current affairs, politics, and culture.

Les Echos is a financial newspaper with a liberal stance, which makes it the equivalent of The Financial Times.

It regularly publishes economic analyses from leading economists, but also covers topics such as science and innovation.

L’Équipe is the most famous French newspaper dedicated to sports.

It mainly covers football (soccer), rugby, cycling, and car and motorcycle racing.

Founded 1904 as the newspaper of the French Communist Party, L’Humanité is now an independent left-wing newspaper.

La Croix is a newspaper dedicated to world news, economy, and culture.

Even though it’s a Catholic newspaper (its name literally means “The Cross”), its audience is becoming more and more varied, since it covers general interest topics.

This free daily newspaper has no particular political affiliation, and most of its fame comes from its ubiquity and accessibility in terms of price and where to get it: Aimed at commuters in major French cities , editions are usually found in stands in or around Metro stations and other transport hubs. Each edition covers local as well as national and international news.

The name “20 Minutes” refers to how much time it should take to read the paper. This makes it perfect for part of a commute – and also for those of us who want to practice reading the news in French but who may not have much time.

There are no subscription plans for the print version, but readers from abroad can read its free digital edition.

Le Gorafi is the French equivalent of The Onion, the perfect news website for relaxing and having fun while improving your French reading skills.

The name “Gorafi” is the name of the French newspaper Le Figaro in verlan (French syllable-reversing slang) .

Regional French newspapers

There are many regional newspapers in France. This list includes the best-known ones, as well as some interesting statistics about their readership .

If you want to get familiar with French regional newspapers at a glance, here are the most popular for each major region of the country:

Paris and the Î le-de-France and Oise: Le Parisien

This regional daily has a lot of clout, since it’s the capitol’s newspaper. But it also covers news about France. You can read more about it in our list of major French papers, above.

Brittany/Normandy/Pays de Loire: Ouest France

Ouest-France is the top-selling daily newspaper in France, and the most-read French newspaper in the world.

The paper takes a centrist or slightly conservative view, and covers both local and national news. There are 47 editions of the paper – one for each d épartement of the region it covers.

Southwest France: Sud Ouest

This daily newspaper features regional and national headlines, and is known for its rigorous reporting. Unlike most French newspapers, it’s considered politically neutral.

It covers the France’s South West ( Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Dordogne).

Northern France: La Voix du Nord

This regional daily covers the North of France (Hauts de France, Pas-de-Calais), as well as national news.

Southeast France: Le Dauphiné libéré

This daily paper is best known for its coverage of regional news and events. There are 24 different editions for the different départements in the region. It covers the South East (including Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,  Provence, Alpes, Cote d’Azur, Savoie).

Lorraine, Franche-Comté: L’Est Républicain

This daily paper covers local events and tends to take a conservative stance.

Alsace: Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace

This might sound like a bleak title, but remember that dernier in French can mean “last” but also “latest”. In this case, it’s the latter.

The paper has been around since 1877, and has 18 editions for different locales in the area.

It’s often called by its abbreviation, DNA (Les DNA.)

Many areas of central France, including Auvergne, Puy-du-Dôme, Corrèze, and Creuse: La Montagne

This daily newspaper’s website is known for allowing its journalists to add their own photos and other materials to their articles.

PACA (Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) : La Provence

This daily newspaper covers local as well as national news.

Can’t find the region or d épartement of France that you’re interested in? Use this extensive list to find local newspapers from other parts of France, as well as more newspapers from some of the regions listed here.

Bilingual newspapers and news websites for French learners

Most French newspapers have an average level of difficulty and vocabulary. But what if you’re not fluent in French yet? 

The following news websites and podcasts provide bilingual (English/French) versions or detailed explanations of most or all of their articles.

VoxEurop is a European magazine available in 10 European languages, including French.

The magazine translates articles from major French and European newspapers such as Le Monde, Le Figaro and Libération.

That makes it a great way for you to read a selection of articles from French newspapers with translations in several languages.

News in Slow French

News in Slow French is a podcast featuring news stories read in slower than normal French , allowing learners to hone their listening skills.

Some content is available for free, but you’ll need a paid subscription to get access to all episodes with transcriptions and notes.

RFI – Journal en français facile

Created by Radio France, the main  French radio  broadcaster, le Journal en français facile is a show dedicated to world news in which two journalists discuss headlines using basic, rather than intellectual or informal French.  If you want to check something you’ve heard, or if you prefer to read French news, you can download a free transcript of an episode by clicking on its title.

Newspapers for children

Children’s newspapers are an excellent choice for French learners because they use simple language and often explain expressions and concepts in more detail than traditional newspapers.

Here are a few you can read:

Le journal des enfants  (sport, science, culture, good news)

1 jour 1 actu  (news).

You can find more newspapers for kids in French by doing an online search for “journaux pour enfants”.

Helpful French news and newspaper vocabulary

Reading French newspapers can be hard if you are not fluent but it’s great exercise. Here are some words it’s good to be familiar with:

• un journal – a newspaper
• un quotidien – a daily newspaper. The word quotidien can also mean “daily” or “every day”. Here are some examples of how to use it .
• hebdomadaire – weekly. This is where the  word “Hebdo”comes from in the weekly satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
• numérique – digital/online version
• le journal papier – the print version of a newspaper. Note that you only use this term when explicitly indicating that it’s the print version; otherwise, just say le journal .
• un canard – an informal term for “newspaper”.
• un/une journaliste – journalist. Note that this can be masculine or feminine. Examples: Jacques est journaliste. (Jacques is a journalist.)  Alors, c’est elle la journaliste qui a écrit cet article fascinant !   (Ah, so she’s the journalist who wrote that fascinating article!)  
• le journalisme – journalism
• l’actualité – news, current events
• abonné(e)(s) – subscriber(s)
• s’abonner – to subscribe
• un abonnement – a subscription
• lecteurs – readers
• à la une – front page story/top story or stories

Where can I find more French news to read and listen to?

If the sources we’ve listed here just aren’t enough, check out our article on French reading resources , where you’ll find reading material as well as some strategies and tools for reading in French.

And if you’re a podcast person, here’s a list of our favorite French podcasts (as well as some we don’t like quite as much).

You can also find more things to read, listen to, watch, and otherwise experience in French in our post about (free) online French resources and media of all sorts.

How can I read and subscribe to French newspapers?

A few of the newspapers on this list, like 20 Minutes, may be completely free to read online. Most of them will allow you free access to at least a few articles in a given period. But if you want to read a print French newspaper regularly, you can subscribe to most of them, wherever you live in the world.

Most French newspapers’ websites have a button marked S’abonner (Subscribe), Abonnements (Subscriptions), or some variant of one of those words, near the top of their homepage. Click on it and you’ll often find several subscription plans, including only digital, or print and digital. 

If you want to subscribe to lots of French newspapers but your budget is tight, check out your local library. Many libraries have subscriptions to at least a few of the major French newspapers, and some will even give you access to French newspapers on your mobile device or e-reader.

You may also be able to read French newspapers through online magazine subscription platforms like Kindle Unlimited and Zinio. These services give you access to an impressive number of online magazines and newspapers for a small monthly fee. Of course, before subscribing, check to make sure that the French newspapers you’re interested in are included in their offer.

Struggling to understand French newspapers? Give French Together a try!

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Alysa Salzberg

Alysa Salzberg is an American writer, worrier, teacher, and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France, for more than a decade. She has taught English and French for more than ten years, most notably as an assistante de langue vivante for L'Education Nationale. She recently published her first novel, Hearts at Dawn , a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling that takes place during the 1870 Siege of Paris. You can read about her adventures here , or feel free to stop by her website .

Polyglot Life

Become bilingual – Deviens bilingue

French reading intermediate level: shorter alternatives to novels

French reading at intermediate level can be complicated. When we’re writing we usually use a wider variety of vocabulary and more complex sentences. You probably haven’t been exposed much while you were learning French unless you’ve studied at post-secondary level.

However, if you want to reach an advanced level and enjoy the richness of French literature (and even classic movies) you take the plunge and dive into pieces written in French .

I know I focus a lot on test preparation but we all need to take a break from studying sometimes . Reading is a great way to stay immersed in the language while enjoying a relaxing time. The following list focuses on shorter pieces of content to get you started and keep your motivation up as you notice your progress!

Keeping the reading sessions short will help your brain process the information . If you get tired, it’s best to take a break from reading as you won’t be able to absorb anything. Extend your reading sessions progressievly.

Magazines: a good introduction

Reading magazines has a double advantage. First, you learn vocabulary about topics you’re passionate about . On top of that, they usually feature longer articles telling stories (called “ reportage “). In these articles, journalists like to showcase their writing skills using metaphores and rich vocabulary and syntax .

Therefore it’s a good introduction to litterary French .

Stories for children: start reading from the beginner level !

When you’re at a false beginner and lower intermediate level, these are great resources. Even when you’re intermediate but have never read literature in French.

Here are 3 of my favourites:

• The Fable Cottage : you can read and listen at the same time AND there’s an English translation! It’s the fastest way to boost comprehension on all levels. I’ve seen amazing progress with my clients who’ve used the website.
• Read + listen: Tchoupi stories read by moms on YouTube like this one . You can follow along while they turn the pages of the book.
• A website to download cute stories in French from all over the world: https://litterature-jeunesse-libre.fr/bbs/ . Great to introduce some diversity in your reading ! They’re rated by level from 1 to 3. Level 1 stories are accessible to false beginners from early on.

Bandes dessinées (comics): if you enjoy visual support and short sentences

There are so many comics in French (called “ bandes dessinées “), you’re bound to find a style you enjoy.

It’s a great way to start reading in French if you don’t like reading novels . Sentences are shorter and spoken-style and the pictures may help. Be careful though because a lot of them use humour which might make it harder to understand. There are more and more great bandes dessinées targeting teenagers that are rather easy to read and very modern. They will help you with “everyday French” (culture, argot and spoken French).

I particularly like Guy Delisle, Riad Sattouf , Marjane Satrapi ( Persepolis ) but there are many more.

Riad Sattouf – Les carnets d’Esther

Nouvelles (short-stories): for the satisfaction to reach the end of the story in a relatively short time

In French, when we use the word “nouvelles”, we usually don’t speak about the news ( l’actualité ), rather about short stories . It’s a litterary genre in itself and although it’s not the most popular in France, you can find “recueil de nouvelles”.

• You can find a lot of amateur nouvelles on this website
• and some French teachers also publish their own to help French learners ( Nathalie FLE ).
• Explore an interesting collection: “Folio 2 euros” from publisher Gallimard . The concept is precisely to publish short stories and short novels at a very affordable price (2€), from a variety of contemporary authors (20-21st century, not only French authors but also translations). I can recommend for example “ Petit éloge des fantômes ” by Nathacha Appanah (an author from Mauritius)
• I believe the most famous French writer of “nouvelles” is Guy de Maupassant . They were written in the 19th century so you have to keep in mind that people lived a much simpler life at the time (no cars, no cell phones, very little international travel) but they’re very accessible once you get used to the passé simple conjugation . You can find a few stories here to see if the style appeals to you. We never use passé simple to speak so you just need to be able to recognize the verb to be able to read it. Most of them don’t look much different to infinitive or other tenses you already know so you’ll understand it quickly once you become exposed to it .
• Download a PDF of nouvelles in French created by Versailles University, a compilation of contemporary short stories . They all have in common that the ending is unexpected. Some suspense to get you reading until the end!

Ananda Devi is also a great francophone writer of nouvelles.

French reading for intermediate levels: contemporary novels

When you’re ready to move on to full books. I’ve compiled a list of suggestions of contemporary writers in this post.

If you’d like to talk about a piece you’ve read or work on improving your writing, let’s meet!

Interested in using French reading at the intermediate level? Check this out

Watch this interview with Olly Richards, founder of StoryLearning, about the benefits of learning with stories and other tips to speed up your path to fluency.

About Cathy

Related post, how to use comprehensible input to learn french, how to use podcasts to learn french, 33 podcasts to learn french: intermediate, advanced, best resources to immerse yourself in the french language, songs to practice french, french novels you can read at an intermediate level.

French newspapers for beginners

The word “newspaper” in French reminds you of popular names like Le Monde , Le Figaro , Libération , L’Equipe etc.

These daily French newspapers can be a boon for intermediates and advanced speakers but are too challenging for beginners.

In that case, one of the best ways to learn French news as an amateur is to read newspapers suited for your level.

Discover the best French newspapers to keep yourself updated in French with the world around.

Why news is a great learning resource?

News articles are written to inform and educate readers. With every story or article that is read, the reader acquires knowledge about the events taking place across the world.

There are plenty of reasons to incorporate news into your language lessons. Let’s unravel the top 3 reasons to read French newspapers every day.

1. Easily accessible: News is available in multiple forms nowadays. We can read or listen to it digitally via podcasts, radios, and news websites or watch it on television.

2. Strengthens your vocabulary: News sources have the potential to patch up the vocabulary holes. Consuming the language through news sources will allow you to see and recognize new words as well as give you a detailed context on how to use them.

3. Keeps you informed: By using the news as a resource, you are exposed to all the current affairs of the world associated with the French language and culture.

6 French newspapers for beginners

We have grouped a well-known list of newspapers for beginners to receive a mine of information that best reflects the French opinion on multiple topics.

1. Le Petit Quotidien

Le Petit Quotidien is the perfect newspaper for beginners to read the latest news. It is primarily aimed at 6 to 10-year-old children with its simplified length and content.

This fun and engaging daily newspaper provide a detailed description of the news in a concise manner.

The addition of engaging sections like stories, photos, and words arouse our interest to learn. Moreover, there is a comic page related to the theme of the edition to add some extra fun to the learning journey.

2. Mon Quotidien

Mon Quotidien targets readers between 10 and 13 years of age to help adolescents understand the world around them. Therefore, they use simple words to explain complex issues.

The news is composed of articles and games with a motive to help you learn while having fun. Difficult words are underlined and explained to facilitate your reading comprehension.

With numerous and extremely diverse themes, you will learn about the economy, sports, French and international culture, and much more.

Some of the common themes included in this edition are current affairs, ecology, history, culture, environment, society, astronomy, education, and history.

3. L’actu

L’actu is a daily newspaper adapted to young people from 13 to 18 years old. It features serious news with a touch of humor on subjects such as economics, science, and geography.

Plus, l’Actu issues special photos every Monday. Its contents are built around a common theme associated with its images.

It is a fantastic resource for novice learners to develop critical thinking and awareness of the outside world in 10 minutes.

4. 20 minutes

This daily newspaper has no particular political affiliation and claims strict neutrality in its reporting.  Its fame comes from its accessibility and is mainly aimed at commuters in major French cities. It is usually found in Metro stations and other transport hubs.

Each edition covers local as well as national and international news. As the name suggests, it should take a minimum of 20 minutes to read this easily accessible newspaper.

5. 1 jour 1 actu

Un jour une actu translates to “one day, one news article”. As a beginner, this was one of my favorite sites to read because the articles are very interesting and insightful. It grants us the ability to easily understand the context.

The site features articles about the world, culture, science, sports, and our environment. It deciphers complex topics in a language accessible from a basic level and addresses the news through engaging videos, interviews, reports, and podcasts.

6. Le Parisien

It is one of the most widely read newspapers in France. The mission of Le Parisien is to provide unbiased and quality information to a broad audience covering a vast range of subjects, including complex issues and world news.

It has also launched an Early Access Edition wherein the readers gain access to read tomorrow’s news at 11:30 PM the night before on their website and app.

Learn something new every day

French newspapers are excellent resources for learning French. These informative sources not only boost your knowledge but also contribute in other ways to an individual’s language development.

Get a balanced picture of news stories by consuming different news sources with the help of the above list. This will give you a range of different perspectives on an issue while learning something new every day.

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37 Top French Newspapers Plus Key Vocabulary for Understanding the News

Reading French newspapers will teach you all sorts of trending vocabulary—while keeping you updated with what’s happening in the French-speaking world (and beyond).

News junkies know that nothing captivates your attention like a well-written news article.

French Newspapers and Online News Platforms 

1. le monde, 2. le figaro, 3. libération, 4. le parisien/aujourd’hui en france, 5. 20 minutes, 6. l’obs, 7. l’equipe, 8. les echos, 9. sports.fr, 10. mediapart, 11. la croix, 12. le point, 13. l’humanité, 14. ouest-france, 15. sud ouest, 16. la presse, 17. l’express, 18. les dernières nouvelles d’alsace, 19. le canard enchaîné, 20. le progrès, 21. la tribune, 22. courrier international, 23. nord éclair, 24. l’est républicain, 25. le devoir, 26. la libre, 27. la montagne, 28. le journal du dimanche, 29. les dépêches de brazzaville, 30. france-soir, 31. la provence, 32. le soleil, 33. l’avenir, 34. le temps, 35. bbc afrique, 36. euronews, 37. france 24, key vocabulary from french newspapers, common french phrases from the news.

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Who it’s for:  Learners who want more analytical reporting

Le Monde is one of France’s best-known daily newspapers , and it has been published continuously since 1944.

It’s one of the only remaining newspapers in the country that’s published in the evening, meaning that the following day’s edition hits newsstands in the late afternoon.

The publication’s editorial line is generally center-left , so it’s comparable to an American publication like the New York Times or the United Kingdom’s The Guardian .

Who it’s for:  Right-leaning learners 

Along with Le Monde , Le Figaro is France’s other most well-known news publication . In fact, the two are often referred to as France’s newspapers of record.

It’s also the country’s oldest newspaper, founded back in 1826 as a satirical publication.

Le Figaro has historically been the standard-bearer of France’s center-right . You can expect to find the conservative take on the most pressing issues of the day in its editorials and opinion pieces.

Who it’s for:  Advanced learners  

The daily newspaper Libération was started by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and journalist Serge July in 1976.

While the newspaper has long since shed its more revolutionary outlook, it still occupies an important position on the French left .

It’s particularly known for its provocative front pages , traditionally dominated by a large photo and accompanying headline.

Who it’s for: Learners who like both news and human interest stories

Le Parisien is a daily newspaper that’s distributed widely in Paris and the surrounding region.

Its sister publication, Aujourd’hui en France , often carries many of the same articles and is available outside the Paris area.

Critics often claim that the publication sensationalizes stories and spends too much time covering the more sordid aspects of French political and social life . However, it would be unfair to compare it to British tabloids. 

Who it’s for: Busy learners

Founded in 2002, “20 Minutes” is a popular free daily newspaper in France, known for its concise format and accessibility .

Originating from a Swiss concept, it quickly became a prominent source of news for urban readers. It covers a wide range of topics , including news, culture and sports.

As a free publication distributed in major cities, it aims to reach a broad audience. Despite occasional criticism for brevity, it has successfully carved a niche as a convenient and widely read source of daily news.

Who it’s for: Learners who are passionate about social issues  

L’Obs is a French news magazine that has been publishing articles every week since 1950 and remains one of the most well-known publications in France.

The newspaper offers a mix of local news, international coverage and opinion and culture pieces. It’s  always been left-leaning , and the founder—Claude Pedriel—even describes its slant as social-democratic and leftist.

A lot of its pieces are actually opinion-based or investigative, with coverage of social issues such as women’s rights, political corruption and state crimes.

Who it’s for: Learners who want more journalistic sports coverage 

L’Equipe is a daily newspaper covering sports with a penchant for supporting French athletes in international competitions.

It’s been the home to many of the world’s most venerated sports journalists, such as Jacques Goddet, former director of the Tour de France and Gabriel Hanot, credited for the establishment of the UEFA Champions League. 

The newspaper format means that the publication conserves a more journalistic and analytical approach to its coverage than you’ll often find with sports.

Who it’s for: Business-minded learners 

Founded in 1908, Les Echos was France’s first-ever daily financial newspaper . It’s still quite popular and comes in both digital and physical formats.

Due to its almost exclusive focus on economy and finance, Les Echos’ slant is slightly right of center, and is politically aligned to economic liberalism .

This ideology advocates for free market capitalism, deregulation of the economy, lower taxes and opposition to trade unions. Despite this, Les Echos also covers left-aligned topics such as green technology.

Who it’s for: Learners who are sports fans

With more neutral coverage in French of all international sports, Sports.fr is a well-balanced alternative to  L’Équipe .

The site offers a blend of stories on soccer, basketball, rugby and more. You’ll get to brush up on your French sports vocabulary along the way. 

Sports.fr offers plenty of news articles about the results, analyses and forecasts of current games. However, it also delves into the personal lives, opinions and scandals of many athletes, with occasional interviews.  

Who it’s for:  Learners who are interested in investigative pieces

Published in French, English and Spanish, Mediapart is an advertisement-free site offering news and investigative reporting.

It promotes independent journalism and is the only popular magazine in France with a section where readers can contribute their own articles .

Mediapart specializes in no-holds-barred investigative journalism . In fact, it rose to prominence because it featured several controversial issues in France, which led to political figures stepping down and even being sentenced to jail.

Who it’s for: Learners who are members of the Roman Catholic Church

La Croix is one of France’s best-known papers and is published daily. It   has historically been affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church .

While in some ways still is affiliated with the Church, it has since eased some of its focus on religion and stylizes itself as a general interest newspaper.  

Since it often adopts the stance of the Church on certain issues, it’s safe to say that this newspaper is right-leaning , but is by no means a mouthpiece of conservatism or the Church.

Who it’s for: Right-leaning learners who want weekly updates on popular news topics

Le Point is one of the most well-known newspapers in France, and its site features continual updates throughout the day.

With a heavy focus on current French President Emmanuel Macron, the site can be a great place to get one’s feet wet in the world of French politics. 

Le Point is considered a conservative, center-right magazine that focuses on politics and economics. Its Debats section discusses topics like immigration, cancel culture and the health system in France.

Who it’s for: Left-leaning learners

Founded in 1904, L’Humanité (Humanity) originated as a newspaper for the French Communist Party.

While it has had a turbulent history, its circulation still reached 40,000 in 2020. The publication leans pretty far left .

It was once believed that this newspaper survived the Cold War with donations from the Soviet Union itself. As expected, much of its coverage focuses on current events, corruption, human rights and rampant capitalism.

Who it’s for: Learners who want local news from specific French regions

Ouest-France (West France) started off covering the western French regions of Pays de la Loire, Brittany and Lower Normandy.

Currently, it has 47 distinct editions across 12 French regions —east, west, north and south—and is estimated by some to be the most-read newspaper in France with over 2 million readers . 

Being a high-circulation publication, Ouest-France often treads the line of political centrism. It has historically been pro-European Union and is considered slightly right-wing because it’s affiliated with European Christian democracy.

Who it’s for: Learners who are interested in the southwest regions of France 

In the same way Ouest-France is a newspaper from the western regions of France, Sud Ouest is from the southwest (hence the name).

It was founded in 1944 in Bordeaux, and today it mainly serves Gironde, the Pyrénées Atlantiques, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Charente and Charente-Maritime.

Sud Ouest has an opinion section where commentators from all along the political spectrum contribute. On the whole, it’s   politically neutral and doesn’t predominantly lean in one direction or the other.

Who it’s for: Canadian French learners who are interested in Quebec news

La Presse (The Press) comes from Montréal, Canada and today can be found exclusively online. It’s one of the largest newspapers in Québec.

The publication features different columnists of varying political leanings , and over the years has supported legislation from all across the political spectrum.

For example, it has been a supporter of both Canada’s Conservative Party and Liberal Party at differing times.

Who it’s for: Canadian French learners who want to know more about Toronto and Ontario 

L’Express (formerly L’Express de Toronto) caters to French speakers in Toronto, Canada as well as Francophone communities in the province of Ontario . 

Due to the French language’s minority status in Ontario, the newspaper often takes a pro-French stance , supporting candidates that promise funding for French-language services and education.

Recently, this has meant that L’Express has not been supportive of Ontario’s ruling Conservative Party who have slashed funding for such areas in recent years.

Who it’s for: Learners who are interested in the Alsace region

Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace (The Latest News from Alsace) focuses on the French region of Alsace .

Alsace has historically spoken French and a dialect of German similar to Swiss German, so this newspaper was also published in Standard German until 2012.

Due to the unique culture of the Alsace region, this newspaper has often had a pro-Alsace stance , sometimes being supportive of pro-Alsace candidates and those who seek to preserve the unique culture and status of the region.

Who it’s for: Learners who enjoy satire  

The word canard (duck) is also slang for “newspaper,” and enchaîné means “chained.” This is a nod to the French government’s censorship campaigns when the newspaper was founded during World War I .

Today, this newspaper’s primary purpose is satire and commentary , and it enjoys quite a large readership in France. 

It mocks and criticizes political candidates and parties of all stripes. The newspaper doesn’t accept any advertisements, and it has often been exceptionally critical of the clergy and upper class .

Who it’s for: Learners interested in the Rhône-Alpes region of France

Le Progrès (The Progress) is a regional paper that was founded in 1958. It focuses on news and happenings related to the Rhône-Alpes region of France . 

It reports widely on happenings in the region and has columns and commentaries from contributors of all political leanings .

It did feature prominent journalist René Diaz who wrote for the newspaper for 30 years. Diaz’s work focused on the trials of former Nazis. 

Who it’s for: Learners who want business and financial news

The focus of this newspaper is business and the economy with its slogan being partageons l’économie  (let’s share the economy).

It had to be bailed out by the French government on two separate occasions, and in 2012, it switched to a weekly format.

The slant of this newspaper is fiscally conservative , given that it focuses primarily on business and the economy. However, the opinion section is open to commentators who identify with various political ideologies.

Who it’s for: Learners who are looking for diverse international news 

Courrier International (International Mail) is published in French, Portuguese and Japanese . It even collects and republishes excerpts from over 900 newspapers around the world.

News stories are often reported from multiple angles, allowing readers to get a well-rounded and complete view of a given situation.

The newspaper found itself in hot water, however, when it published a marketing campaign that featured shortened Twin Towers with the slogan apprendre à anticiper  (learn to anticipate).

Who it’s for: Learners interested in areas along the France-Belgium border

Nord Éclair (North Lightning) is headquartered in the northern city of Roubaix, France.

Right along the border with Belgium, Nord Éclair relays news for the French region of Nord . It also has a Belgian edition. 

There are commentators from time to time that take a stance on a particular issue, but Nord Éclair is pretty neutral most of the time. It covers local stories fairly evenly , and even local elections are reported on without much endorsement.

Who it’s for: Learners who want a balanced political perspective

L’Est Républicain (The Republican East) was founded in 1889 with the goal of opposing a French conservative quasi-dictator, George Boulanger.

It later created the first Braille newspaper in Europe and acquired other local publications in its home region of Meurthe-et-Moselle.

L’Est Républicain has been all over the political spectrum over the years, with a particular focus on French sovereignty. In recent years, it has maintained a somewhat balanced approach , taking on commentators from all political positions.

Who it’s for: Canadian French learners who support the independence of Québec

Le Devoir (Duty) comes from Montréal, Canada and was founded in the name of Québec nationalism and separatism.

It was very supportive of this position during the referendums that would make Québec an independent country during the 1980s and 1990s. Though that has softened over the years, the newspaper continues to support the recognition and inclusion of French-speaking people in Canada.

Today, it has taken a more left-wing stance advocating for pacifism, minimal military intervention abroad and social democracy.

Who it’s for: Learners who want to learn more about Belgium, especially Brussels  

La Libre (The Free) is published in Belgium . It was founded in 1884 under the name Le Patriote (The Patriot). 

Today, La Libre is published six days a week, and it’s one of the top-selling French newspapers in Belgium.

When it was first published, Le Libre was known for its right-wing and Christian stance. While it has become more liberal over the years, it’s still considered to be more right-leaning than other major Belgian newspapers such as Le Soir .

Who it’s for: Left-leaning learners 

La Montagne (The Mountain) is a daily regional newspaper founded in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France , a place known for lakes, rivers and mountains. 

However, its name is actually a nod to a political movement in France called The Mountain, one of the major groups during the French Revolution. 

The name was selected to show its alignment with the Revolution’s traditional values. It has further been described as an independent and socialist publication.

Who it’s for: Learners who are curious about Paris or surrounding areas

Le Journal du Dimanche (The Sunday Journal) was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Paris, France. 

Due to its weekly nature, it’s often seen as a “Sunday round-up” of major news stories from France and around the world. There’s a heavy focus on politics and the economy, though.

It tends to lean a little more right but is largely seen as a neutral publication, reporting on happenings from various perspectives and employing commentators from multiple political positions. 

Who it’s for: Learners who are interested in African French 

This newspaper is headquartered in Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo where media is heavily censored. 

For example, during the 2009 national elections, journalists from major worldwide news agencies were harassed and assaulted by government forces for their coverage.

As such, print media is filtered through the government before publication. Les Dépêches de Brazzaville offers a rather positive view of the government and the state of the country, ignoring much of the reality and hardship that the everyday Congolese face.

Who it’s for: Learners who prefer a non-mainstream perspective on news 

France-Soir (France Evening) was founded as an underground newspaper in World War II when France was solidly occupied by German forces.

Following declining readership, the newspaper was relaunched as an online-only enterprise in 2013. It has adopted various political leanings over the years, but today it can be described as predominantly right-wing .

Recently, it was accused of publishing conspiracy theories related to the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, NewsGuard  has said that the newspaper no longer adheres to widely accepted journalistic standards.

Who it’s for: Left-leaning learners interested in Marseille and other areas in southeastern France

La Provence is published in Marseille, France and focuses primarily on local news in the Marseille and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region .

Its founder, former businessman and politician Bernard Tapie, was a member of the Parti radical du gauche  (Radical Party of the Left) and has been accused of swaying the direction of the newspaper based on his political views.

That said, the newspaper does have an opinion section , and writers from all political positions have written for the paper.

Who it’s for: Learners who want a glimpse of contemporary urban life in Quebec  

Le Soleil (The Sun) is a daily newspaper based in Québec City, Canada . It’s a fairly local publication, available on newsstands mostly in Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa.

Being originally a newspaper for the Liberal Party of Canada, it’s safe to say that this newspaper politically leans to the left .

The newspaper did officially cut ties with the Liberal Party back in 1957, but it still retains its strong ties of liberal thought and left-wing politics.

Who it’s for: Learners who are curious about local news in specific parts of Belgium

L’Avenir (The Future) is was originally founded in Namur, Belgium in 1918.

Today, the newspaper publishes nine distinct editions for various French-speaking locations in Belgium . It features news stories and opinion pieces specific to whichever region the edition is for.

While a predominant political position isn’t apparent across all nine editions, it does hold a pro-French stance because it’s in the French-speaking region of Belgium.

Who it’s for: Learners who want to practice Swiss French

Le Temps is the only newspaper on this list to come from Switzerland . It’s published in Lausanne, Switzerland and is the only nationwide French daily newspaper in the country.

It brings together the writing of over 100 columnists and reporters throughout Switzerland, Europe and the world.

Le Temps is often regarded as a politically centered newspaper. As such, it treads the line between the two political positions rather successfully, though it has sometimes been called a socially liberal newspaper.

Who’s it for: Learners interested in world news with a focus on Africa 

BBC Afrique, the French-language extension of the BBC World Service, primarily operates as a digital platform and broadcast service .

Launched to provide accurate and impartial information to Francophone audiences, it maintains the BBC’s renowned standards. It covers a wide range of topics, ensuring a balanced view of global events with a focus on Africa .

BBC Afrique is celebrated for fostering informed discussions and promoting media literacy across French-speaking regions and has been a trusted source of news since its inception. 

Who it’s for: Learners who want to read the news in multiple languages 

Euronews is another news source that delivers content through online platforms as well as TV programming. 

With a mission to provide a European perspective on global events , it caters to a diverse audience and broadcasts news in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish and others.

Its commitment to presenting facts without bias positions it as a reliable source for international news, appealing to viewers seeking a comprehensive understanding of global affairs from a European standpoint.

Who it’s for: Learners who want unbiased, straightforward and factural reporting 

Launched in 2006, France 24 is a state-owned international news channel offering 24/7 coverage in French, English and Arabic.

Established to counterbalance English-dominated global news, it upholds a commitment to editorial independence, aiming to bridge cultural gaps and provide insights from a French viewpoint.

While publicly funded, it aims to present diverse perspectives on world events , encompassing a range of political opinions. Its multimedia platform and diverse programming contribute to its reputation as a respected global news outlet.

Here’s some of the key vocabulary you should know to better understand the news in French: 

In addition to the single terms and shorter phrases above, there are some common longer phrases that might pop up when you’re reading French newspapers. 

• Les actions pourraient dégringoler. (The stocks could take a tumble.)
• La reprise économique a été timide jusqu’à maintenant. (The economic recovery has been slow so far.)
• L’économie s’essouffle. (The economy is running out of steam.)
• Il y a une agitation sociale en… (There is social unrest in…)
• Ce ne sont sans doute que des paroles en l’air. (These are probably just empty words.)
• Il y a encore du chemin à parcourir. (There’s still a way to go.)
• Cela porte un coup sévère à… (This is a serious blow to…)
• C’est un grand pas en avant. (This is a big step forward.)

Whether you’re into current events, finance, sports or even gossip, you have a lot of choices for French newspapers—and they’re all available online.

If you’re still starting out with French, you can also ease into reading news with this beginner-friendly guide .

You can also practice with French news clips on FluentU , which breaks down each video for you with learning tools like interactive subtitles, transcripts and flashcards.

When you’re ready to dive in, choose a French newspaper, binge on the latest happenings and improve your French all at the same time!

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Le, La, L’, Les, Un, Une, Des: A beginner’s guide to the French articles

What is a French article ? Articles are important elements of French grammar, enabling us to indicate some level of specifics to nouns. In this post we’ll examine the three different types of French articles , and go over how to use all of them!

This article is brought to you by LingoCulture, Where you can get unlimited private French classes via Zoom with native teachers for a flat monthly rate. It’s the closest thing to immersion you can get without living in a French-speaking country. Click here to learn more.

French Articles: The Basics

There are three types of French articles: definite articles , indefinite articles , and partitive articles . Each type has a different meaning, but they all follow a set of standard rules:

1. An article comes before a noun. A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea.

2. As nouns have gender in French, the article must match the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine).

3. Each noun’s article must also match its number (singular or plural).

4. While articles can often be omitted in English, they cannot be omitted in French. In English, for example, we can say “I like bread,” whereas in French we would have to say “J’aime le pain,” which literally translates to “I like the  bread.”

Definite Articles: “The” in French

Definite articles refer to known or specific nouns. All of the French definite articles translate to English as  the . They must match the gender and number of the noun they precede. The definite articles in French  are:

Both le  and la will form contractions with nouns that begin with a vowel or vowel sound (like a silent “h”) in French. To make these contractions, we simply drop the last letter from the article and add an apostrophe. Both le  and la  will become l’ before a noun that begins with a vowel, regardless of whether that noun is masculine or feminine. This is the closest comparison we have to your English article an , which is also placed before vowel sounds.

Les  is used before both masculine plural nouns and feminine plural nouns.

Let’s see the French definite articles with some examples:

• Le  cahier – The  notebook (masculine)
• La  recette – The  recipe (feminine)
• L’ ordinateur – The  computer (masculine)
• Les  cahiers – The  notebooks (masculine, plural)
• Les  recettes – The  recipes (feminine, plural)
• Les  ordinateurs – The  computers (masculine, plural)

Masculine vs feminine nouns

Unfortunately, there is not a simple way to tell whether a French noun is masculine or feminine on its own, so you’ll need to memorize each noun’s gender as you learn it. You can do this by memorizing the definite (or indefinite) article that precedes it. We describe other ways to determine whether a noun is masculine or feminine in our detailed post on French gender rules .

If the noun begins with a vowel (preceded by l’ ) or is plural (preceded by les ), however, the definite article will not indicate the noun’s gender, so you’ll need to identify the noun’s gender in another way. Most language resources indicate a noun’s gender with an abbreviation, usually “m.” for masculine and “f.” for feminine.

Contractions with “à” and “de”

When used with the French prepositions à  (indicating to , at , or in ) and de  (indicating from , of , or about ), the masculine and plural definite articles le  and les  become contractions. We’ll look at these specifics in the following tables, along with examples demonstrating each one. Note that with the feminine definite article la , as well as with the definite article l’ preceding a vowel, there is no change.

À  is a preposition that generally translates as to , at , or in , so all four forms shown in this table can translate as to the , at the , or in the .

• Au  parc (m.) – To the  park, At the  park, In the  park
• À la librarie (f.) – To the bookstore, At the bookstore, In the bookstore
• À l’école (f.) – To [the] school, At [the] school
• Aux  magasins (m.) – To the  stores, At the  stores, In the  stores

De  is a preposition that generally translates as from , of , or about , so all four forms shown in this table can translate as from the , of the , or about the .

• Du  parc (m.) – From the  park, Of the  park, About the  park
• De la plage (f.) – From the beach, Of the beach, About the beach
• De l’ambassade (m.) – From the embassy, Of the embassy, About the embassy
• Des  amis (m.) – From the  friends, Of the  friends, About the  friends

Indefinite Articles: “A,” “An,” and “Some” in French

Indefinite articles refer to unknown or general nouns. The French indefinite articles un and une  are for singular nouns, which in English can be either a  or an , while the indefinite article des  for plural nouns generally translates as some . The indefinite articles in French must match the gender and number of the nouns they precede. The indefinite articles in French  are:

The indefinite articles un  and une  can also mean one , and will still agree with the noun’s gender.

Des  is used for both masculine plural nouns and feminine plural nouns.

Now let’s see the French indefinite articles with the same nouns we saw when introducing the French definite articles:

• Un  cahier – A  notebook, One  notebook
• Une  recette – A  recipe, One  recipe
• Des  cahiers – Some  notebooks
• Des  recettes – Some  recipes

Partitive Articles: “Some” or “Any” in French

Partitive articles  in French refer to “part of” or “some of” a whole object, or to several objects among many. The partitive articles du , de   la , de   l’ , and des  generally translate as some  in French, while they can also take other translations depending on the context, namely any .

When the noun is singular, the partitive article indicates “part of” or “some of” a whole object, or “some” of a noncount noun. A noncount noun is a noun that cannot be counted and only exists in abstract quantities (such as “butter” or “water”). When the noun is plural, the partitive article indicates several objects. The partitive articles in French  are:

• Veux-tu du  gâteau. – Do you want some  cake? – Do you want any  cake?
• Je mets toujours de la moutarde dans mes sandwichs. – I always put [ some ] mustard in my sandwiches.
• Le chanteur utilise toujours de l ’argot dans ses textes. – The singer always uses some  slang in his lyrics.
• Il nous faut des pièces de monnaie pour les parcomètres. – We need some  change for the parking meters.

“Du,” “De la,” “De l’,” “Des”: Contraction or partitive article?

You may have noticed that the definite article contractions with de and the partitive articles in French are the same words. You can tell the difference from the context of the phrase or sentence.

Examples of contractions:

• C’est le bureau du  professeur. – That’s the desk of the  teacher. (Here, the contraction du  means of the  and indicates possession .)
• Je viens de la  bibliothèque. – I am coming from the  library. (Here, de la  means from the  and indicates direction.)
• Tu parles des  trains ? – Are you talking about the  trains? (Here, the contraction des  means about the  and indicates subject matter.)

Examples of partitive articles:

• Je voudrais du  bacon, s’il vous plaît. – I would like some  bacon, please. (Here, the partitive article du  means some  of a noncount noun: bacon.)
• Tu veux de la  baguette ? – Would you like some  bread? (Here, the partitive article de la  means some  of a whole object: a long, thin loaf of French bread.)
• Reste-t-il de l’ avocat ? – Is there any  avocado left? (Here, the partitive article de l’  means any  of an object: avocado.)
• Elle mange des  raisins. – She is eating some  grapes. (Here, the partitive article des  means  some  grapes. We could also simply consider this to be an indefinite article on its own.)

Conclusion: Articles in French

We’ve written a lot here to give a full explanation on all the ways to say the  and a  in French. Known respectively as the definite articles  and indefinite articles , the main difference with their English counterparts is that French has different forms of each one to match the gender and number of the nouns they precede. In plural, the indefinite article generally translates as some .

In addition to getting to know the basic list of French articles, we saw some specific contractions where the masculine and plural forms of the articles combine with the prepositions à  and de . Finally, we looked at the partitive articles  in French, which enable us to talk about imprecise portions of whatever noun we’re describing.

We hope this post has helped you clear up all the differences between the various articles in French, while also helping to understand their parallels with the English articles you already know, or even with the Spanish definite and indefinite articles . As one of the fundamental building blocks of basic grammar, mastering the French articles will come quickly enough as you improve your skills in the language!

KEEP READING

An vs année, jour vs journée, and nuit vs nuitée: subtle french word pairs, bonjour: meaning in english, history, and uses, faire conjugation: every tense of to do in french, a certain je ne sais quoi: the secrets of this enigmatic expression.

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How to Read French

Last Updated: March 22, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga . Lorenzo is a native French speaker and French language connoisseur. He has many years of experience as a translator, writer and reviewer. He is also a composer, pianist, and globe-trotter, who has been travelling the world on a shoestring for almost 30 years with a backpack. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 86,159 times.

In today's global economy, learning French can yield multiple cultural and economic benefits. Whether you want to read classic novels like Madam Bovary or Les Miserables in their original language or expand your on-line business to European customers, being able to read French can help enrich your life. While it might seem like a daunting task at first, reading another language can help strengthen your general cognitive skills and improve your appreciation for French culture. [1] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source

Beginning to Read French

• Pronouns are especially important because they will determine how you conjugate verbs. In French, first person pronouns are je (for "I") and nous (for "we"). Second person words for "you," are tu and vous . Third person pronouns are il , elle , on , ils , elles (he, she, it, they). [3] X Research source
• Find children's books and elementary school textbooks and worksheets in order to help you. This might feel somewhat clunky and awkward, but it will help you lay a strong foundation for more advanced reading.
• Charles Perrault's Fairy Tales will be a good text to start with; you are most likely already familiar with the content of the stories in your native language, so you will already have a point of reference to guide you through the language.

• Pronounce “e” as though you would pronounce the “a” in “about.”
• Change the “e” with a forward accent to “ay,” as in “pay.”
• Change the “e” with a backwards accent or an umlaut to “eh,” like when you say “set.”
• Pronounce “a,” with or without an accent” like the “a” in “father.”
• Pronounce “ou” as the “ooo” in “food.”
• Pronounce “au,” “o” and “eau” as the “oa” in “boat.”
• Pronounce the “u” by placing the tongue behind the bottom of the back teeth and saying “ooo” as in “food.”
• Pronounce “y” as “ee,” as in “seed.” [5] X Research source

• Conjugating -ER verbs. For words that end in ER, here is how you would conjugate them according to their pronoun. Ex: parler (to speak). Je parle, Tu parles, Il/Elle parle, Nous parlons, Vous parlez, Ils/elles parlent. [6] X Research source
• Conjugating -IR verbs. Example: finir (to finish). Je finis, Tu finis, Il/Elle finit, Nous finissons, Vous finissez, Ils/Elles finissent. [7] X Research source
• Conjugating -RE verbs. Example: entendre (to hear). J'entends, Tu entends, Il/Elle entend, Nous entendons, Vous entendez, Ils/Elles entendent. [8] X Research source

• Although you will find a dictionary to be a critical tool in helping you learn French, you should try to read for your own, independent comprehension. Before you look a word up in the dictionary, try to see if you can understand the general meaning of a sentence from contextual clues, such as helpful images that describe the sentence (as in children's books).

• With their use of visual illustrations, comic books provide a wealth of contextual clues as you are reading. Even if you cannot understand all of the written text, you will have a great chance of understanding its meaning through the pictures.
• Comic books also feature mostly dialogue in their text so you will also gain a sense of how to use French conversationally.
• Comic books have also been shown to increase a reader's vocabulary in the new language even if readers are not attempting to study the language as a whole. [11] X Research source

• Studies have also shown that using an app gives learners a greater sense of control and autonomy over their new language.
• Some popular apps for learning include Duolingo, Keewords, and BBC Languages. These apps don't simply translate words for you; they can also let you play games, use flash cards, take quizzes, and watch videos in order to test your language skills.

• Try listening to French music while you cook or when you are driving. Singing along with the words will help you get accustomed to the language, even if you don't know the full meaning of the words.

Reading French on an Intermediate Level

• Keep a daily journal with simple French sayings in it; you can come up with them yourself, or copy them from famous French writers and thinkers.
• Use you dictionary to help you as you write. Be sure to include new words into each sentence.
• Keeping a diary with also let you see your own progress and give you a greater sense of control over your learning process. [13] X Research source

• Popular newspapers in France include L'Express [14] X Research source , L'Obs [15] X Research source , and the satirical Le Canard enchaîné [16] X Research source .
• You should look for blogs that will use recognizable vocabulary, such as cooking blogs. You will be able to easily recognize the general format of the recipes and will be able to focus more on learning the grammatical construction of the sentences.

• Try watching the same film twice: the first time with subtitles, the second time without them. This way, you will know the general plot and content of the film and will be able to translate the French words into your native language.
• You should also try watching the film with the French subtitles on. This will allow you to pair the written words with their spoken counterparts. [18] X Research source
• You can find a list of the 100 best French films at Time Out Paris online.

• The class will also give you a community of French speakers so you can practice your language more conversationally.
• If you cannot afford to take a local class, try to find a group of French speakers. If you live in a large city, there might be a French Consulate office that you can check for meetings and events.

Understanding Advanced Reading in French

• Try to read the full novel without using the dictionary. But as you read, write down any words you don't know in a notebook. After you have finished the novel, you can go back and look up with words that you didn't understand. [20] X Research source

• Voltaire was a French philosopher who's fairly easy to read. His famous satirical novel Candide is often taught in beginning "French for reading knowledge" classes.

• You can research French-immersion programs for adults; many are designed specifically for non-native speakers who are planning an extended trip abroad.
• If you do not wish to go to France, you can also look at other French-speaking countries and places such as Belgium, the Seychelles, or the province of Montreal in Canada.

• Other research has shown that learning other languages could delay the development of degenerative neurological conditions, like Alzheimer's. In one study, participants who knew multiple languages developed Alzheimer's four years after patients who spoke only one language. [22] X Research source

Expert Q&A

• Set realistic reading goals for yourself. Do not expect to learn the language overnight, or even in a few months. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Stay determined. Learning a new language will take perseverance and patience. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001002771300228X
• ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-4781.1988.tb04175.x
• ↑ http://www.frenchtutorial.com/en/learn-french/basics/personal_pronouns
• ↑ http://www.europa-pages.com/lessons/french-pronunciation.html
• ↑ http://www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/conjugations/
• ↑ http://www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/conjugations/irverbs.jsp
• ↑ http://www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/conjugations/reverbs.jsp
• ↑ https://global.oup.com/academic/product/oxford-hachette-french-dictionary-9780198614227?cc=us&lang=en&
• ↑ http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9781139524834&cid=CBO9781139524834A021&tabName=Chapter
• ↑ http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09571730802390742
• ↑ http://www.ascilite.org/conferences/Wellington12/2012/images/custom/steel,_caroline_-_fitting_learning.pdf
• ↑ http://www.nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/April2002/leung/leung.html
• ↑ http://www.lexpress.fr/
• ↑ http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/
• ↑ http://lecanardenchaine.fr/
• ↑ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1944-9720.1995.tb00773.x/abstract
• ↑ http://search.proquest.com/openview/99aa821597078f520513113ce03fbaaf/1?pq-origsite=gscholar
• ↑ http://www.lextutor.ca/cv/beyond_a_clockwork_orange.html
• ↑ http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2300652&fileId=S026144480800520X
• ↑ http://ijb.sagepub.com/content/18/1/35.short?patientinform-links=yes&legid=spijb;18/1/35
• ↑ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.24158/abstract

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From New England to Notre-Dame, a U.S. Carpenter Tends to a French Icon

Hank Silver, a timber framer based in Massachusetts, is one of a handful of foreigners who are helping to rebuild the Paris cathedral after the devastating fire in 2019.

By Aurelien Breeden

Reporting from Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral sat in the pre-dawn chill like a spaceship docked in the heart of Paris, its exoskeleton of scaffolding lit by bright lights. Pink clouds appeared to the east as machinery hummed to life and workers started clambering around.

One of them, Hank Silver, wearing a yellow hard hat, stood on a platform above the Seine River and attached cables to oak trusses shaped like massive wooden triangles. A crane hoisted them onto the nave of the cathedral, which was devastated by fire in 2019.

Mr. Silver — a 41-year-old American-Canadian carpenter — is something of an unlikely candidate to work on the restoration of an 860-year-old Gothic monument and Catholic landmark in France. Born in New York City into an observant Jewish family, he owns a small timber framing business in rural New England and admits that until recently he didn’t even know what a nave was.

But there is nowhere else Mr. Silver would rather be.

For the tight-knit international community of traditional carpenters and woodworking specialists, the loss of Notre-Dame’s ancient lattice of oak beams was a tragedy. It also has given them a way to show the world that their manual tools and techniques have stood the test of time.

“Nobody builds cathedrals anymore,” at least like this, Mr. Silver said recently over lunch, flipping through pictures of Notre-Dame on his phone and describing the camaraderie shared by the nearly 500 journeymen, craftsmen and supervisors who work at the site. The opportunity to work on a project like this, he added, is “once in a millennium.”

“It has elevated all of the artisans in France and in the world,” he said. “How many kids staring at their iPads are even aware that they can grow up to be a stonecutter, a traditional carpenter, a mason?”

Notre-Dame is scheduled to reopen in December — a little over five years after the blaze, as promised by President Emmanuel Macron in the days that followed.

The vaults are almost entirely rebuilt and cleaned, a new gilded copper rooster is perched atop the finished tip of the spire, and the wooden attic is redone. Even after the reopening, renovations will continue.

The reconstruction is an intricate puzzle involving tight scheduling and a complex ballet of stonecutters, painters, stained glass restorers, gold leaf decorators, steeplejacks, crane operators, organ cleaners and roof coverers.

“This cathedral speaks to us all,” said Philippe Jost, the head of the reconstruction task force. France’s best craftsmen rushed to participate, he said, but the presence of a few foreigners like Mr. Silver was meaningful, too.

“It says a lot about the appeal and fascination that this extraordinary monument exerts,” Mr. Jost said.

Mr. Silver’s path to Notre-Dame started with Carpenters Without Borders , or C.S.F., a France-based organization of traditional woodworkers who volunteer to restore unique constructions, like a castle moat bridge in France or octagonal wells in Romania.

Through C.S.F., Mr. Silver had befriended Loïc Desmonts, who runs a traditional carpentry business in Normandy with his father.

In 2022, Mr. Desmonts’ company was selected to rebuild the nave woodwork, in partnership with Ateliers Perrault, a company from western France with historical monument expertise. Mr. Desmonts asked Mr. Silver and Will Gusakov, a timber framer based in Vermont , to put together a small crew of Americans to join.

“Sometimes it did feel a little bit funny to be an American working on an almost quintessentially French project,” said Mr. Gusakov, who temporarily moved to France with his wife and two toddlers. But, he added, “Everybody was so excited.”

Mr. Silver arrived in January 2023 and spent eight months in a workshop in rural Normandy recreating the nave’s wooden framework, a solid oak assembly of nearly 60 trusses between the spire and the belfry towers that is 100 feet long, 45 feet wide and 32 feet high.

Like almost all of Notre-Dame’s renovation, the attic was redone exactly the way it was before the blaze — a replica where every truss is unique and fits within the cathedral’s curved and uneven walls.

“We’re restoring a great deal of authenticity to the wooden framework,” said Rémi Fromont, one of the lead architects at Notre-Dame and an expert on its carpentry. “Same materials, same techniques and same design.”

The goal is to preserve an important architectural heritage — the original 13th-century woodwork was a watershed for its time, Mr. Fromont said — and to show that centuries-old carpentry methods are still efficient.

In traditional woodworking circles, including for Americans, “an identical reconstruction was the only way to go,” Mr. Desmonts said.

Mr. Silver and other carpenters hewed the oak logs mostly by hand, first with long-handled axes, then broadaxes. Some of the axes were made specifically for the project by blacksmiths at a forge in the Alsace area of eastern France.

The carpenters drew a full scale plan of each truss directly onto the workshop floor, then carefully placed the beams that would make up the truss on its unique location on it. Using a plumb line to precisely map the irregularities of each piece, they laid out each joint to create a tight fit.

The beams were assembled using mortise and tenon joinery, in which a protruding tenon slots into a mortise hole and is held fast with an oak peg. The trusses were assembled at the workshop for a dry-fit, then disassembled and trucked to Paris, where carpenters put them back together.

Next, Mr. Silver will work with roofers as they nail down oak boards that will form the roof deck, which will be covered with lead.

He and the other workers cannot wear their work clothes home to avoid bringing with them lead particles that were deposited after the fire burned the original roof.

Mr. Silver said he cherishes the time he has left at Notre-Dame, whether using it to admire the sunset from a balcony lined with snarling chimeras or to take one last close-up look at a stained-glass window that will soon be inaccessible.

“It never gets old,” he said.

Growing up in New York City, no one around him worked wood, Mr. Silver said. His mother was a speech therapist; his father did compliance work for Wall Street firms and wrote a financial newsletter.

Nor was he exposed to many churches. Mr. Silver’s father became a rabbi when his son was a teenager, and the son declared himself an atheist at age 5.

Mr. Silver later studied filmmaking in Montreal. But in the early 2000s, while helping his grandmother move, he stumbled across old books that beautifully illustrated traditional woodworking.

“I became completely fascinated,” he said. After completing his degree, he started working on home remodeling crews, then moved to Vermont, where he learned traditional timber framing. Later, he started a small carpentry business in western Massachusetts and joined the Timber Framer’s Guild .

Now, thanks to a skilled worker visa that gives access to a French residency permit, Mr. Silver is living in Paris, where he expects to stay for several years. He then plans to work in rural France, traveling occasionally for one-off construction or teaching gigs.

“I was ready for a change in my life anyway,” he said after a morning of apartment hunting. “I’ve always wanted to live in Europe.”

He already peppers his English with French carpentry terms like “sablière” (a wall plate). When Mr. Macron visited Notre-Dame in December , Mr. Silver even slipped him a letter requesting French citizenship.

“People don’t think of carpentry as a type of business, or pursuit, or calling that takes you around the world ,” he said. A skeptical border agent at Boston’s airport once quizzed him about his visa until Mr. Silver explained he was working on Notre-Dame.

“‘That’s the coolest job,’" Mr. Silver recalled the agent saying.

Aurelien Breeden is a reporter for The Times in Paris, covering news from France. More about Aurelien Breeden

Sacre bleu! Camembert and brie 'on the verge of extinction,' French scientists warn

CAMEMBERT, France — On a tiny farm tucked into the lush, green hillside of Normandy , Aude Sementzeff heats raw milk from cows up the hill until it curdles, then scoops it into molds to make a round, pearly white Camembert cheese.

For eight years, Sementzeff has been making the earthy, soft cheese in small batches to be sold in Paris stores, continuing a tradition that dates to the 18th century. So ubiquitous is Camembert in France that soldiers in the trenches of World War I ate it as part of their daily rations.

“Camembert is there at each step of our history,” Sementzeff, 41, said as she delicately salted each cheese and flipped it to perfect its rind. “So there is a strong link, I think, with French culture.”

But now this notoriously pungent delicacy is in trouble, as is brie, another celebrated French cheese enjoyed across the world.

The National Centre for Scientific Research, France’s state-run science agency, has warned that Camembert, brie and even blue cheeses “could disappear,” owing to a decline in the strains of fungi that give the beloved cheeses their unique taste, smell, color and texture.

“Blue cheeses may be under threat, but the situation is much worse for Camembert, which is already on the verge of extinction,” the research center wrote in a memo in January.

While many cheesemakers insist the problem isn’t quite that dire, they acknowledge that producing cheeses like Camembert is getting harder, a consequence in part of past efforts to engineer the perfect block. 

Scientists refer to fungi’s role in cheesemaking as “delicious rot,” and it’s a critical part of the arduous process of making a Camembert, which includes several weeks of aging. It can be added early on with other enzymes when milk is heated to form curds, or sprayed on the cheese later to help the ripening process and promote the soft, white rind prized by Camembert-lovers.

In Camembert’s early days, the fungi existed naturally in the air in the damp caves where it was aged, said Emily Monaco, an American writer and cheese connoisseur who lives in Paris. She said that’s what gave each batch its own distinctive character.

“Some of them are going to be a little redder or a little bluer or a little grayer,” Monaco said. “And what people realized was that people really like the white, pristine look of Camembert.”

As a result, during the 20th century, cheesemakers stopped leaving the fungus to chance and began making it in the lab. They isolated one particular albino strain known as Penicillium camemberti that produces the perfect white rind, and soon cheesemakers globally began using it.

Benjamin Wolfe, who teaches microbiology at Tufts University and studies fermented food in his lab, said that brought advantages, such as consistency, but also downsides.

“Often when we domesticate plants — or even our pets, like dogs and sometimes cats — we’re selecting particular types that we find appealing,” he said. “And when we do that, we’re removing from the overall pool of genetic diversity.”

Over time, Penicillium camemberti is losing some of its ability to reproduce naturally. Instead, scientists are growing the fungus using asexual reproduction — not unlike planting a cutting from a flower to clone it, rather than a seed. Wolfe said growing the fungus that way is doable, but more difficult.

There’s also the longer-term concern about having just one or two strains of an organism still around: If a disease or pathogen emerges to which the remaining strain is susceptible, it could wipe out the entire population.

It’s a similar threat to the one facing other popular foods due to dwindling global biodiversity that’s being exacerbated by climate change , scientists say.

Hotter temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events are altering delicate ecosystems across the globe that plant and animal species rely on to survive, the U.N. says . It’s also increasing the prevalence of diseases.

In the case of cheese, scientists have started working to restore some of the genetic diversity to the fungi. Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy company and maker of the popular President Camembert cheese in France, said it was “not worried about the future of our products.”

“We are committed to preserving the biodiversity and safety of the ferments,” Lactalis said in a statement. “Our mission is the sustainability of know-how and cheese heritage, of which ferments are an integral part.”

Ironically, large industrial producers that rely entirely on lab-made fungus may have a tougher challenge in the future than small, artisan farms, where the presence of animals and lack of chemicals means there’s still a wide variety of wild-growing fungi in the environment.

Monaco, the writer, said cheese-lovers of the future may have to embrace the fact that Camembert may not all look and taste the same. She said part of the beauty of cheese is how it’s shaped by its environment, or terroir, and factors as capricious as whether the grass fed to the dairy cows got more or less sun in any given year.

“If we want things to stay the same, we’re going to have problems moving forward,” she said. “If we’re excited about the fact that as we go forward, each Camembert you try is going to have its own personality and flavor, then that’s what we can look forward to.”

Josh Lederman is an NBC News correspondent.

Briony Sowden is a London-based NBC News producer.

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France will deliver hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine, defense minister says

FILE - French VAB armored personnel carriers, front rows from left, attend the Bastille Day parade in Paris, July 14, 2013. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said France is going to deliver “hundreds” of armored vehicles by the beginning of next year to Ukraine. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)

FILE - French soldiers fire a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer during the Spring Storm 2023 military drills, the largest annual exercise of Estonian Defence Forces, near Tapa, Estonia on May 25, 2023. France will soon be able to deliver 78 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and will boost its supply of shells to meet Kyiv’s urgent needs for ammunition to fight Russia’s two-year invasion, the defense minister said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, file)

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PARIS (AP) — French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said France is to deliver “hundreds” of armored vehicles by the beginning of next year to Ukraine as part of a new package of military aid for the country that just entered its third year of war since the full-scale Russian invasion.

In an interview with the French newspaper La Tribune’s Sunday edition, Lecornu said that “to hold such an extensive front line, the Ukrainian army needs, for example, our armored personnel carriers. It’s absolutely key for troop mobility.”

The French military is currently replacing its old VAB armored personnel carriers, that came into service in 1979, with a new generation of armored vehicles. “This old equipment, still operational, is going directly to Ukraine in large quantities. We’re talking about hundreds (of vehicles) in 2024 and early 2025,” Lecornu said.

Lecornu also said France will provide Ukraine with more anti-aircraft missiles.

The move comes as the French government is pushing its military industry to boost production to meet Kyiv’s urgent need for ammunition.

On Tuesday, Lecornu said France will soon be able to deliver 78 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and will increase its supply of shells.

Find more of AP’s coverage of Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Jean-Paul Vignon, French Actor and Singer, Dies at 89

By Jaden Thompson

Jaden Thompson

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Jean-Paul Vignon , a French actor and vocalist who frequently lent his Gallic accent to Hollywood productions, died of liver cancer on March 22 in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 89.

Among his notable work, Vignon lent his voice to Marc Webb’s romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer” as the French narrator. His voice appears when the lovelorn Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) goes to the movies by himself after Summer (Zoey Descanel) breaks up with him, only to fall asleep and dream of a black-and-white French film that speaks to his “suffering.”

Among his other acting credits, Vignon also appeared as Andre in “Gilmore Girls” and as Monsieur Lazare in “Days of Our Lives.”

Vignon began his artistic career as a musician in France. He performed as part of a cabaret in Paris and in the 1950s starred in the French films “Les Promesses Dangereuses” and “Asphalte.” He was signed as a vocalist to the French imprint Disques Vogue. He recorded the autobiographical song “Djibouti” and at one point opened for Edith Piaf.

Vignon soon took his talents to the United States. He made multiple appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” singing a duet with Liza Minnelli on one of those occasions. He was also a regular guest on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” as well as Merv Griffin’s daytime show. Among his endeavors in music and acting, Vignon went on to release his U.S. album “Because I Love You” and played a supporting role in the World War II film “The Devil’s Brigade.” He also hosted the Canadian show “The Sensuous Man,” produced by Dick Clark.

Vignon was born on Jan. 30, 1935, in the port city of Dire-Daoua and was raised in Avignon, France. He is survived by Suzie Summers, his longtime partner; his daughter Marguerite Vignon Gaul and granddaughters Leah and Hannah from his marriage to the late actress Brigid Bazlen; and his daughter Lucy Brank.

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An activated but faulty missile launcher on a Danish navy vessel triggered a closure of airspace and shipping traffic in the Great Belt strait on Thursday, the Danish armed forces said.

US, Philippines, Japan to tackle South China Sea row in summit

A trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will include a discussion of recent incidents in the South China Sea, Manila's foreign ministry said on Friday.