The easiest way to learn French is to read and listen to short, easy French about things you already like, checking the translation when you need it. Leave verb tables and long word lists for later, because easy French keeps showing you the most common words and endings. Below are the first steps in order, and some easy French to start with.
Is French Easy to Learn?
Yes, French is one of the easier languages for English speakers to start. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute puts French in its first group, the languages closest to English, with Spanish and Italian. It still takes time to learn well, and our guide to the fastest way shows how long it takes.
Three things make the start easy.
- The Same AlphabetFrench uses the letters you already know, plus a few accent marks such as é and ç.
- Words You Already KnowMany English words came from French, so words like restaurant and question look the same in both languages.
- French You Already HearYou have probably heard words like bonjour (hello) and merci (thank you) in films and songs.
What Is the Easiest Way to Start?
The easiest way to start is to spend your time on short French you enjoy, with the audio on, one small step at a time.
- Start at the CafeBegin with short dialogues about ordering coffee and bread, which you can read free on this site.
- Read About What You LoveThen read about music, sports, or anything else you already enjoy.
- Listen While You ReadPlay the audio as you read, so you learn which letters are silent.
- Hide the TranslationKeep the English hidden, and check it only when a line stops you.
- Save a Few WordsSave only the few words you want to keep from each lesson.
- Say a Line Out LoudRead a line aloud whenever it feels fun, like a greeting you want to use.
Bubblegum is a language app for reading and listening to French at your level, with lessons that Poppy, its AI tutor, writes about the things you like. Words you save come back inside new lessons through Regenerative Review™, so reviewing them means reading more French.
What Makes French Feel Hard, and How Can You Make It Easier?
Four parts of French feel hard at first, and each one gets easier when you meet it again and again in easy French.
| What feels hard | The easy fix |
|---|---|
| Masculine and feminine nouns | Easy reading shows each noun with its little word in front again and again, as in le café (the coffee) and la baguette (the baguette). Save each noun with that word, so its gender comes with it. |
| Words that run together | In les amis (the friends), the s of les joins the next word, so the two sound like one. Short lines with audio show you these links one at a time. |
| Many verb endings | Easy French uses a few common verbs, such as être (to be) and avoir (to have), in almost every line. Their forms start to feel familiar before you ever open a verb table. |
| Fast speech in films | Spoken French often drops the ne, as in je sais pas (I don't know). Start with slow, clear audio made for learners, and words you already know get easier to catch at full speed. |
What Is Easy French to Start With?
Easy French to start with is short and slow, and it is about something you enjoy.
| What | Why it's easy | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons about cafes and French food | Level 1, Bubblegum's easiest level, uses short lines with audio and a translation. | Free on this site |
| Lessons about greetings in Quebec | Simple hellos and everyday chats in Quebec French, starting at Level 1. | Free on this site |
| Alice Ayel | She tells easy stories in French, in videos made for learners. | YouTube |
| Journal en français facile | RFI reads the news in simple French on weekdays, with a transcript on its website, for when you know some words. | francaisfacile.rfi.fr |
If a new word shows up in almost every line, switch to something easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to learn French pronunciation?
Hear a line before you say it, because French has sounds English does not, such as the vowel in pain (bread). Lawless French has free pronunciation lessons, and Bubblegum's French lessons on this site play audio as you read.
Can I learn French just by watching films?
Not at the start, because most of a film goes by too fast for a beginner to learn from. Films help more once you can follow a simple conversation, especially with French subtitles on. TV5MONDE EDU builds free exercises around short film clips and news reports, from beginner to upper intermediate.
Which French app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning French, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. For courses, tutors and speaking practice, see our comparison of French apps.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
The French lessons on this site are also free and need no account.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Language Training (FSI language categories)
- Wikipedia, Influence of French on English
- Wikipedia, Liaison (French) (les amis)
- Wikipedia, French grammar (dropping ne in colloquial French)
- Wikipedia, French phonology (nasal vowels)
- TV5MONDE EDU (free exercises built around TV clips)
