Core Vocabulary by Context for Learning

French words for every day

You remember French vocabulary far better when you learn it by context, meaning you group words by where you use them, such as at home, at a meal, or at school. Two habits make words stick. Always learn a noun with its gender, that is with le or la in front of it, because French has no simple rule for which is which. And always meet a word inside a short phrase, not on its own, so you know how to use it. This module groups core words by everyday context and shows you how to build them into simple sentences you can actually say.

How French nouns work

Learn these ideas before the words themselves. They explain why every French noun comes with a small word attached.

Match the French to the English

Masculine against feminine

Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and the small words in front of it change to match. This is why you learn the gender with the word.

Choose the right word

You want to say the apple in French, and pomme is a feminine noun. Which word for the do you use?

• la
• le
• un
• une

Learn words in groups

Do not try to learn a long list of random words. Take one context at a time, such as food, and learn about ten words together, each with le or la and a clear picture in your mind. Say each one in a short phrase, not on its own. Grouping like this means the words remind you of one another, the gender is fixed from the start, and you can reach for a whole set of words when you need them.

Pick the food words

Select every word below that belongs to the context of food and drink.

• le pain, the bread
• la pomme, the apple
• le café, the coffee
• le livre, the book
• la maison, the house

Order the French sentence

Put the French words in the right order to make the sentence meaning: there is an apple on the table.

• Il y a
• une pomme
• sur
• la table

Complete the French phrases

You say _____ pain for the bread, because pain is masculine. You say _____ pomme for the apple, because pomme is feminine. The masculine word for a is _____, and the feminine word for a is _____.

One sentence, built up

Start with the words you already know. Take une pomme, the apple, and la table, the table. To say where something is, French uses il y a, which means there is. Add sur, which means on. Put them together and you have a full sentence: Il y a une pomme sur la table. That means there is an apple on the table. Notice that each noun keeps its own small word: la table and une pomme. Building from known words like this is how you turn a vocabulary list into real sentences you can say.

Spot the family words

Tap the TWO words that belong to the context of family.

• le père, meaning the father
• la mère, meaning the mother
• le pain, meaning the bread
• le livre, meaning the book

Find the hidden words

Find the five French words hidden in the grid. Each clue gives you the English meaning to search for.

Say it in the cafe

You are using your French in real situations. Choose the right word each time.

• You are in a cafe and want to ask for a coffee. Which word do you need?
• You want to buy some bread at the bakery. Which word do you need?
• You want to say the apple, and pomme is feminine. Which word for the do you use?

Build a French sentence

Choose the right French word for each gap to build a correct sentence meaning: there is an apple on the table and it is red.

Write about your home

Write four or five short French sentences about your home and the food you like. Use words from this module, each with le or la, and try to use il y a to say there is something.

• Name two things in your home using le or la
• Name two foods using le or la
• Use il y a to say there is something
• Keep each sentence short and correct
• Check the gender of every noun