Learn French Words – Top Tips for Faster French

Admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:36:52 +0000

If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to learn French words then the good news is that it can indeed be easier than the traditional methods you’ve probably been through so far. Learning French words certainly shouldn’t be a boring, repetitive challenge. For years many people have gone through the “read-and-repeat” process which is a shame because for real French language success all you need to know are a few language learning tips.

The first and most important tip is consistency. It’s not always easy to dedicate a fixed amount of time, but whilst ten minutes learning French is better than none at all you’ll absorb much more of the French language if you can apply yourself in a structured manner. This can be going to French lessons (something I highly recommend), listening to a CD or MP3 while you’re on the move, setting aside an hour each evening for home study, any of a whole bunch of methods. Sound boring? Don’t let it be. Mix up the methods. Find ways to challenge yourself. Learn French related to your favorite passtime or hobby. What do you like to do when you go out? How would you handle that in French?

Another top tip is what I like to call saturation. Learn French words via sound recordings at every opportunity you can. Get a CD or MP3 that you can listen to in the car, on the train, around the house. Watch French films – even if you don’t understand them at first you’ll be amazed how quickly you pick things up. Likewise if you can receive French radio, listen to that too – something you can probably have running on your PC. Even if you’re not listening directly to it, even if you’re not concentrating on what’s being said, some of it will sink in. Your subconscious mind will learn for you – without any effort on your part. I’ve even had French playing quietly as I doze off to sleep at night or to wake me in the morning – you might laugh, but it works!

So to learn French words successfully you do need to give it some serious consideration and effort. It needn’t cost you a lot of money and it needn’t take all your time and effort – that’s just hard work and nobody learns well if it’s hard work – but you do have to try a few things and find what’s right for you – then you need to do those things regularly.

Here’s an example that works really well for me. I like reading so now I always have a couple of books on the go, not just one – a novel or something I’m interested in written in English, and a French phrase book. I read one for a while, then the other. That way I don’t get bored. I also bought a little digital dictionary made by Franklin with the help of Larousse who are THE name in French dictionaries (you can get them at Amazon). It’s about the size of a mobile phone and has over 50,000 French words and phrases in it. It goes everywhere with me. Sometimes I use it for looking up French words I don’t understand when I’m out and about but quite often I’ll just sit and flick through the screens to teach myself a bit more. With it I can learn French words anywhere and any time I like.

French Numbers are Easy to Learn

Admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:43:11 +0000

When you start learning French numbers, once you know the numbers from one to sixteen you only have to learn a few more to be able to count to one hundred. Then it is a simple matter of being able to count to infinity. The numbers from zero to sixteen in French are:

-0 ?zero

-1 ?un

-2 ?deux

-3 ?trios

-4 ?quatre

-5 ?cinq

-6 ?six

-7 ?sept

-8 ?huit

-9 ?neuf

-10 ?dix

-11 ?onze

-12 ?douze

-13 ?treize

-14 ?quatorze

-15 ?quinze

-16 ?seize

To make the majority of the rest of the numbers in French you use the words for each separate part of the number. 17 is dix-sept, which means ten and seven, 18 is dix-huit and 19 is dix-neuf.

From then on you only have to know the names of the tens ?20, 30, 40 and so on.

-20 ?vingt

-30 ?trente

-40 ?quarante

-50 – cinquante

-60 ?soixante

-70 ?soixante ?dix

-80 ?quatre-vingt

-90 ?quatre-vingt-dix

-100 ?cent

For each of the sets of numbers all you have to do is add on the additional number you want. For 21, 31, 40 and so on, you do have to insert between the numbers. This word which means 21, actually means 20 and 1.There is a difference in the way you form the numbers in the 70 and the 90. These numbers continue on into using the teens.

The numbers for the 70 are:

70 soixante-dix

71 soixante-onze

72 soixante-douze

73 soixante -treize

74 soixante -quatorze

75 soixante -quinze

76 soixante-seize

77 soixane -dix – sept

78 soixante -dix -huit

79 soixante -dix -neuf

The same thing applies when you want to count from 90 onwards.

After you reach 100, you simply use in front of the number. Deux cent means two hundred and trois cent means three hundred. The next number up that you would need to learn is that for 1000 mille.

As you learn your numbers in French, it is important to also learn the correct pronunciation of each one. Whether you attend class or you take a course online, listening speaking components will help you learn how to say the words. Although it is easy enough to make the higher number words, there are certain nuances of the language of which you may not be aware.

The words for the numbers 5 (cinq), 6 (six),8 (huit), and 10 (dix) drop the sound of the final consonant when they are followed by a word that begins with a consonant. If you say the word for 8, it sounds something like but if you want to say 800, you would not pronounce the sound at the end of the word.

The word for 1000 is also used when counting up, such as in 2000 ?deux mille. However, there is no plural form for the word, so there is no such number in French as milles.

By: Ling Tong

dix huit, huit dix

Easy Language Learning » Learn French

Learn French Words – Top Tips for Faster French

French Numbers are Easy to Learn