Is French hard to learn? The Best Ways to Learn French Fast (without going insane)

French is a beautiful romantic language spoken by more than 220 million people over 5 continents, with many different dialects spoken in several countries around the world.

French is the international language of cuisine, cinema, fashion, theater, visual arts, and dance- and is a popular choice for people looking to learn another language.

However, due to its notoriously difficult pronunciation, grammar rules, and spelling, it is also a language that causes anxiety in learners.

But, just how hard is it to learn French, really?

I wanted to take on a new language challenge two years ago, so I packed my bags and I took off to learn French as a complete beginner in one of the best places to learn… Paris!

As with learning any language, learning French is hard work. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve gotten frustrated and extremely overwhelmed over the past two years while learning this language. 

But, it is worth the effort when you know what to expect and how to best go about it. 

If you are thinking about learning French, then this is an article for you. I’ll show you why French is so difficult to learn and give you some tips on how to actually learn the language.

My goal is to show you that even though French is ranked as one of the hardest languages to learn, it doesn’t have to take you a lifetime to master.

Prefer video? Check out my YouTube video on the methods I used to become fluent in French in 1 year 👇

Why is French so difficult to learn?

First off, why is French so hard to learn?

And how hard can it really be to learn French?

French is hard to learn for a few reasons, but it’s mostly because of the pronunciation, spelling, and the endless grammatical rules and their exceptions that can be confusing.

Grammar 

French grammar is known for being so complex with so many rules (and even more exceptions to those rules) that even Native speakers sometimes have trouble speaking French one-hundred percent correctly.

As I have heard many times throughout my French learning journey: 

“French people can’t even speak French!”. 

French is ranked as one of the hardest languages to learn because grammatical structures are more difficult for native English speakers, such as sentence word order (which can be changed depending on whether speaker or subject is the focus of the sentence), compound nouns, the agreement between adjective and noun which can change depending on number, gender, and case.

There are around four hundred different French verbs that have irregular conjugations, compared to their English equivalents. These include être (to be) which is used in twenty-two conversation tenses; avoir (to have) which uses thirty-two conversation tenses; and aller (to go) which has thirteen conversational tenses.

And don’t even get me started on the millions of French slang (l’argot) and inverted words (verlan) that have made their way into the French vocabulary…

It’s no wonder why learning French grammar can be such a headache!

Pronunciation

Pronunciation is difficult for English speakers because the twenty-six letters of the alphabet do not represent any number value or pronunciation rules, unlike their counterparts in English. 

There are also many different dialects spoken in France that can be completely unintelligible to other native speakers of French. 

French has a lot of words that sound similar to each other, so you’ll have to learn the context of what someone is saying in order to understand them. 

For example, 

Cent (adjective) meaning “one-hundred”, sang (noun) meaning “blood”, sans (preposition) which means “without”, sens (verb) which is the first-person conjugated form of the verb meaning “to feel”…

Do you see where I’m going with this?

Not only is it important for you to be able to read and write in French, but in my opinion it’s even more important to know how spoken French sounds. 

The written language looks nothing like the spoken language, which makes it difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce French words that they see written in a book.

My best advice (and the most fun method) for practicing French pronunciation is to practice speaking as much as possible!

Binge-watch all the classic French films and TV shows, listen to the latest French music, or even French podcasts and focus on the way they pronounce the words.

Then, repeat what you hear and try to mimic the same accent and pronunciation.

This may feel silly at first, but it definitely works.

I did this all the time when I was first learning French and I honestly feel that it was a huge contributing factor in getting my French level to where it is now.

Merci beaucoup, Netflix.

💡 If you already have a good level of French and are seeking employment opportunities, check out French-speaking job listings on Jooble.

What are the benefits of learning French?

So if French is so hard to learn, then what’s the point of even trying to learn it?

Despite it being a bit of a challenge, there are in fact many benefits to learning French.

Learning French makes traveling in foreign countries easier and more fun. There are over 28 countries in the world that speak French as their primary language! 

And if you’re a wanderlust like me, you probably have some of these countries on your travel bucket list and are planning to visit at least some of these locations someday.

What better way to enjoy these countries to their fullest potential by immersing yourself in the language and speaking in their native tongue?

You’ll be able to communicate with locals, pick up dates and impress them with your knowledge of the language, and you can even teach yourself a little bit about their culture by listening to French music or watching movies in their native tongue! 

And if you’re an ex-pat like me and are planning to move to France (or another French-speaking country), then having a decent level of French is obviously essential. 

Learning French opens up a whole world of opportunities that you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Best ways to learn French fast

I couldn’t write an entire article detailing how hard French is to learn and then not give you any tips for learning and improving your French quickly.

Here are some of my tips for improving your French level:

1. Start with the basics 

Find a study partner, whether it be in person or online. Learning French can seem overwhelming and having someone to help you along is invaluable. 

Even if you don’t know anyone else near you that is also learning, there are tons of apps and websites that you can use to speak with other language learners or even French natives to help you practice.

Some of my personal favorites are HelloTalk and iTalki, but there are plenty of options out there. 

2. Use online language learning software such as Duolingo

Good ol’ Duolingo. 

It’s the go to app for most beginning language learners. 

While I don’t think it’s the best option for actually learning how to speak French, it is a good start for beginners who have no knowledge about the language or French vocabulary at all.

And even better, it’s free.

3. Take classes at your local college or community education center

One of the best ways to study French grammar and vocabulary is to take formal lessons at your local college or a language school. 

If you’re not into the in-person thing, try taking an online course. There are tons of options on websites like Teachable, Skillshare, or even through your local college.

I recently took an online French course with one of my favorite Youtubers, Damon Dominique, that I actually found extremely helpful in learning how to speak French more fluently. 

Damon is an American who has been living in Paris for the past 5 years and now speaks fluently in French (and six other languages).

He has a vibrant personality which actually made learning French fun, and since he’s also a native English speaker living in France, he was able to relate to all the common mistakes that English speakers make when they’re learning French.

His course focuses on pronunciation and grammar, explains the best ways to sound more natural when you speak French, and details the way that French is actually spoken in Francophone countries- which is nothing like what you learn in a textbook.

There are three course options available: one for Beginners & Intermediate, another for Intermediate & Advanced, or the bundle option of the two.

Damon’s course The French I Wish I Had Learned in French Class, is a great option for anyone who wants to learn everyday spoken French, how it actually sounds, in a fun, lighthearted, self-paced environment. 

4. Immerse yourself in the language 

The most fun way and probably the best way to learn French is to completely immerse yourself in the language. 

If possible, move to a country where the primary spoken language is French. 

Back in 2019, I packed my bags and left the US to move to Paris to be an au pair alone, without knowing so much as a single sentence in French. 

Since that day a little over two years ago, I’m close to fluent in French without having ever taken a traditional French class in a school, landed a Marketing job in a French company, am currently completing my Master’s degree in a school taught completely in French, have a support system here thanks to being an au pair in Paris and living with a French family for a year, and have managed to make many French friends and navigate my way throughout the country on my own.

Related: Do these 5 things BEFORE moving abroad

Best movies, podcasts, and music for learning French at home

Of course, moving abroad is not feasible for everyone, and there are many other ways that you can immerse yourself in the French language without ever leaving your home. 

Read books and watch movies and TV shows in French so that you can hear the language being used in context, and learn everyday French vocabulary and even French slang words that you’re probably not learning in a textbook.

Listen to music that is performed by French artists or songs sung in French. Not only will your vocabulary grow, but it’ll be fun too!

Some favorite French media of mine includes: 

Netflix:

• Lupin (series)

• Dix Pour Cent (series)

• Les Intouchables (movie)

Podcasts:

• Il Faut Qu’on Parle (dating/relationships)

• Inner French 

• Affaires Sensibles (true crime)

Music:

• Angèle (Pop, modern)

• Aya Nakamura (Pop, modern)

• Stromae (Pop/Alt, modern)

• Edith Piaf (Jazz, 1930s)

Whether you move to France like I did or are learning from home, just make sure you are doing your best to be learning both written and spoken French at all times. 

Change your phone settings to French, watch your favorite Youtubers with French subtitles, and make little changes so that you are being surrounded by the language and have opportunities to learn it even when it doesn’t feel like learning. 

Learning French is hard, but it’s not impossible

En bref, learning French is not easy. It’s a complex language with many different accents, dialects and grammar rules that can be difficult to master.

But it is possible and the rewards are great for those who make themselves stick with it long enough to learn all of its intricacies.

Learning French has opened so many doors for me and has given me so many opportunities to meet new people, learn new cultures, and have new experiences that I never would have had if I never moved to France and learned the language.

If you are in the process of learning French, I encourage you to stick with it and continue practicing a little bit everyday. 

What has been your biggest struggle when learning French?

Do you find yourself getting discouraged easily or do you keep at it even though progress may seem slow at times? 

It can seem daunting at first, but the trick is to make learning fun, and to fall in love with the beauty of the French language and learning about French culture, and the rest will fall into place.

Bon courage, mes amis.