French Animals

Insects and Other Creepy Crawlies

Ant - la fourmi (lah foor-mee)

Bee - l'abeille (lah-bay-uh)
Butterfly - le papillon (luh pah-pee-yohn)
Cockroach - le cafard (luh cah-fahr)
Snail - l'escargot (les-car-go)
Spider - l'araigne (lah-rayn-yay)

On the Farm

Chicken - le poulet (luh poo-lay)

Cow - la vache (lah vahsh)
Donkey - l'ne (lahn)
Duck - le canard (luh cah-nar)
Goat - la chvre lah sheh-vruh)
Goose - l'oie (lwah)
Horse - le cheval (luh shuh-vall)
Mouse - la souris (lah soo-ree)
Mule - la mule (lah mool)
Pig - le cochon (luh coo-shohn)
Sheep - le mouton (luh moo-tohn)

Pets

Cat - le chat (luh shah)

Dog - le chien (luh shee-ehn)
Ferrett - le furet (luh fyoo-ray)
Goldfish - le poisson rouge (luh pwah-ssohn-rooge) **The 'g' is soft as in the second 'g' in garage.
Gerbil - la gerbille (lah jhair-bee-yuh)
Hamster - le hamster (luh am-stair)
Llama - le lama (luh lah-mah)
Parrot - le perroquet (luh pair-rho-kay)

Woodland Animals

Antelope - l'antilope (lahn-tee-lohp)

Badger - le blaireau (luh blair-o)
Bat - la chauve-souris (lah shove-soo-ree)
Bear - l'ours (loors)
Beaver - le castor (luh cah-stohr)
Bird - l'oiseau (lwah-so)
Deer - le cerf (luh sairf)
Elk - l'lan (lay-lahn)
Fox - le renard (luh ruh-nahrd)
Moose - l'orignal (lor-ee-nyahl)
Otter - la loutre lah loo-truh)

Owl - le hibou (luh ee-boo)

Porcupine - le porc-pic (luh pork-ay-peek)
Rabbit - le lapin (luh lah-pahn)
Raccoon - le raton-laveur (luh rah-tohn-lah-vuhr)
Ram - le blier (luh bay-lee-ay)
Squirrel - l'cureil (lay-cure-i) *Note - the 'i' is pronounced long
Wolf - le loup (luh loo)

Reptiles

Alligator - l'alligator (lah-lee-gah-tohr)

Crocodile - le crocodile (luh kroe-koe-deel)
Frog - la grenouille (lah grun-wee-yuh)
Lizard - le lzard (luh lay-sahr)
Snake - le serpent (luh sair-pont)
Toad - le crapaud (luh crah-poe)
Turtle - la tortue (lah tor-too)

At the Zoo

Anteater - le fourmilier (lu-foor-mee-lee-ay)

Ape - le singe (luh sehnge) *Note the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in garage.
Baboon - le babouin (luh bah-bwehn)
Buffalo - le buffle (luh boo-fluh)
Camel - le chameau (luh shah-moe)
Cheetah - le gupard (luh gay-par)
Coyote - le coyote (le ki-yoht) *Note the 'i' is long as in 'kite.'
Elephant - l'lphant (lay-lay-fohn)
Gazelle - la gazelle (lah-gah-zell)
Girafe - la girafe (lah-gee-rahff) *Note the 'g' is soft as in the second 'g' in 'garage.'
Gorilla - la gorille (luh gour-ee)
Hippopotamus - l'hippopotame (lee-po-po-tahm) *Note the 'o' is long as in 'cope.'
Jaguar - le jaguar (luh jhah-gwar)
Kangaroo - le kangourou (kahn-goo-roo)
Leopard - le lopard (luh lay-oh-par)
Lion - le lion (luh lee-ohn)
Monkey - le singe (le sange)
Ostrich - l'autruche (lo-troosh)
Panda - le panda (luh pahn-dah)
Panther - le panthre (lah pahn-tair)
Rhinoceros - le rhinocros (luh-ree-no-sair-os) *Note the 'o' is long as in 'cope.'
Tiger - le tigre (luh tee-gruh)
Zebra - le zbre (luh-zeh-bruh)

Ocean Animals
While you're studying things that are at the ocean, make sure and make your bulletin boards and worksheets
bilingual.

Crab - le crabe (luh crahb)

Dolphin - le dauphin (luh do-fahn)

Eel - l'anguille (lohn-gee-uh) *Note the 'g' is hard as in the first 'g' in 'garage.'
Jellyfish - la mduse (lah-may-dooz)
Lobster - le homard (luh-oh-mar)
Manatee - le lamantin (luh-lah-mah-tahn)
Pelican - le plican (luh-pay-lee-kahn)
Penguin - le pingouin (luh-pehn-gwahn)
Sea Lion - l'otarie (loh-tah-ree)
Shark - le requin (luh-ri-kahn)
Walrus - le morse (luh-mohrs)
Whale - la baleine (lah-bell-ehn)

French Adjectives Describing a Person

French Adjectives That Describe Physical Appearance
Adjectives that are used to describe physical appearances are generally the most common types of adjectives.

attractive - attrayant(e) - ah-tray-ahn/ah-tray-ahnt

bald - chauve - shov Note the 'o' is long' as in show
beautiful - beau/belle - boe/bell
big - grand(e) - grahn/grahnd
bloody - sanglant(e) - song-glahn/song-glahnt
blonde - blond(e) - blohn/blohnd
bony - osseux/osseuse - oh-suh/oh-suz
brunnette - brunette - broo-net
chubby - ptel(e) - poe - tuh-lay - Note the 'o' is long as in show
curly - boucl(e) - boo-klay
cute/pretty - jolie - jho-lee - Note that the 'j' is soft and sounds similar to the 'su' combo in measure; the 'o' is
long as in show
fat - gros(se) - grhah/grahss
tall - grand(e) - grahn/grahnd
short - petit(e), court(e) (hair) - puhtee/puteet, coohr/coohrt
slender - mince - mahns
ugly - laid(e) - lay/led

French Adjectives Describing a Person's Personality

Go beyond the normal 'nice' or 'mean' and really try to describe someone in depth with this list of adjectives.
Beware of false cognates, but also make note of those words that look similar to their English counterparts.
Doing so will help you memorize them more easily.

academic - intellectuel(le) - ahn-tuh-lec-twel

active - actif/active - ahk teef/ahk-teev
affectionate - affectueux/affectueuse ah-fec-too-uh/ah-fec-too-uhz
aggressive - agressif/aggressive - ah gress eef/ah-gress-eeve
agreeable - agrable - ah-gray-ah-bluh
aloof - distant(e) - dee stahn/dee-stahnt
amicable - amical(e) - ah-mee-cal
approachable - abordable - ah-bohr-dah-bluh
bad - mchant(e) - may-shan/may-shant
bitter -amer/amre - ah-mehr/ah-mair
blunt - brusque - broosk
bossy - autoritaire - oh-tohr-ee-tair
brave - courageux/courageuse - coor-ah-geuh/coor-ah-geuz Note that the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in garage.
candid - franc/franche - frahn/franc
carefree - insouciant(e) - ehn-soo-see-ahn/ehn-soo-see-ahnt
careless - ngligent(e) - nay-glee-gohn/nay-glee-gohnt Note the second 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in garage.
chatty - bavard(e) - bah-vahr/bah vahrd
cocky- trop sr de soi - tro-soor-duh-swah - Note that the 'o' in 'trop' is long like the 'o' in show.

competent or capable - comptant(e) - cohm-pay-tahn/cohm-pay-tahnt Note that the 'o' is long as in 'show' and
the 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'father.'
conceited - vaniteux/vaniteuse - vahn-ee-tuh/vahn-ee-tuhz
despicable - mprisable - may - pree-sah-bluh
dumb - bte - bet
fashionable - la mode - ah-lah-mohd
funny - drle - drol - Note that the 'o' is long as in 'show'.
generous - gnreux/gnreuse - gay-nay-ruh/gay-nay-ruhz Note that the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in
'garage.'
gentle - doux/douce - goo/doos
impolite - impoli(e) - ahm-poe-lee
loving - affectueux/affecteuse - ah-fect-uh/ah-fect-uhz
mean - mchant(e) - may-shahnt
merciful - misricordieux/misricordieuse - mee-sair-ee-cohr-dee-uh/mee-sair-ee-cohr-dee-uhz
nice - sympathique - sam-pah-teek
obnoxious - odieux/odieuse - oh-dee-uh/oh-dee-uhz
obstinate - obstin(e) - ohb-stee-nay - Note that the 'o' is long as in 'show.'
petty - mesquin(e) - mes-kehn/mes-keen
quiet - tranquille - trohn-kee-yuh
sensitive - sensible - sohn-see-bluh
sporty - sportif/sportive - spohr-teef/spohr-teev
stodgy - lourd(e) - loor/loord
strong - fort(e) - fohr/fort

French Adjectives Describing a Person's State of Being or Actions

Whether you are being ridiculous or petty - these adjectives focus on descriptive words that may fit you or your
friends in a given situation (as opposed to a general personality trait). Don't let that fool you though since
adjectives generally correspond from English to French.

absurd - absurd(e) - ahb-soor/ahb-soord

abusive - grossier/grossire - grohs-see-ay/grohs-see-air Note that the 'o' is long as in 'show.'
alert - alert(e) - ah-lehr/ah-lehrt
ambiguous - ambigu/ambigu - ahm-bee-goo
amenable - obligeant(e) - oh-blee-ghay-ahn/oh-blee-ghay-ahnt Note that the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in
garage.
amorous - amoureux/amoureuse - ah-moo-ruh/ah-moo-ruhz
angry - fch(e) or en colre -fah-shay or ohn-coh-lair
anonymous - anonyme - ah-no-neem
anxious - anxieux/anxieuse - ahn-ksee-uh/ahn-ksee-uhz
apprehensive - inquiet/inquite - ahn-kee-ay/ahn-kee-et
available - disponible - dee-spohn-ee-bluh
awkward - maladroit(e) - mah-lah-dwah/mah-la-dwaht
bilingual - bilingue - bee-lahng Note that the 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'father.'
busy - occup(e) - oh-coo-pay
compassionate - compatissant(e) - cohm-pah-tee-sahn/cohm-pah-tee-sahnt
content - satisfait(e) - sah-tees-fay/sah-tees-fet
corny - cul(e) - ay-coo-lay
corrupt - corrompu(e) - coohr-rohm-poo
devious - retors - ruh-tohr
envious - envieux/envieuse - ohn-vee-uh/ohn-vee-uhz
evil - malfaisant(e) - mahl-feh-sahn/mahl-feh-sahnt
frail - frle - frell

furious - furieux/furieuse - foor-ee-uh/foor-ee-uhz

happy - heureux/heureuse - uh-ruh/uh-ruhz
healthy - sain(e) - sehn Note that this is hte pronunciation for saine. To prounce its male counterpart 'sain' make the same sound but do not articulate the 'n'.
hungry - affam(e) - ah-fah-may
indecisive - indcis(e) - ehn-day-see/ehn-day-seez
insane - fou/folle - foo/fohll
lonely - solitaire - soh-lee-taire
miserable - malheureux/malheureuse - mah-luh-ruh/mah-luh-ruhz
nervous - nerveux/nerveuse - nehr-vuh/nehr-vuhz
pensive - songeur/songeuse - sohn-guhr/sohn-guhz Note the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in 'garage.'
reasonable - raisonable - reh-sohn-nah-bluh
restless - agit(e) - ah-gee-tay Note that the 'g' is soft like the second 'g' in garage.
shameless - hont(e) - ay-ohn-tay

French Vocabulary Lists

Looking for French vocabulary lists of commonly used words? LoveToKnow has them along with some great
tips on how to memorize vocabulary and perfect your French until you're speaking like a native!

Memorizing French Vocabulary Lists

Truthfully, it's almost fruitless to simply memorize a list. Most people need some type of mnemonic device in
addition to seeing the word in context. The best way to learn a foreign language is to learn it like you would
your own language. Babies pick up their native language through the context of every day life. Likewise, if you
can apply and use the vocabulary in context, you will be much more successful in mastering the language.
Another useful tip to remember is that memorizing verbs and adjectives will typically be more helpful than
memorizing many nouns. You can always point to something you don't know how to say, or describe it, but it
is more difficult to describe something without verbs and adjectives. The following French vocabulary lists are
organized according to subject.

How do You Feel?

Words that Describe How You Feel
English

French

Pronunciation

I am hot

J'ai chaud

zhay show

I am cold

J'ai froid

zhay fwah

I am thirsty

J'ai soif

zhay swahf

I am hungry

J'ai faim

zhay feh

I am sleepy

J'ai sommeil

zhay so may

I am sick

Je suis malade

I don't feel well

Je ne me sens pas bien zhuhn muh sohn paw bee ehn

I'm great

Je vais bien

zhuh swee bee ehn

I am sad

Je suis triste

zhuh swee treest

I'm sorry

Je suis dsol(e)

zhuh swee day so lay

I am angry

Je suis fch(e)

zhu swee fah shay

I am embarrassed Je suis embarrass(e)

He/she is nice

zhuh swee mah lahd

zhu swee ohm bah rha say

Il/elle est sympathique el ay sehm pah teek

Descriptions
Descriptive Adjectives
English

French

Pronunciation

Big

grand(e)

grahn(d)

Small/short

petit(e)

puh tee(t)

Tall

grand(e)

grahn(d)

Short

court(e)

coor(t)

Fat

gros(sse)

groh(s)

Thin (a person)

maigre

maigrhuh

Young

jeune

zhun

Old

vieux(vieille)

vee uh(vee ayeh)

Pretty (cute)

jolie

zho lee

Beautiful

beau (belle)

bo (bell)

Ugly

laid(e)

leh (d)

Nice (a person)

sympathique* sahm pah teek

Mean(as in a person) mchant(e)

may shohn

Smart

intelligent(e)

ehn tell ee zhehn(t)

Dumb

idiot(e)

ee dee oh (oht)

Notes

Petit is used for both something that is little and a person who is short. However, court is used to describe other
things as short such as a period of time or hair length.

While sympathique is the typical word used to describe someone as nice, you can also use the words gentil (-le)
and aimable.

How's the Weather?

Most expressions that describe weather use the irregular verb faire + adjective. However, when you are saying
you are hot, cold, etc., you always use the verb avoir. For
Expressions About the Weather
English

French

Pronunciation

It's cold

Il fait froid

eel fay fwah

It's raining

Il pleut

eel pleuh

rain (noun) la pluie

lah ploo ee

It's snowing Il neige

eel nezh

the snow

la neige

lah nezh

It's hot

Il fait chaud

eel fay sho

summer

l't (masculine)

lay tay

autumn

l'automne (masculine) lah tumm

winter

l'hiver (masculine)

lee vair

spring

le printemps

luh prehn tehm

Colors
Colors
English French

Pronunciation

red

rouge

rooghe

pink

rose

rhose

black

noir(e)

nwahr

white

blanc (-he) blohn (-sh)

orange orange

oh rahnzhe

green

vair (t)

vert (-e)

yellow jaune

zhone

blue

bluh

bleu(e)

purple violet(te)

vee oh lay

Tips for Memorizing Vocabulary

While having great lists to learn new vocabulary is helpful the best way to memorize it is to attach it to
something you already know. Try these quick tips for studying:

Many words are similar in both English and French. Memorizing these should be a snap.
Does the word look or sound like anything familiar to you? For example, the word for nice in French looks like
the word sympathetic in English. While the meanings are different--they are similar enough that you can make
an association. (Someone who is sympathetic, is generally nice as well.) Likewise, attaching the words to
something you know should make it easier.
Attach a mental picture to the word you're memorizing. Memorize the colors by writing them out on cards with
the same color ink. Think about pictures that might make you think of the word.
Practice, practice, practice. If you took the time to make up one sentence for each word--you would have no
problem memorizing the words at all.