First 100 French Words for Kids, With Easy Pronunciation

A hundred words sounds like a lot, but a young child learns that many in a few months of steady, playful exposure. These are the words that come up first in most beginner French: things a child can point at, say hello with, count and ask for. I have grouped them into ten sets, and each set has a table with the French, a plain English sound guide and the meaning.

A few notes before you start. The sound guides are approximate, written in English spellings, with the stressed part in capitals. French puts a light stress on the last syllable of a word, which is the opposite of many English words, so lean a little on the end. And the little word in front of each noun (le, la, l', les) is part of the word. Learn la pomme, not just pomme.

Three sounds to know first

Most English speakers can get very close to French with three adjustments.

1. Silent endings: the last consonant is usually not said. Petit is "puh-TEE". Le lit (the bed) is "luh LEE".
2. Nasal vowels: in words like bonjour, maman and vingt, the vowel hums through the nose and you stop before you actually say the "n". In the guides below these are marked "(nasal)".
3. The French "u": say "ee" and, without moving your tongue, round your lips as if to whistle. That is the sound in tu and jus. I have written it as "ew" or "oo", but the real sound sits between them.

The French "r" is made at the back of the throat, a little like a soft gargle. If you cannot manage it, do not worry. Your child will learn it at school, and probably laugh at yours.

1. Greetings and polite words (10)

Ça va is wonderful for beginners because it is both the question and the answer. "Ça va?" "Ça va!" That is a whole conversation.

2. Family (10)

In Canada, children often say grand-maman and grand-papa. In France you will hear mamie and papi. All four are friendly and correct.

3. Colours (10)

Two Canadian notes. For purple, many Canadian children say mauve (MOHV) as well as violet. For brown, brun is common in Canada, while France often uses marron.

4. Numbers 1 to 20 (20)

Notice that 17, 18 and 19 are built like "ten-seven", "ten-eight", "ten-nine". Children enjoy spotting that pattern. Counting is the easiest daily practice there is: count stairs, count grapes, count the seconds until the toast pops. If your child likes math games, the counting carries straight over to card games that teach math, played in French.

5. Animals (10)

Be careful with le poisson (the fish, with a soft "s" sound) and le poison (the poison, with a "z" sound). Children find this very funny once they know it.

6. Food and drink (10)

Meals are the best place to practise these, because the food is right there. "Encore du lait?" (more milk?) is a phrase you will use a lot.

7. School (8)

L'efface is the everyday Canadian word. In France it is la gomme. Children in Canadian schools will almost always hear efface.

8. The body (8)

Body words are perfect for action songs and for the morning routine: "Lave tes mains!" (wash your hands). The Funny Faces game adds feelings words to the face words in this list.

9. Weather (6)

Look out the window every morning and say one of these. It takes five seconds and it builds a real habit.

10. Action words (8)

Action words are best learned by doing them. Call one out and act it together: sauter! and you both jump. That is a French lesson and a brain break at once.

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How to practise without a textbook

You do not need a workbook or a course. You need small, repeated moments.

Label the house

Write a dozen nouns on sticky notes, with their articles, and put them on the real objects: la porte (the door), la fenêtre (the window), le frigo (the fridge, Canadian and casual). Change a few each week. Children start reading the labels on their own.

One set a week

Work on one group at a time. A week of colours, then a week of animals. Mix the old sets back in from time to time so nothing fades.

Play with the words

• Memory pairs: match English cards with French ones. The Word Pairs game does this with a listen button, so the French sound is always right.
• I spy: Je vois quelque chose de rouge (I see something red).
• Simon says in French: Jacques a dit: touche ton nez! (Simon says: touch your nose!)
• Shopping lists: write three French words on the grocery list and let your child find them in the store.

Say it, then use it

A word is learned when your child uses it without being asked. Notice those moments and answer them in kind.

A sample first week

Keep sessions short and stop while your child still wants more. If your child is already in an immersion class and you do not speak French yourself, the guide to supporting French immersion at home covers homework, reading and talking to the teacher.

By the end of the first week, most children will greet you with salut at breakfast. Answer with salut, and pour the lait.