How To Say Language In French

Learning how to say “language” in French can be helpful when you’re talking to French speakers or planning a trip to a French-speaking country. Whether you’re in a classroom, chatting with a friend, or traveling, knowing how to say the word for “language” can make your conversations easier and more fun. French is a beautiful language with a rich history, and being able to communicate even basic words will help you feel more confident.

In this article, we’ll focus on how to say “language” in French and explore some other ways to say it. You’ll also learn how to respond when someone asks you about languages in French. Whether you’re just starting to learn French or you’re looking to improve, this guide will give you some useful phrases to practice and use in everyday conversations.

Ways to say “language” in French

There are a few different ways to say “language” in French depending on the context. Let’s look at some common ways to use the word “language” and how to pronounce them.

Langue

Pronunciation: [lahng]
Meaning: This is the most common word for “language” in French, used when referring to a specific language or the general concept of a language.
In a Sentence:

Je parle deux langues. (I speak two languages.)
La langue française est belle. (The French language is beautiful.)

Langage

Pronunciation: [lahn-gahzh]
Meaning: This word refers to language as a system of communication, such as body language or sign language. It can also refer to the style of language used in specific situations.
In a Sentence:

Le langage des signes est important. (Sign language is important.)
Il utilise un langage poli. (He uses polite language.)

Dialecte

Pronunciation: [dee-ah-lekt]
Meaning: This refers to a regional or local variation of a language, often spoken in specific areas or by certain groups.
In a Sentence:

Ils parlent un dialecte rare. (They speak a rare dialect.)
Le dialecte de cette région est très particulier. (The dialect of this region is very unique.)

Parler

Pronunciation: [par-lay]
Meaning: Although parler is a verb meaning “to speak,” it can be used in the context of referring to the act of speaking a language.
In a Sentence:

Elle sait parler plusieurs langues. (She knows how to speak several languages.)
Il apprend à parler en français. (He is learning to speak in French.)

Vocabulaire

Pronunciation: [voh-kah-byoo-lair]
Meaning: This refers to the set of words used in a language, or the vocabulary. It can also describe the range of words a person knows in a language.
In a Sentence:

J’étudie le vocabulaire de la langue française. (I study the vocabulary of the French language.)
Son vocabulaire est très riche. (His vocabulary is very rich.)

Langue maternelle

Pronunciation: [lahng ma-tehr-nell]
Meaning: This means “mother tongue” and refers to the first language a person learns from birth.
In a Sentence:

Le français est ma langue maternelle. (French is my mother tongue.)
Sa langue maternelle est l’anglais. (Her mother tongue is English.)

Idiome

Pronunciation: [ee-dee-ohm]
Meaning: This refers to a language or dialect spoken by a particular group of people, or a specific way of using language (often related to idiomatic expressions).
In a Sentence:

L’idiome de cette région est fascinant. (The idiom of this region is fascinating.)
Il apprend un idiome africain. (He is learning an African dialect.)

Linguistique

Pronunciation: [lan-gwees-teek]
Meaning: This refers to linguistics, the scientific study of language and its structure.
In a Sentence:

Elle étudie la linguistique à l’université. (She studies linguistics at university.)
La linguistique est un domaine très intéressant. (Linguistics is a very interesting field.)

Parole

Pronunciation: [pah-rohl]
Meaning: Parole refers to spoken words or speech, often in contrast to written language.
In a Sentence:

La parole est un moyen de communication important. (Speech is an important means of communication.)
Il a donné sa parole en français. (He gave his speech in French.)

Glossaire

Pronunciation: [gloss-air]
Meaning: This refers to a glossary, or a collection of terms and their meanings, often used in a specific language or subject.
In a Sentence:

Le glossaire de ce livre est très utile. (The glossary of this book is very helpful.)
Elle a consulté le glossaire pour comprendre les termes. (She looked at the glossary to understand the terms.)

Langue vivante

Pronunciation: [lahng veev-ahnt]
Meaning: This refers to a “living language,” meaning a language that is currently spoken and in use.
In a Sentence:

Le français est une langue vivante. (French is a living language.)
Les langues vivantes sont enseignées à l’école. (Living languages are taught at school.)

Langue étrangère

Pronunciation: [lahng eh-trah-nzh-air]
Meaning: This means a “foreign language,” referring to a language spoken outside of one’s native country or culture.
In a Sentence:

L’anglais est une langue étrangère pour moi. (English is a foreign language for me.)
Elle apprend une langue étrangère à l’université. (She is learning a foreign language at university.)

Langue seconde

Pronunciation: [lahng suh-gohnd]
Meaning: This refers to a “second language,” which is a language learned after one’s native language.
In a Sentence:

L’espagnol est ma langue seconde. (Spanish is my second language.)
Il parle l’allemand comme langue seconde. (He speaks German as a second language.)

Jargon

Pronunciation: [zhahr-goh]
Meaning: Jargon refers to the specialized language or terminology used by a specific group or profession.
In a Sentence:

Le médecin utilise un jargon médical. (The doctor uses medical jargon.)
Les avocats parlent souvent en jargon. (Lawyers often speak in jargon.)

Système de communication

Pronunciation: [sees-tehm duh koh-myoo-nee-kah-syon]
Meaning: This means “system of communication,” referring to any method of communication, including language.
In a Sentence:

Le système de communication est essentiel dans la vie quotidienne. (The system of communication is essential in everyday life.)
Ils ont développé un système de communication innovant. (They developed an innovative system of communication.)

Patois

Pronunciation: [pa-twah]
Meaning: This refers to a regional dialect or a type of informal, non-standard language spoken in specific areas.
In a Sentence:

Les habitants parlent un patois local. (The locals speak a regional dialect.)
Il connaît un patois ancien. (He knows an ancient dialect.)

Linguistique appliquée

Pronunciation: [lan-gwees-teek ah-plee-kay]
Meaning: This refers to “applied linguistics,” which is the study of language in practical contexts.
In a Sentence:

Elle étudie la linguistique appliquée pour comprendre les langues étrangères. (She studies applied linguistics to understand foreign languages.)
La linguistique appliquée est utile pour l’enseignement des langues. (Applied linguistics is useful for language teaching.)

Syntaxe

Pronunciation: [sin-tax]
Meaning: This refers to “syntax,” the arrangement of words in a sentence or language structure.
In a Sentence:

La syntaxe du français est complexe. (The syntax of French is complex.)
Il étudie la syntaxe pour améliorer sa grammaire. (He studies syntax to improve his grammar.)

Prononciation

Pronunciation: [proh-non-see-ah-syon]
Meaning: This means “pronunciation,” referring to how words are spoken in a particular language.
In a Sentence:

Sa prononciation du français est parfaite. (Her pronunciation of French is perfect.)
J’ai besoin de pratiquer ma prononciation. (I need to practice my pronunciation.)

Langue écrite

Pronunciation: [lahng eh-kreet]
Meaning: This refers to the “written language,” as opposed to spoken language.
In a Sentence:

La langue écrite est différente de la langue parlée. (Written language is different from spoken language.)
Elle préfère la langue écrite au français parlé. (She prefers written French to spoken French.)

Communiquer

Pronunciation: [koh-myoo-neek-ay]
Meaning: This verb means “to communicate,” and it is often used when discussing language as a tool for communication.
In a Sentence:

Il sait bien communiquer en français. (He communicates well in French.)
Nous devons communiquer en plusieurs langues. (We must communicate in several languages.)

Parole écrite

Pronunciation: [pah-rohl eh-kreet]
Meaning: This refers to “written speech,” similar to langue écrite, but it specifically refers to written words used in speech or conversation.
In a Sentence:

La parole écrite est plus formelle que la parole orale. (Written speech is more formal than spoken speech.)
Son parole écrite est très claire. (Her written speech is very clear.)

Communication verbale

Pronunciation: [koh-myoo-nee-kah-syon vehr-bahl]
Meaning: This means “verbal communication,” referring to communication using spoken words.
In a Sentence:

La communication verbale est essentielle au travail. (Verbal communication is essential at work.)
La communication verbale en français est fluide. (Verbal communication in French is fluent.)

Expression orale

Pronunciation: [ex-preh-syon oh-rah-l]
Meaning: This refers to “oral expression,” which focuses on speaking and verbal skills in a language.
In a Sentence:

Son expression orale en français est excellente. (His oral expression in French is excellent.)
L’expression orale est une compétence importante. (Oral expression is an important skill.)

Linguistique cognitive

Pronunciation: [lan-gwees-teek kohg-nee-teev]
Meaning: This refers to “cognitive linguistics,” a field of study that explores the relationship between language and the human mind.
In a Sentence:

Il étudie la linguistique cognitive à l’université. (He studies cognitive linguistics at university.)
La linguistique cognitive aide à comprendre comment les gens apprennent les langues. (Cognitive linguistics helps understand how people learn languages.)

Other Ways to Say “Language” in French

Here is a table with additional ways to say “language” in French, their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences. This will give you more options for expressing “language” in different contexts.

Other Ways to Say	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentences
Langue maternelle	[lahng ma-tehr-nell]	“Mother tongue” – The first language a person learns.	– Le français est ma langue maternelle. (French is my mother tongue.) – Sa langue maternelle est l’anglais. (Her mother tongue is English.)
Langue vivante	[lahng veev-ahnt]	“Living language” – A language currently spoken and in use.	– Le français est une langue vivante. (French is a living language.) – Il apprend une langue vivante à l’école. (He learns a living language at school.)
Langue étrangère	[lahng eh-trah-nzh-air]	“Foreign language” – A language spoken in a country other than one’s own.	– L’anglais est une langue étrangère pour moi. (English is a foreign language for me.) – Elle parle plusieurs langues étrangères. (She speaks several foreign languages.)
Langue seconde	[lahng suh-gohnd]	“Second language” – A language learned after the mother tongue.	– L’espagnol est ma langue seconde. (Spanish is my second language.) – Elle parle l’allemand comme langue seconde. (She speaks German as a second language.)
Parler	[par-lay]	“To speak” – Used when referring to speaking a language.	– Je sais parler trois langues. (I know how to speak three languages.) – Ils parlent anglais et français. (They speak English and French.)
Jargon	[zhahr-goh]	“Jargon” – Specialized language or terminology used by a particular group.	– Le médecin utilise un jargon médical. (The doctor uses medical jargon.) – Les journalistes emploient un jargon spécifique. (Journalists use specific jargon.)
Dialecte	[dee-ah-lekt]	“Dialect” – A regional or local variation of a language.	– Il parle un dialecte de la région. (He speaks a dialect of the region.) – Le dialecte local est difficile à comprendre. (The local dialect is hard to understand.)
Système de communication	[sees-tehm duh koh-myoo-nee-kah-syon]	“Communication system” – Refers to any method or system used to communicate.	– Le système de communication en ligne est très pratique. (The online communication system is very convenient.) – Ils ont un système de communication complexe. (They have a complex communication system.)
Patois	[pa-twah]	“Patois” – A regional or informal language, often a local dialect.	– Ils parlent un patois créole. (They speak a Creole patois.) – Le patois de cette région est unique. (The patois of this region is unique.)
Langage corporel	[lahn-gahzh kor-poh-rehl]	“Body language” – Non-verbal communication using gestures and movements.	– Son langage corporel montre qu’il est stressé. (His body language shows he is stressed.) – Elle utilise son langage corporel pour exprimer ses émotions. (She uses her body language to express her emotions.)
Linguistique	[lan-gwees-teek]	“Linguistics” – The scientific study of language and its structure.	– La linguistique est une science fascinante. (Linguistics is a fascinating science.) – Elle étudie la linguistique appliquée. (She studies applied linguistics.)
Communication verbale	[koh-myoo-nee-kah-syon vehr-bahl]	“Verbal communication” – Communication using spoken words.	– La communication verbale est essentielle dans le travail. (Verbal communication is essential at work.) – Il préfère la communication verbale à l’écrit. (He prefers verbal communication to written.)
Expression orale	[ex-preh-syon oh-rah-l]	“Oral expression” – Refers to the act of speaking or expressing oneself orally.	– Son expression orale en anglais est parfaite. (Her oral expression in English is perfect.) – Il a une excellente expression orale en français. (He has excellent oral expression in French.)
Parole	[pah-rohl]	“Speech” – Refers to spoken language, often used in the context of a public speech.	– La parole de ce politicien est influente. (The speech of this politician is influential.) – La parole est un moyen puissant de communication. (Speech is a powerful means of communication.)
Glossaire	[gloss-air]	“Glossary” – A list of terms or words and their meanings, often specific to a subject or language.	– Le glossaire de ce manuel est utile. (The glossary of this textbook is helpful.) – J’ai consulté le glossaire pour comprendre les termes techniques. (I consulted the glossary to understand the technical terms.)

Response to “Language” in French

When someone asks you about “language” in French, there are a few responses you can use, depending on the context. You might be asked about what language you speak, how to describe a language, or why language is important. Here are some examples of how to respond in French.

Je parle français.

Pronunciation: [zhuh parl frahn-say]
Meaning: “I speak French.” This is a simple response when someone asks what language you speak.
In a Sentence:

Si on me demande quelle langue je parle, je réponds : “Je parle français.” (If someone asks me what language I speak, I reply: “I speak French.”)
Elle dit : “Je parle français et anglais.” (She says, “I speak French and English.”)

Je parle plusieurs langues.

Pronunciation: [zhuh parl plew-zyur lahng]
Meaning: “I speak several languages.” This is a great way to show that you are multilingual.
In a Sentence:

Je parle plusieurs langues, dont l’espagnol et l’italien. (I speak several languages, including Spanish and Italian.)
Il parle plusieurs langues, ce qui est impressionnant. (He speaks several languages, which is impressive.)

Ma langue maternelle est l’anglais.

Pronunciation: [mah lahng ma-tehr-nell eh l’an-glay]
Meaning: “My mother tongue is English.” This tells the person what language you grew up with.
In a Sentence:

Ma langue maternelle est l’anglais, mais j’apprends le français. (My mother tongue is English, but I am learning French.)
Sa langue maternelle est le chinois. (His mother tongue is Chinese.)

Je ne parle pas bien cette langue.

Pronunciation: [zhuh nuh parl pah byan set lahng]
Meaning: “I don’t speak this language well.” Use this if you’re not fluent in the language.
In a Sentence:

Je ne parle pas bien cette langue, mais je m’améliore. (I don’t speak this language well, but I’m improving.)
Elle dit : “Je ne parle pas bien cette langue.” (She says, “I don’t speak this language well.”)

Je suis en train d’apprendre cette langue.

Pronunciation: [zhuh swee ahn traahn dap-rehn-druh set lahng]
Meaning: “I am learning this language.” This shows that you’re in the process of learning the language.
In a Sentence:

Je suis en train d’apprendre l’espagnol. (I am learning Spanish.)
Il est en train d’apprendre le français. (He is learning French.)

C’est une langue difficile à apprendre.

Pronunciation: [say toon lahng dee-fee-seel ah ah-pron-druh]
Meaning: “It’s a difficult language to learn.” This can be used when talking about a language you find hard to learn.
In a Sentence:

Le chinois est une langue difficile à apprendre. (Chinese is a difficult language to learn.)
Le français peut être une langue difficile à apprendre pour les débutants. (French can be a difficult language to learn for beginners.)

J’aime apprendre de nouvelles langues.

Pronunciation: [zhem ah-pron-druh duh noo-vel lahng]
Meaning: “I like learning new languages.” This shows your interest in learning other languages.
In a Sentence:

J’aime apprendre de nouvelles langues, comme le japonais. (I like learning new languages, like Japanese.)
Elle aime beaucoup apprendre de nouvelles langues. (She loves learning new languages.)

Je parle bien cette langue.

Pronunciation: [zhuh parl byan set lahng]
Meaning: “I speak this language well.” This response shows confidence in your ability to speak the language.
In a Sentence:

Je parle bien cette langue, mais j’ai encore des progrès à faire. (I speak this language well, but I still have some progress to make.)
Il parle bien cette langue. (He speaks this language well.)

Je comprends cette langue, mais je ne peux pas la parler.

Pronunciation: [zhuh kohm-pron-druh set lahng, meh zhuh nuh puh pah lah parl-ay]
Meaning: “I understand this language, but I can’t speak it.” This is helpful if you understand a language but aren’t confident in speaking it.
In a Sentence:

Je comprends l’allemand, mais je ne peux pas le parler. (I understand German, but I can’t speak it.)
Il comprend l’italien, mais il ne peut pas le parler. (He understands Italian, but he can’t speak it.)

C’est une langue que j’adore.

Pronunciation: [say toon lahng kuh zha-dor]
Meaning: “It’s a language I love.” Use this when talking about a language you really enjoy.
In a Sentence:

Le français est une langue que j’adore. (French is a language I love.)
L’espagnol est une langue que j’adore. (Spanish is a language I love.)

J’aimerais parler couramment cette langue.

Pronunciation: [zhem-ray parl-ay koo-rah-mahn set lahng]
Meaning: “I would like to speak this language fluently.” This is a hopeful or aspirational response when you want to become fluent.
In a Sentence:

J’aimerais parler couramment le français. (I would like to speak French fluently.)
Il aimerait parler couramment l’anglais. (He would like to speak English fluently.)

Je préfère cette langue à celle-ci.

Pronunciation: [zhuh preh-fehr set lahng ah sell-see]
Meaning: “I prefer this language to that one.” This is useful when comparing languages.
In a Sentence:

Je préfère le français à l’anglais. (I prefer French to English.)
Elle préfère l’espagnol à l’allemand. (She prefers Spanish to German.)

Cette langue est belle.

Pronunciation: [set lahng eh behl]
Meaning: “This language is beautiful.” This is a compliment when discussing a language you like.
In a Sentence:

Le français est une langue belle. (French is a beautiful language.)
L’italien est une langue belle. (Italian is a beautiful language.)

Je suis bilingue.

Pronunciation: [zhuh swee bee-lahng]
Meaning: “I am bilingual.” Use this when you speak two languages fluently.
In a Sentence:

Je suis bilingue, je parle le français et l’anglais. (I am bilingual, I speak French and English.)
Il est bilingue, il parle espagnol et français. (He is bilingual, he speaks Spanish and French.)

Je veux apprendre cette langue.

Pronunciation: [zhuh vuh ah-pron-druh set lahng]
Meaning: “I want to learn this language.” This response shows your interest in learning a new language.
In a Sentence:

Je veux apprendre l’allemand. (I want to learn German.)
Elle veut apprendre cette langue. (She wants to learn this language.)

Exercise to Practice Saying “Language” in French

To help you practice using the different ways to say “language” in French, here are 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences. Complete each sentence by choosing the correct word for “language” from the options we have discussed. After the sentences, you’ll find the answers and the meanings of the sentences in English.

Fill-in-the-blank sentences

Je parle trois __________ : le français, l’anglais, et l’espagnol.
Ma __________ maternelle est le français.
Le __________ des signes est une manière importante de communiquer.
Nous étudions une __________ étrangère à l’école.
__________ que je parle le mieux est l’anglais.
Il apprend __________ nouvelle langue chaque année.
J’aimerais bien apprendre __________ difficile à parler.
Elle a une très bonne __________ orale en anglais.
Le __________ est essentiel pour se comprendre avec d’autres.
Le français est une __________ vivante.
Ils ont un __________ très spécifique pour leur groupe.
__________ utilisée dans cette région est très ancienne.

Answers and meanings

langues – I speak three languages: French, English, and Spanish.
langue – My mother tongue is French.
langage – Sign language is an important way to communicate.
langue – We study a foreign language at school.
langue – The language I speak best is English.
une – He learns a new language every year.
une – I would like to learn a language that is difficult to speak.
expression orale – She has a very good oral expression in English.
langue – Language is essential to understand each other.
langue vivante – French is a living language.
jargon – They have a very specific jargon for their group.
Le dialecte – The dialect used in this region is very old.

Conclusion

Learning how to say “language” in French and understanding the various ways to express it can be very useful in everyday conversations. From discussing your mother tongue to talking about foreign languages or even regional dialects, knowing these phrases will allow you to communicate better and feel more confident when speaking French.

As you continue to practice, don’t hesitate to use the new words and phrases you’ve learned. Whether you’re studying at school, traveling, or simply talking with friends, these expressions will come in handy. Keep exploring the rich world of languages, and enjoy every step of your learning journey. With regular practice, you’ll get even better at using French to talk about languages and much more!