Assimil · French
Lessons 1–100
French, lesson by lesson.
A quieter interactive edition of the opening Assimil material. Open a lesson, read the French first, and reveal support only when you need it.
Lessons
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Comment allez-vous ?
How are you?A first encounter built around greetings, introductions, and the difference between formal and familiar ways of asking how someone is doing.
Le café
The caféA breakfast order that introduces articles, everyday café vocabulary, and how French often asks questions with simple rising intonation.
Présentations
IntroductionsA compact lesson on naming yourself, introducing someone else, asking questions with inversion, and locating people by region.
L'heure
The timeA short exchange about asking the time that introduces `est-ce que`, the negative `ne ... pas`, and a first set of everyday time expressions.
Je cherche le métro
I'm looking for the metroA street-direction exchange that introduces asking for help, saying you are not from here, and following simple walking directions in French.
À l'hôtel
At the hotelA hotel check-in exchange that introduces room reservations, spelling a surname, floors, keys, and simple noun/adjective agreement.
Révision
RevisionA first revision lesson that reviews greetings, time, negation, gender, common verb forms, spelling aloud, and core vocabulary from the first six lessons.
Une visite
A visitA visitor asks whether someone's father is at home, learns he is at the office, and gets his office address.
À la mairie
At the Town HallA couple asks for a new identity card for their son and answers basic administrative questions at the town hall.
C'est très simple !
It's very simple!A town hall official checks the last required documents, prepares the card, then runs into a missing wallet.
Au marché (Première partie)
At the market (First part)A household heads to the market because the cupboards are empty, then begins a long produce order.
Au marché (Deuxième partie)
At the market (Second part)The market order continues with strawberries, a taste test, a price check, and the final total.
Un cadeau
A giftA birthday present turns out to be a new phone that can do everything, except unlock without the passcode.
Révision
RevisionA second revision lesson that consolidates possessive adjectives, -er verbs, faire, pouvoir, c'est, il est, and adjective agreement.
Un tour dans Paris (Première partie)
A tour of Paris (First part)A Paris tour guide introduces herself and starts pointing out the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower before a tourist interrupts with an urgent practical question.
Un tour dans Paris (Deuxième partie)
A tour of Paris (Second part)The Paris tour continues with the City of Light, the Opéra, department stores, the Café de la Paix, and a chance to get off the bus.
Quels sont vos projets ?
What are your plans?A plan to visit an exhibition at La Piscine becomes a small scheduling puzzle involving appointments, the 24-hour clock, and museum closing time.
Prenons rendez-vous avec le banquier
Let's make an appointment with the bankerA simple appointment request becomes an impossible calendar search across work trips, holidays, long weekends, training, family visits, and the school-year return.
Un bel endroit pour une fête
A great place for a partyA birthday party request turns into a useful exchange about rooms, prices, dates, approximate numbers, and the difference between available and free of charge.
Un monde idéal
An ideal worldA radio programme asks ambassadors what they want for Christmas, creating a focused lesson on countries, nationalities, partitive articles, and honest priorities.
Révision
RevisionA third revision lesson consolidating être, avoir, vouloir, negatives, questions, noun genders, adjective agreement, dates, and time.
Réfléchissez, choisissez, jouez
Think, choose, playA conversation about horse-race betting introduces irregular plurals, two pronunciations of `tous`, useful `-ir` verbs, and gambling expressions.
Comment réussir au loto
How to succeed at the lottoA café order turns into a lottery discussion, introducing service phrases, playing games with `jouer à`, negatives with `de`, and useful expressions such as `tout à fait`.
Je ne vais pas bien du tout
I'm not well at allA doctor's visit introduces symptoms, medical instructions, temperatures in Celsius, direct object pronouns, and the expression `avoir l'air`.
Déjeunons ensemble
Let's have lunch togetherA lunch decision introduces neighbourhood restaurants, directions, first-person plural imperatives, `lequel/laquelle`, idioms such as `ça m'est égal`, and the immediate past with `venir de`.
Déjeunons ensemble (suite)
Let's have lunch together (continued)The restaurant scene continues with table requests, menu choices, food and drink ordering, cooking preferences, the bill, and restaurant vocabulary such as `la carte`, `le menu`, `service compris`, and `pourboire`.
Hôtel complet
No vacanciesA hotel search introduces airport proximity, rooms and floors, comparative descriptions, `celui/celle/celles/ceux`, and practical travel vocabulary such as `disponible`, `tarif`, and `complet`.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson reviewing regular second-group `-ir` verbs, direct object pronouns, `quel` and `lequel`, demonstrative pronouns, common `avoir` expressions, and French cardinal numbers.
Comment vas-tu ?
How are you?A familiar conversation introduces `tu` and `toi`, shopping for pastries and gifts, surnames in the plural, `offrir`, `savoir` versus `connaître`, `-eau` plurals, and preference with `plutôt`.
J'ai un truc à te demander...
I've got something to ask you...A phone call introduces `un truc`, `allô`, `entendre`, `-re` verbs, `ne quitte pas`, `mettre`, `vas-y`, `vouloir bien`, object-pronoun order, and `à tout à l'heure`.
J'en ai besoin rapidement
I need one quicklyA shopping exchange introduces formal `puis-je`, electric kettles, `en` as a pronoun and preposition, `celle-ci/celle-là`, materials, certainty, stock, and polite thanks.
Je ne peux plus continuer comme ça
I can no longer continue like thisAn exhausted employee talks about work, handling hundreds of emails, helping colleagues, and the limits of continuing this way.
Je n'ai rien dans ma garde-robe
I have nothing in my wardrobeA clothes-shopping conversation practices familiar and polite imperatives, `ne ... rien`, clothing vocabulary, colors, and shopping expressions.
Les randonneurs
The hikersA hiker describes a long walk in Alsace while introducing irregular `-ir` verbs, `y`, `rien`, weather, body parts, and hiking vocabulary.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson consolidating third-group verbs, plural noun patterns, `y`, `en`, `savoir` and `connaître`, indirect object pronouns, and the `tu`/`vous` distinction.
J'espère que je n'ai rien oublié
I hope that I haven't forgotten anythingA pre-airport checklist introduces the passé composé of `-er` verbs, checking and locking the house, object pronouns, and recent-time expressions.
J'ai réfléchi à la question du loyer...
I've thought about the question of rent...An apartment hunt introduces rental vocabulary, comparatives and superlatives, `-ir` verbs in the passé composé, and practical expressions for affordability.
C'est de la part de qui ?
Who is calling?A business phone call introduces call-transfer formulas, office and contact-detail vocabulary, formal politeness, and past participles of several common `-re` verbs.
Le septième art
The seventh artA formal description of French cinema introduces press-style vocabulary, cinema institutions, formal linkage, past participles, and the present participle.
Tu es si impatient !
You're so impatient!An informal cinema-planning conversation introduces colloquial reactions, cinema listings, more irregular past participles, and ways to contradict a negative statement.
Un accueil désagréable
An unpleasant receptionA tense restaurant booking call introduces reservation vocabulary, `depuis` with the present tense, formal questions, future tense, and technology words like `texto`.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson consolidating present and past participles, the passé composé, comparatives and superlatives, phone phrases, and recent register work.
Le foot féminin
Women's footballA sports article introduces the passé composé with `être`, agreement of past participles, sports vocabulary, and expressions around careers and retirement.
Perturbations dans les transports
Transport disruptionsA station conversation covers ticketing, platform vocabulary, travel disruptions, wrong numbers, pronounced final consonants, and idioms with `marre`, `valoir`, and `mal`.
Il n'y a pas de métiers inutiles
There are no useless jobsA speaker describes modern careers, job titles, social networks, relative pronouns, `ce qui`/`ce que`, `je voudrais`, and expressions around work and unemployment.
Depuis, je n'ai aucune nouvelle
I've had no news since thenA missing-husband report practices descriptions, clothing, stressed pronouns, `aucun`, formal address, `meilleur` versus `mieux`, and idioms with `peine` and `souci`.
Un déménagement
A removalA move brings together `plus ... plus`, direct and indirect object pronouns, `éventuellement`, `demi`, familiar work vocabulary, and household-item vocabulary.
Ça ne me dit rien
I don't feel like itA picnic debate introduces `ça ne me dit rien`, weather with `faire`, material phrases with `en`, purpose compounds with `à`, `ceci`/`cela`, and `se passer`.
Révision
RevisionA review lesson consolidating `être` verbs in the passé composé, stressed pronouns, relative pronouns, singular/plural shifts, prepositions, and recent comparative work.
Je m'ennuie
I get boredThe first productive-phase lesson introduces reflexive and pronominal verbs through a dull workday routine, media vocabulary, transport with `en`, and expressions such as `faire semblant` and `se demander`.
Hâtez-vous lentement !
More haste, less speedThe first productive-phase lesson follows a rushed trip to the theatre while reviewing reflexive verbs, imperatives, parking vocabulary, `en` versus `dans`, and idioms for missing people or objects.
Nous nous sommes bien amusés !
We really enjoyed ourselves!This media-themed productive-phase lesson introduces possessive pronouns, `ni...ni`, pronominal verbs in the past tense, `il y a` for ago, and the reversed structure of `manquer` when you miss someone or something.
Je ne ferai plus jamais ça !
I will never do that again!This lesson introduces the future tense through online grocery shopping, supermarket sections, delivery problems, and expressions such as `en promotion`, `simple comme bonjour`, and `aucun des deux`.
Votez pour moi : vous ne le regretterez pas...
Vote for me: you won't regret it...This political lesson expands the future tense with irregular verbs such as `avoir`, `être`, `venir`, `pouvoir`, and `devoir`, plus vocabulary for elections, parties, candidates, and political speeches.
Mais c'est horrible, ton film !
But your movie is awful!This horror-film lesson contrasts simple and pronominal verb meanings such as `passer` and `se passer`, `entendre` and `s'entendre`, `tromper` and `se tromper`, while adding cinema vocabulary and informal words such as `gosse`.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson consolidating pronominal verbs, reciprocal verbs, future-tense forms, possessive pronouns, and the prepositions `en`, `dans`, and `à`, followed by a short review dialogue.
Vive les Bretons !
Long live the Bretons!This lesson introduces the imperfect tense in a story about speaking Breton, regional identity, and the origin of the verb `baragouiner`.
Un grincheux
A grumpy personA grumpy travel-planning dialogue adds holiday and tourism vocabulary, weather idioms, and expressions such as `avoir la flemme`, `ça vaut la peine`, and `jeter l'argent par les fenêtres`.
Il ne gagnait (presque) jamais
He (almost) never wonA family story about old communication methods, phone plans, and horse betting reinforces the imperfect tense and adds expressions such as `laisser tomber`, `au hasard`, and `pile ou face`.
Le voisinage est de plus en plus dangereux !
The neighbourhood is increasingly dangerous!A witness interview about a fire works through `peu`, `plus`, `environs`, `pendant que`, and emergency-service vocabulary.
La célébrité ne me dit pas grand-chose
Fame doesn't mean much to meA photojournalist reflects on leaving Corsica, finding her path in street photography, and valuing meaningful images over media fame.
J'ai mis le doigt sur ton problème...
I've put my finger on your problemA discouraged programming student complains through a chain of body-part idioms before receiving advice to change approach and keep working.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson consolidating the imperfect tense, `valoir` and `falloir`, the pronunciation of `plus`, conjunctive adverbs, and body-part idioms.
Je crains le pire...
I fear the worstA travel-agent conversation compares holiday periods, conditional clauses, superlatives, sporting activities, and package prices.
Cent pour cent des gagnants ont tenté leur chance !
100% of winners tried their luckA lottery for a winter-sports holiday introduces conditional forms with `si`, including `pourrais`, `irais`, `aurais`, `serait`, `dirais`, and `faudrait`.
Président d'un jour
President for a dayA climate debate in the National Assembly extends the conditional into public-policy proposals, restrictions, disagreement, and past conditional forms.
L'encre la plus pâle...
The palest ink...Neighbours help Claudie after a broken lift, while the lesson contrasts intransitive `être` verbs with their transitive `avoir` meanings.
La visite de la petite-fille
The granddaughter's visitA granddaughter visits her grandparents, trading affectionate family talk, modern vocabulary, travel plans, and a request for cash.
Les animaux ne mentent pas...
Animals do not lie...A lunch invitation turns into a tour of French animal idioms for illness, boredom, work, guessing, and good fortune.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson reviewing the conditional, dual-auxiliary verbs, `tout`, `n'importe`, and animal idioms.
La Dame de fer
The Iron LadyA tourist audioguide recounts the Eiffel Tower's construction, criticism, survival, fame, and legends.
Ça ne se fait pas !
That's not the done thing!Colleagues plan Éric's farewell drinks party while the lesson reviews passive alternatives, emphasis with `c'est ... qui`, and office vocabulary.
Je n'en peux plus !
I can't take it any more!A run of bad luck at the dentist turns into a flood of familiar French complaint idioms.
Les soldes
The salesA shopping trip during the January sales introduces bargain vocabulary, clothing phrases, and ways to say something suits someone.
Le Prix "Accord majeur"
The "Major Chord" PrizeA self-important singer accepts a career award while the interview reviews `douter`, `se douter`, past-participle agreement, and self-referential pronouns.
"Culture générale" : le jeu radiophonique
"General Knowledge": the radio quiz showA radio quiz show goes badly for two contestants while the lesson reviews adverbs in `-ment`, passive workarounds, dimensions, and quiz vocabulary.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson reviewing the passive, time adverbs, pronominal-verb meanings, dimensions, and common proverbs.
"Les voyages forment la jeunesse"
Travel broadens the mindA couple plan an Ascension long weekend near Nîmes while the lesson focuses on double pronouns, travel vocabulary, and colloquial family speech.
Il faut que je trouve une bonne excuse...
I have to find a good excuse...Martin needs a tactful way out of helping a demanding family acquaintance, while the lesson introduces the present subjunctive.
"Notre action ne dépend que de vous."
Our action depends only on you.A report on strike plans turns into a union speech about sick leave, double standards, and the subjunctive after demands and expectations.
La réaction des patrons
The bosses' reactionEmployers discuss a union response, balancing formal labour vocabulary with more subjunctive triggers such as `bien que`, `jusqu'à ce que`, and `pourvu que`.
Qu'ils sont idiots !
How idiotic they are!A pollster tries to interview an uninterested passer-by, while the lesson develops formal questions, negative indefinites, and more subjunctive patterns.
Du beurre dans les épinards...
A little bit extra...A morning radio quiz uses food idioms to teach colloquial expressions such as earning a little extra, meeting halfway, and fainting.
Révision
RevisionA revision lesson reviewing the subjunctive, pronoun order, negative constructions, formal inverted questions, and food idioms.
Comment ça, je massacre le français ?
What Do You Mean, I'm Slaughtering French?A playful lesson contrasting everyday spoken questions with more formal and elegant French forms.
Un entretien avec un chasseur de têtes
An Interview With A HeadhunterA business lesson centered on relative pronouns, executive recruitment, and formal professional vocabulary.
Le commissaire Périer mène l'enquête
Superintendent Périer Leads The InvestigationA detective story reviewing idioms around investigation, suspicion, danger, and the pluperfect.
Le commissaire Périer mène l'enquête (suite)
Superintendent Périer Leads The Investigation (Continued)The investigation continues with a slang-heavy briefing and several subjunctive forms after indefinite expressions and superlatives.
Il faut le faire !
That Takes Some Doing!A winter-holiday setback teaches a cluster of idiomatic expressions built with `faire`.
"Le" ou "la" ? - Les deux !
"Le" Or "La"? - Both!A wordplay lesson on French nouns whose gender changes their meaning.
Révision
ReviewA review lesson consolidating interrogatives, the causative, the subjunctive, `dont`, the pluperfect, and recent slang.
Un magazine littéraire
A Literary Magazine ProgrammeA literary talk-show discussion introduces prefixes, the passé simple, and formal media register.
Un cours d'histoire : "Le jour de gloire est arrivé !"
A History Lesson: "The Day Of Glory Is Here!"A dramatic retelling of the storming of the Bastille introduces more passé simple forms and historical vocabulary.
Les inconvénients du travail à domicile
The Drawbacks Of Working From HomeA broken home office setup reviews past conditional, colloquial contractions, and troubleshooting vocabulary.
Le JT du soir
The Evening NewsA TV news bulletin introduces journalistic set phrases, reported conditionals, and vocabulary for public events.
Une émission-débat : "Réinventons le rire"
A Talk Show: "Let's Re-Invent Laughter"A debate about humor introduces comedy vocabulary, prefixes, `-esse` nouns, and expressions around trust and suspicion.
En plein dans le mille !
Bull's-Eye!A startup founder narrates a difficult product launch through business, sports, and boxing idioms.
Révision
ReviewA review lesson consolidating the passé simple, affixes, the past conditional, gentilics, and sports idioms.
Incroyable mais vrai...
Incredible But True...A friend reveals a supposedly hyper-sensitive city-planning project while reviewing future perfect, IT vocabulary, and useful idioms.
La langue française
The French LanguageThe final lesson celebrates French as a global language and reviews Francophone vocabulary, loanwords, and closing idioms.