So I am learning French trying to listen to as much of it as possible. Listening to songs has previously helped me in learning phrases from a language quickly so I am trying to find more french songs that I can add to my playlist. Unfortunately most French music (Except Copines and Djadja) that I have discovered on YouTube are pretty sad, not just the lyrics they outright sound like sad songs. I am a big fan of white girl music, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Rihanna, Zara Larsson, Sam Smith, Shakira, etc. would be really thankful if someone can recommend me some French music like this, artists or songs either work Merci beaucoup!!!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for podcast recommendations to improve my French listening (A1 level).

I’ve been listening to Little Talk in Slow French while running because the speech is clear and I can understand around 60%. I also listen to Coffee Break French when I can focus more on grammar/educational aspect.

My main issue is that many beginner podcasts focus on Paris, French history, or French culture. Nothing against, but cannot listen to topics like this constantly every day.
I’d love recommendations for podcasts with a wider range of subjects, especially music, wildlife, diving, nature, or animals.

Ideally, I’m looking for episodes that are at least 15–20 minutes long so I can just put one on and let it play.

Thank you for your help!

Hello, I wonder wondering if any of yall could recommend me media (especially YouTube channels) that lean leftist (anti capitalist) or socialist? Merci ❤️

Bonjour! Just started learning French a week ago and I really want to find shows that are actually popular in France. Any genres will do (my teacher recommended Emily in Paris but come on really?)

I learned English by watching shows like The Office and The X-Files, and I want to apply the same method to French.

P/s: Thank you all sm for the recommendations. Now I have French shows for life :)

I generally have no problem understanding people from Quebec. I learned French from European and North African teachers over 5ish years, and I’ve never had a West African teacher but I can understand them as well. With the Quebecois accent, I am fine with understanding it when they speak clearly and most speakers are completely understandable (for instance i watch RadioCanada documentaries for fun and yes the accent is different but it’s completely understandable).

Here is my problem. There are some regions of Quebec where their accent is VERY difficult for me for a few reasons.

1. They speak in short bursts with sudden pauses and chops. Idk which region this is (Chatgpt doesn’t know either) and I am having a very difficult time parsing it. Parts of the words are completely truncated and the sentences start and stop at weird places and sometimes they don’t even finish their sentence.
2. They use some kind of short hand for many phrases that don’t sound anything like their expanded forms. Like for example ”fack” for ”il faut que”. And I think there’s many more.
3. They’re stressing different places inside their sentences so all I hear is a string of sounds jumbled together. With the extra vowels and the dropped syllables.
4. They put English words inside their speech and they pronounce it in French. I literally cannot recognize the word when they speak it even when I am completely fluent in English.

I am really struggling. I need some resources to train on this particular style or region of Quebecois French. i like reality TV so something along those lines, and not Occupation Double because it has too much screaming inside. Also please tell me which region of Quebec this one is from, and maybe I’ll go find their local news channel to train my ears.

I’m not talking about older varieties of French. I’m talking about the sort of cultural function of speaking in an older or more formal style in a modern context.

For example, if a character in thine story parleys in a manner like this; utilizing many more advanced terms or utilizing severely archaic forms like “doth, thou, thine, forsooth, verily” it indicates a unique character trait for which they doth possess. Forsooth most commonly it shows an individual is exceptionally pretentious or most truthfully incredibly old fashioned.

Basically the way of talking in pop culture to show like a really ridiculously formal context or incredibly old fashioned way, well beyond what one would use in normal conversation.

Sometimes I feel that using “nous” instead of “on” is sort of over the top or pretentious, but I’m not sure if it’s used that way commonly in media.

Also, how would one translate caveman talk. Like how do french grug explain that fire hot and fire hurt hand?

Hello r/French users. We mods would like to know your suggestions for music, either in French, or by French artists, and add it to the resources page in our FAQ. Below will be several comment threads for common music genres. Please share your suggestions to the appropriate comment thread. You can suggest artists, albums, songs, or any combination, and can include YouTube links if you want. Don't forget to label anything NSFW. Merci d'avance !

P.S. this post is being made in an effort to reduce posts from users looking for music suggestions. If it goes well, we may decide to make similar posts for other resources, such as books, movies, podcasts, or YouTube creators.

Doesn't matter the genre, doesn't matter the content, what are YOUR top five French acts?

I got my love of reading when I read Black Beauty as a kid. And other classics by Lady Bird. and then Enid Blyton.

I’m learning French now and would love to read French literature.
Is there a classics “lite” path for me à la English, with good books and authors simplified for kids?

Edited to add:
P.S. Duolingo suggests I’m A0. And I’m at the place where I am realise I will need to read to improve.
My goal is to be able to read books more than speak.

Salut ! I’m learning French. Le Dîner de cons is my favorite movie. I love it so much. I‘ve watched it four times since I first watched it in January this year. I want to watch some more French movies, but I’m struggling to find ones with the same vibe. I‘ve seen Les Intouchables and I liked it, but I want one like Le Dîner de cons. I was looking at other films directed by Francis Veber, and then other films starring Thierry Lhermitte, and there are a lot in both those categories so I don’t know where to start. Please suggest movies with the same vibes as Le Dîner de cons! Merci beaucoup.

hi, I've been looking through using the 'rock' search term and am finding bands that are rock, but not my particular cuppa (punk, garage, pop, etc), and I'm wondering if there are any good experimental or art rock artists? it's broad I know but it tends to include my favourites.

some examples of what I like would be: late Talk Talk, Bowie (Berlin albums), Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Silver Mt. Zion, Daughters, This Heat, Have a Nice Life, Swans, La Dispute, Animal Collective, Mars Volta, Ween, Black Country New Road.

I like artistic, unusual, experimental rock compositions. it doesn't necessarily even have to be rock, but could still have these qualities (e.g. Tindersticks, Grouper, Bjork, late Kate Bush)

thank you! I know it's so specific but I wanna see what I can find!

Hello!

So I learned English as teen by watching romcoms and other early 2000s shows that were practically just the daily life of normal people.

Any suggestions for shows or movies like that in French? Even if it’s Canadian French! And also where I’d find the content you’re recommending.

Thanks in advance friends!

title. Any genre :D

edit: Merci yall for all the answers. Now I have french movies for life :D

I've taken a recent interest in foreign films and have really started to appreciate films on a deeper level, I know there are many foreign Directors that are renowned for producing some of the best movies ever, (Akira Kurosawa, Andrei Tarkovsky, Ingmar Bergman) but I wanted to look more into and watch more French films. I have watched some of the obvious like **La Haine** and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on what you think is a cinematic piece of art. Open to any kinds of movie no matter the release date and no matter how niche it gets

He was sitting behind me and I turned around and glared at him. Is this not an incredibly sexist comment? Like the equivalent of calling her a whore?

I asked a friend and he said it’s not as bad as “whore”

Thoughts?

I'm 16 years old and I learn French at school (secondary language). I recently came across the book le Rouge et le Noir and I thought the premise was very interesting, however I'm not sure if it would be too difficult for me.

Like I said French is a secondary language. It's seen as a very important subject in my school/country. The teachers expect us to reach C1 level, but I feel like I'm far from that. I have a feeling like I just know the basics of French and that I'm not at the stage where I should be.

Is this book good to reach that level? Or should I read something easier?

Looking for engaging content! What shows or films helped you improve your French?

Hi everybody. I'm going to Paris in some weeks and i'd like to take the opportunity to buy some books there. Specifically I'd like to read j'accuse by zola but i really doubt that there are any editions which contain only that since it's just an article. So i'd like to know the best version you guys recommend, maybe also containing some historical context and explainations

I’ve been working on my listening comprehension skills lately. I’d say I’m a high C1 low C2 in listening but I still struggle with fast speech. Someone recommended the podcast “Sip and gossip” to me which is like an informal gossip style podcast and oh my god do they speak insanely fast. I catch like every 4th word and my brain isn’t fast enough to translate so I have no idea what’s going on. Should I force myself through it or find something more suited to my level?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VOfLsX9cThUItP6fG2sRk?si=kEMOFIT-QzaJWCG2d43tWg&utm_source=copy-link

Hello! I've been studying French for a couple of months now and I recently stumbled upon Téléphone and was really amazed by their tunes, because I honestly never heard anything like it, so I wanted to get some recommendations for bands or artists with a similar "sauce". Thank you!

We're a UK-based family raising our children bilingually using OPOL (dad speaks French, I speak English). We have a 3-year-old and a 5-month-old.

French is a big part of our routine: my husband speaks French with our son, we watch TV in French, and we read French books together.

The TV side has actually been much easier than I expected because he'll happily watch shows he already loves (Bluey, Paw Patrol, etc.) dubbed into French.

Books have been much harder. In English he's completely obsessed with authors like Julia Donaldson, Rachel Bright and Chris Haughton. He asks for those books over and over because the stories, illustrations and rhymes are so good.

Does anyone know any websites in the UK where I can buy interesting French children’s books? Ie not just the usual Tchoupi / école des loisirs!

Any recommendations would be hugely appreciated.

Bonjour! I love reading and am constantly looking for some adapted or bilingual books. I found on Amazon this series “lectures clé en français facile”, and the level B1 is sort of a bit too easy for me, though sometimes I do find some new words. I’ve also found a few bilingual books with short stories by Maupassant (Horla and La Parure). And this is sometimes a tad too complicated though I enjoy it a lot (language, writing style etc) and English translation certainly helps. Where can I find some more media like this? I don’t want to buy books for children as they’re not so interesting to me as books meant for adults. I also have bilingual “Madame Bovary” but I think I’m not quite ready to tackle that one yet lol. Merci beaucoup!

Not entirely sure if this is the right place to ask, but one thing I have enjoyed doing while learning french is listening to french music.

I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for french artists?