How to Read French: 8 Handy Tips
Since you already know English, you have a solid base for learning to read French. Many words will look familiar, making it easier to grasp the general topic of your reading at the beginning.
However, to read French effectively and eventually reach the same level as your English reading, there are several key strategies to follow. Here are my top eight suggestions for mastering French reading.
1. To Pronounce Words, Start Learning French Sounds
Reading French is excellent practice for correct pronunciation, so learning how individual sounds function in the language will help you read words accurately from the start.
IElanguages.com provides a French tutorial that gives English speakers a summary of French pronunciation, complete with plenty of audio examples to help you get used to the sound of words and sentences.
Dedicate some time to understanding French phonetics by listening to native speakers and repeating the sounds yourself.
Once you feel more confident, try reading sentences from a newspaper aloud (even if you don't understand them yet). Jot down any sounds that are confusing and look them up later.
Discover which methods help you remember the subtleties (and French has many!) and use them as you learn. Does writing the sounds using IPA symbols help you remember them? Or is it more effective to watch YouTube videos to hear natives produce the sounds?
Think about labeling items around your home with their French names and saying the words out loud as you move about. Recording your voice can also help you compare it to the correct pronunciation and assess your progress.
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2. Place Sounds Together to Create Words and Sentences
Once you understand how individual consonants and sounds are pronounced, the next step is to combine them and get accustomed to hearing them form different words.
This is where a French dictionary or a website like WordReference becomes useful!
Similar to English, sounds in French change based on their position in a sentence—consider all the silent letters and unusual pronunciations that depend on letter and word order.
After learning some vocabulary, test your reading by trying to pronounce words on your own first, then check your attempt against a native speaker's pronunciation. Forvo is an excellent resource for this.
3. Get a Basic Understanding of French Grammar
It goes without saying that learning to read and comprehend French requires a general knowledge of French grammar. This helps you understand how words combine to form properly structured sentences.
To read French well, you'll need to tackle long sequences of words. Start with basic French sentences and structures, which will likely include the present tense and the most common French verbs.
Next, focus on how French sentence structure works. While both English and French follow a Subject-Verb-Object order, elements like adjectives and pronouns are placed differently. Questions are also formed differently in French.
Numerous books and online resources are available for mastering French grammar, verb conjugation, and sentence structure, including “English Grammar for Students of French,” “501 French Verbs,” Tex’s French Grammar, BBC French, and more. Many websites also provide free quizzes and games to aid your learning.
4. Spend Time Every Day Reading French
Now that you have a handle on pronunciation and grammar, it's time to practice!
It's essential to read in French every day—even if it's just for a short while. Find a spot in your daily schedule to read an article on Le Monde or another online resource to get your practice.
Look at your daily routine, identify where you can fit in a few minutes of French reading, and make it a consistent habit. As you incorporate French reading into your daily life, you'll see rapid and steady improvement.
5. Diversify Your Library
The French literary world offers a wide range of genres and books, from young adult and literary fiction to sci-fi and mysteries.
Start by stocking your shelves with beginner titles—children's books are a great starting point—and then seek out some of the best French authors. Many newspapers and magazines have online lists recommending top French writers (see here and here), and even Amazon is a good place to find titles similar to ones you enjoy.
As you learn to read French, you'll also gain insight into the rich and varied French culture, which will motivate you to keep learning. The best part of having a diverse bookshelf is engaging with the many different facets of French culture.
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6. Read Abridged French Classics
There are many versions of French classics published in an abridged format, either for foreign learners like you or for young French readers.
The former might include translations or definitions of archaic or challenging words, while the latter are usually written in a more timeless style. This lets you use the vocabulary you already know instead of wondering what a redingote (riding jacket) or a carrosse (horse-drawn carriage) is.
Several publishers release abridged classics, but one of the best is Livre de Poche Jeunesse. These are the versions read by French students, offering an ideal balance of simplicity and authenticity. Consider starting with these titles:
- “Les Misérables,” Victor Hugo
- “Notre Dame de Paris,” Victor Hugo
- “Le Tour du monde en 80 jours,” Jules Verne
- “Le Comte de Monte Cristo,” Alexandre Dumas
When reading these books, pay close attention to sentence structure. The stories have been simplified for learners, so if you encounter an unfamiliar structure, note it down and ask a teacher or French-speaking friend for clarification. Understanding simpler sentence structures in these abridged books will prepare you for unabridged classics.
7. Expand the Mediums You’re Reading
Reading in French should be as enjoyable as your leisure reading in English. If you like French novels, fill your shelves with books from your favorite genre. Or, pick up some French magazines for light and entertaining reading.
You might also try French comic books; the illustrations make reading more fun and easier to understand without constantly needing a dictionary. To stay informed while practicing French, choose some French newspapers to read online or find a local copy.
Perhaps you appreciate French poetry. This is also a valuable tool for practicing comprehension and testing your ability to think conceptually and recognize literary devices like metaphors and similes.
Of course, reading practice isn't limited to traditional literature.
When you read tweets, recipes, or even subtitles, you can observe how French is used in real-world contexts, like on the program Lingflix.
Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and transforms them into personalized language lessons.
You can try Lingflix for free for 2 weeks. Visit the website or download the iOS app or Android app.
P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
If you ever find yourself losing interest in your current reading material, try switching to something new!
8. Make Reading a Social Activity
Book clubs aren't exclusive to the English-speaking world. Find some local French speakers and meet regularly to discuss a book—or even just the news or an interesting magazine article.
Being accountable for your reading will encourage you to comprehend more deeply, which will inevitably speed up your learning.
If there aren't any local groups, try an online book discussion! Book Node is a great website for general book talk, literary news, and more.
From sounding out consonants to tackling Baudelaire, learning to read French is a journey well worth taking.
Make use of the vast resources available to you, and remember to practice consistently!
And one more thing...
If you like learning French on your own time and from the comfort of your smart device, then I'd be remiss to not tell you about Lingflix. Lingflix has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here: Lingflix brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples. For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this: Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank." All throughout, Lingflix tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Start using the Lingflix website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the Lingflix app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
