Learn French with Movies & TV Shows
French cinema is legendary for a reason. From New Wave classics to modern thrillers, French films are packed with everyday language you will not find in a textbook. Train your ear on real spoken French, where half the letters are silent and words flow together.
Why Learn French?
Language of diplomacy and culture
French is an official language of the UN, EU, NATO, and the International Olympic Committee. It remains the traditional language of diplomacy, cuisine, fashion, and the arts.
Spoken on five continents
French is official in 29 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific. It is the fastest-growing language in Africa and projected to have 700 million speakers by 2050.
Gateway to other Romance languages
Once you know French, learning Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Romanian becomes much easier. French shares vocabulary and grammar patterns with all of them.
How to Learn French with Wordy
Three steps to start picking up French from real movies and shows.
Pick a Movie or Show
Browse French content from our library of 15,000+ clips or connect your streaming service.
Watch and Tap Words
Tap any word in the subtitles for instant translation. Save words you want to remember.
Review with Flashcards
Practice saved vocabulary with spaced repetition flashcards linked to the original scene.
Popular French Content for Learning
Great French movies and shows to get you started.
Intouchables
Natural Parisian French with a mix of formal and informal registers, plus plenty of humor.
Lupin
Modern French with clear articulation, set in Paris with a fast-moving plot that keeps you engaged.
Amelie
Poetic, playful French spoken at a moderate pace with rich descriptive vocabulary.
Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent)
Workplace and social French with lots of everyday expressions and Parisian slang.
The Class (Entre les murs)
Classroom setting with natural conversational French, including youth slang and informal debate.
Tips for Learning French from Movies
Stop translating silent letters
French spelling looks intimidating, but the pronunciation rules are consistent once you learn them. Final consonants are usually silent. Movies help because you hear the actual sound, not what the spelling suggests.
Learn liaison and enchaรฎnement
In spoken French, words connect together. "Les amis" sounds like "lay-zah-mee," not three separate words. Movie dialogue is the fastest way to internalize these connections because they happen naturally.
Pay attention to register differences
French has a strong formal/informal divide. "Tu" vs. "vous" is just the start. Watch how characters switch between casual speech with friends and polished language in professional settings.
French Fun Facts
For about 300 years (from 1066 to the 14th century), French was the official language of England after the Norman Conquest (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
About 45% of modern English words have French origins, including "restaurant," "ballet," "entrepreneur," and "deja vu" (Linguistic Society of America).
French was the primary language of international diplomacy until the mid-20th century and is still one of only two working languages at the UN Secretariat (United Nations).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn French?
How long does it take to learn French?
The FSI estimates 600 to 750 hours for English speakers to reach professional working proficiency. French shares a huge amount of vocabulary with English, which speeds things up. The main challenge is pronunciation and the gap between written and spoken French.
Why does French sound so different from how it is written?
Why does French sound so different from how it is written?
French spelling preserves historical Latin and Old French forms, while pronunciation has evolved dramatically. Many letters are silent, and words blend together in speech through liaison. This is exactly why learning from movies is so effective. You hear the real sounds, not what the page shows you.
Is French harder than Spanish for English speakers?
Is French harder than Spanish for English speakers?
Slightly. Both are FSI Category I, but French pronunciation is trickier. Spanish is nearly phonetic, while French has nasal vowels, silent letters, and liaison. However, French vocabulary is closer to English, so reading French is often easier than reading Spanish for beginners.
What are the best French films for learning?
What are the best French films for learning?
Intouchables (2011) is a perfect starting point with its mix of clear dialogue and humor. Amelie (2001) is great for building vocabulary. For TV, Lupin on Netflix has modern, well-paced French. Avoid older New Wave films at first since the audio quality and dated slang can make them harder.
Start Learning French Today
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