The eight forms
Au, à la, à l’, aux · du, de la, de l’, des
The article follows the gender of the activity: le foot → au foot, la guitare → de la guitare. Tap a row to hear both.
| Article | à + … (jouer à) | de + … (jouer de, faire de) |
|---|---|---|
| le (masculine) | au foot | du piano |
| la (feminine) | à la pétanque | de la guitare |
| l’ (vowel) | à l’escrime | de l’accordéon |
| les (plural) | aux cartes | des claquettes |
Saying what you like
J’adore, j’aime bien, je déteste
Unlike English, French uses the infinitive after aimer, never an -ing form: J’aime nager, “I like swimming”. With a noun, keep the article: J’aime le foot.
lovezha-DOR don-SAY · “I love dancing.”
J’adoreI-lovedanser.to-dance
like a lotZHEM boh-KOO LEER · “I really like reading.”
J’aimeI-likebeaucoupa-lotlire.to-read
quite likeZHEM BYAN na-ZHAY · “I quite like swimming.”
J’aimeI-likebienwellnager.to-swim
preferzhuh pray-FAIR luh tay-NEES · “I prefer tennis.”
JeIpréfèrepreferle tennis.the tennis
don’t much likezhuh NEM pa troh koo-REER · “I’m not keen on running.”
JeIn’aime pas tropdon’t-like too-muchcourir.to-run
hatezhuh day-TEST luh GOLF · “I hate golf.”
JeIdétestehatele golf.the golf
Talking about a match
Le match, l’équipe, match nul, marquer un but
| French | English | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| le matchluh MATCH | match, game | Il y a match ce soir.eel ya MATCH suh SWARThere’s a match tonight. |
| l’équipelay-KEEP | team | Tu es pour quelle équipe ?tü ay poor kel ay-KEEPWhich team do you support? |
| gagnerga-NYAY | to win | On a gagné deux à un.on a ga-NYAY duh za UHNWe won two–one. |
| perdrePAIRDR | to lose | Ils ont perdu à domicile.eel zon pair-DÜ a do-mee-SEELThey lost at home. |
| match nulmatch NÜL | a draw | Zéro partout, match nul.zay-ROH par-TOO, match NÜLNil–nil, a draw. |
| marquer un butmar-KAY uhn BÜT | to score a goal | Il a marqué un but magnifique !eel a mar-KAY uhn BÜT ma-nyee-FEEKHe scored a brilliant goal! |
| l’arbitrelar-BEETR | referee | L’arbitre siffle.lar-BEETR SEEFLThe referee blows the whistle. |
| les supporterslay sü-por-TAIR | fans | Les supporters chantent.lay sü-por-TAIR SHONTThe fans are singing. |
Free time in France
La pétanque, le Tour, Roland-Garros
La pétanquela pay-TONKA game of metal balls thrown towards a small wooden one, played on village squares across the south.
Le Tour de Franceluh TOOR duh FRONSThree weeks of cycling every July; the leader wears le maillot jaune.
Roland-Garrosro-lon ga-ROSSThe French Open tennis tournament in Paris, played on red clay.
La randonnéela ron-do-NAYHiking on the GR trails (sentiers de grande randonnée), marked in red and white.
Keep going