The French Language

French is the official language of France. It is also spoken in Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and parts of Africa. French comes from Latin, the old language of Rome. People often call French the language of love. It has a soft, musical sound.

How French Started

French grew from Latin hundreds of years ago. It changed slowly over time into the language we know today. Kings and queens in England once spoke French too. Many English words come from French. Words like table, menu, and ballet are French.

A map showing countries where people speak French.
A map showing countries where people speak French. (IntelloFR / Wikimedia Commons)

French Around the World

About 300 million people speak French. It is one of the official languages of the United Nations. Many famous books, like The Little Prince, were written in French. The language uses small marks called accents over some letters. These marks help you know how to say the words.

Fun Facts

  • French is spoken on every continent in the world.
  • The word 'bonjour' means hello in French.
  • French was the language of kings and queens in Europe for many years.

Did You Know?

French was the official language of England for about 300 years after 1066. That is why English has so many French words!