If there’s one thing certain about the French Language for Babies and Toddlers, it is this:
It’s not ‘Greek’!
It’s never too early to start teaching your child a foreign language. While you’re on that thought, why not think of teaching them a language that is highly pleasing to the ear?
When you hear people speaking in the romantic French language, it almost seems like they might be slipping terms of endearment to each other. On that note, what could be more fun than teaching your precious little ones some basic French?
If you’re looking for some Basic French for Kids, you’re in for a treat! In this article you will find a compilation of everything ranging from Basic French Words, to French Basics for Beginners that will be hungrily soaked by young minds eager to absorb the French language.
Let’s get a whiff of this exotic European language, with a perusal of some basic French words!
Basic French Words for Babies and Toddlers
Here is a compilation of Basic French Words used in everyday conversations, along with their English meanings.
- Bonjour: Hello, Good Morning
- Ça va?: How are you?
- Au Revoir: Goodbye
- Oui: Yes
- Merci Beaucoup: Thank You very much
- Non: No
- Bien: Good
- Mère: Mother
- Père: Father
- S’il vous plaît: Please
- Bonsoir: Good Evening
Basic French Sentences
One of the best ways to get your little one to pick up French faster, is to expose them on a daily basis to commonly used French sentences. Just like the ones we have compiled for you in the section below.
Of course, the sentences we have outlined for your perusal here, only call for a more comprehensive knowledge of common French words. All it takes is speaking these words every now and then in front of your toddler, before moving on to the cool sentences you can create with them!
- C’est bon: It’s okay
- Demandez-moi: Ask me
- Essayez encore: Try again
- Très bien: Alright
- Va jouer: Go and play
- A la prochaine fois: See you next time
- Respecte tes aînés: Respect your elders
- Ecoute-moi: Listen to me
- Eteins la lumière: Turn off the light
- Lave-toi le visage: Wash your face
- Prends une bouchée: Take a bite
- Je suis la Hongrie: I am hungry
- Amuse-toi bien: Enjoy yourself
Names of Common Objects in the French Language
When learning the French language, it is only natural that your child will want to know the French names for common objects they see.
- Le lolo (le lait): Milk
- Un nounours: Teddy bear
- Un joujou: Toy
- Une balle: Ball
- Une comptine: Nursery Rhyme
- Un toutou: Doggy
Note: This is sometimes called an ‘ouah-ouah’ by children.
- Un minou: Kitty
- Une voiture: Car
- Un bateau: Boat
- Une maison: House
- Une fleur: Flower
Names of Colours in the French Language
Needless to say, your little one is fascinated at the sights of the different colours they see in the world around them. It is only natural then, they will want to know their French names!
- Rouge: Red
- Orange: Orange (Now that’s a fun fact!)
- Jaune: Yellow
- Blan(che): White
- Bleu(e): Blue
- Vert(e): Green
- Rose: Pink (Yet another interesting fact to know!)
- Gris(e): Grey
- Noir(e): Black
- Brun(e): Brown
French Basics for Beginners: Tips to make it Easy
Simply learning French words and sentences like the ones showcased up till now, is not enough to get kids to master even Basic French.
Here’s a set of tips you could use, for a more holistic learning of this wonderful language.
Use your most common phrases, in the French language
If you want to successfully incorporate the learning of the French language into your child’s daily routine, you have to make it relevant to them. The easiest way to do this, would be to use words or phrases you are naturally using with them every day.
For instance, you probably whisper ‘I love You’ to your child several times a day, right? Well, instead of doing that you might wish to say it in French! Say ‘Je t’ aime’ several times to them, and see how it sticks in their minds!
Reading French Bedtime Stories
Regardless of the language you speak, you should be reading bedtime stories to tuck in your tiny tots every night. By reading their French bedtime stories, you will not only be developing their basics of French, but also make for an intense bonding experience they will look forward to.
Must-read French bedtime story: Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince)
Reading French Comics
Aside from having them listen to you while you tell them bedtime stories at night, you must foster in your children the love of reading for themselves! One of the best ways you could get them to read in French, would be by starting them off with some good old French Comics.
Remember those Asterix and Tintin comics that had us enthralled as kids? You might want to get those for your children. Oh, and in ‘French’, of course!
Make it a ‘thing’
You have to be enthusiastic about teaching your child the French language, if you are to be successful in that arena. To that effect, set aside a designated time, when you will be speaking French with your child.
Apart from reading French storybooks, you could even watch French TV programs that are age appropriate, and sing French songs with them, too!
Don’t wait
The last thing you want to do is wait till they are ‘a little older’, before you start teaching them French. There is good research that shows that younger children actually have a natural aptitude for learning languages. Starting them young when it comes to their learning the basics of French, will only make a more comprehensive study of the language in later years.
At EuroKids, we believe that there’s plenty of reasons you should put your best foot forward, when teaching your kids French. Not only is French a deeply melodious language, it is also the second most widely learned language in the world after English.
