French Language Vocabulary and Lexical Themes Syllabus

Vocabulary and Lexical Themes syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Vocabulary and Lexical Themes in French Language, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Everyday Life and Identity

   4 topics

   • Greetings and Introductions
   • Numbers, Dates, and Time
   • Family and Relationships
   • Describing People and Personality
2. 2

   Home and Daily Routine

   3 topics

   • House and Furniture
   • Daily Activities and Routines
   • Household Chores
3. 3

   Food and Dining

   3 topics

   • Food and Drink Vocabulary
   • At the Restaurant and Cafe
   • Shopping for Groceries
4. 4

   Travel and Directions

   3 topics

   • Transportation
   • Asking for and Giving Directions
   • Hotels and Accommodation
5. 5

   Work and Education

   3 topics

   • Jobs and Professions
   • The Workplace and Office
   • School and Studies
6. 6

   Health, Body, and Emotions

   3 topics

   • Parts of the Body
   • At the Doctor and Pharmacy
   • Expressing Feelings and Emotions
7. 7

   Idioms and Expressions

   3 topics

   • Common Idiomatic Expressions
   • Faux Amis (False Friends)
   • Informal and Slang (Argot)

Vocabulary and Lexical Themes flashcards for French Language

21 of 52 cards from the Vocabulary and Lexical Themes deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How do you say a formal "Hello / Good day" in French, and what informal greeting is used among friends?

   Formal: "Bonjour." Informal: "Salut" (also means "bye" casually).

2. What is the difference between "tu" and "vous" when addressing someone in French?

   "Tu" is the informal singular (friends, family, children). "Vous" is formal singular OR plural (strangers, elders, groups). Using "vous" politely is called "vouvoyer."

3. Translate the introduction phrase: "My name is Marie. Nice to meet you."

   "Je m'appelle Marie. Enchanté(e)." ("Enchanté" for a male speaker, "Enchantée" for a female speaker.)

4. How do you ask "How are you?" formally and informally in French?

   Formal: "Comment allez-vous ?" Informal: "Comment vas-tu ?" or "Ça va ?" A common reply is "Ça va bien, merci."

5. What are the French numbers 1 through 10?

   un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix.

6. How are the numbers 70, 80, and 90 formed in standard French?

   70 = soixante-dix (60+10), 80 = quatre-vingts (4×20), 90 = quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10).

7. How do you ask and tell the time in French, e.g. "It is 3:15"?

   Ask: "Quelle heure est-il ?" Tell: "Il est trois heures et quart." (et quart = quarter past; et demie = half past; moins le quart = quarter to).

8. List the seven days of the week in French, starting with Monday.

   lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, dimanche (not capitalized in French).

9. List the twelve months of the year in French.

   janvier, février, mars, avril, mai, juin, juillet, août, septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre.

10. How do you say the date "Monday, 1 May 2026" in French, and which word marks the first of the month?

    "lundi premier mai 2026." Only the first uses the ordinal "premier" (1er); all other days use cardinal numbers (e.g., le deux mai).

11. Give the French words for the immediate family: mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter.

    mère (mother), père (father), frère (brother), sœur (sister), fils (son), fille (daughter).

12. What are the French words for grandparents and grandchildren?

    grand-père (grandfather), grand-mère (grandmother), grands-parents (grandparents); petit-fils (grandson), petite-fille (granddaughter), petits-enfants (grandchildren).

13. Translate: husband, wife, and the relationship terms for uncle, aunt, cousin (m/f).

    mari (husband), femme/épouse (wife); oncle (uncle), tante (aunt), cousin (m) / cousine (f).

14. How do you say "I am married / single / divorced" in French?

    "Je suis marié(e) / célibataire / divorcé(e)."

15. Give French adjectives for physical description: tall, short, thin, and describe agreement.

    grand(e) (tall), petit(e) (short), mince (thin). Adjectives agree in gender/number: "Elle est grande," "Ils sont grands."

16. How do you describe hair and eye color, e.g. "She has blond hair and blue eyes"?

    "Elle a les cheveux blonds et les yeux bleus." (cheveux = hair, always plural; yeux = eyes; colors agree).

17. Give three French personality adjectives with their meanings.

    gentil(le) = kind/nice; drôle = funny; sérieux/sérieuse = serious. (Others: timide = shy, paresseux = lazy, travailleur = hardworking.)

18. Which French adjectives typically come BEFORE the noun (the BAGS/BANGS rule)?

    Beauty, Age, Number/Goodness, Size — e.g., beau, joli, jeune, vieux, nouveau, bon, mauvais, grand, petit, gros. Example: "une jolie petite maison."

19. Name the main rooms of a house in French.

    la cuisine (kitchen), le salon/séjour (living room), la chambre (bedroom), la salle de bains (bathroom), les toilettes/WC (toilet), la salle à manger (dining room).

20. Give the French words for common furniture: bed, table, chair, sofa, wardrobe.

    le lit (bed), la table (table), la chaise (chair), le canapé (sofa), l'armoire (wardrobe).

21. Translate the household appliances: fridge, stove/cooker, washing machine, dishwasher.

    le réfrigérateur/frigo (fridge), la cuisinière (stove), le lave-linge/la machine à laver (washing machine), le lave-vaisselle (dishwasher).

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