French A1 vocabulary

A1 is the first level of French. By the end of it you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions about everyday things, and get through a short conversation when shopping or asking the way. The DELF A1 exam tests this level.

How many words do you need?

A1 is usually put at around six to seven hundred words and phrases. Add ten to fifteen new cards a day, keep up with your reviews, and you'll get there in a few months.

Tips for this level

• Always learn a noun with its article. French has two genders: le livre (masculine), la table (feminine). Where the article shortens to l', the cards mark the gender with (m.) or (f.).
• Learn adjectives in both forms. They agree with the noun: petit, petite. The cards show both.
• Don't trust the spelling, listen. Many final letters are silent: petit sounds like "puh-tee". Play the audio in the app and repeat it.
• Use the words you already know, carefully. Thousands of French words look like English ones, but some are false friends: librairie is a bookshop, not a library, and actuellement means "currently".

Topics

Each topic has a page and a flashcard deck. Work through them in order and by the end of the list you'll have covered the common A1 vocabulary.