Vocab list 2 (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Basic vocabulary - Vocab list 2
Understanding essential French vocabulary is crucial for GCSE success. This collection covers geographical terms, useful phrases, and common names that frequently appear in exam contexts.
Building a strong foundation in basic vocabulary is essential for GCSE success. These terms appear regularly in speaking, listening, reading and writing assessments, so memorising them will significantly improve your performance across all skills.
Cultural and geographical words
Learning country names and their genders helps you use correct articles and agreements. Most countries ending in -e are feminine, whilst others are typically masculine.
| French | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| l'Algérie | Algeria | (f) |
| le Canada | Canada | (m) |
| l'Angleterre | England | (f) |
| la France | France | (f) |
| Madagascar | Madagascar | (m) |
| la Martinique | Martinique | (f) |
| French | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| le Royaume-Uni | United Kingdom | (m) |
| l'Afrique | Africa | (f) |
| l'Amérique | America | (f) |
| l'Asie | Asia | (f) |
| l'Europe | Europe | (f) |
Gender Rule: Countries ending in -e are typically feminine (use en + country name), while others are usually masculine (use au for singular, aux for plural). This affects which preposition you use when saying you're going to or living in a country.
Worked Example: Using Country Names with Prepositions
Step 1: Identify the gender
- France (ends in -e) = feminine
- Canada (doesn't end in -e) = masculine
Step 2: Choose the correct preposition
- en France (to/in France - feminine)
- au Canada (to/in Canada - masculine)
Step 3: Complete sentences
- Je vais en France cet été. (I'm going to France this summer.)
- Il habite au Canada depuis cinq ans. (He has lived in Canada for five years.)
- L'Angleterre est un pays intéressant. (England is an interesting country.)
Important dates and events
These cultural references help you understand French-speaking contexts and demonstrate cultural awareness in your assessments.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le 14 juillet | Bastille Day |
| le Nouvel An | New Year |
| la Saint-Sylvestre | New Year's Eve |
| francophone | French-speaking |
| la Tour Eiffel | the Eiffel Tower |
| le Tour de France | the Tour de France |
| la Fête de la Musique | World Music Day |
Cultural knowledge is often tested indirectly in GCSE French. Knowing key dates like le 14 juillet (Bastille Day) and famous landmarks helps you understand contexts in listening and reading passages.
Essential short phrases and expressions
These common expressions appear frequently in speaking and listening exams. Practise using them in context to sound more natural and demonstrate fluency.
Agreement and opinions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| aussi... que | as... as |
| je suis d'accord avec | I agree with |
| ça va bien | I am good/well, it fits |
| ça m'est égal | I don't mind, I'm not bothered |
| bien sûr | of course |
| de rien | you are welcome |
Time and frequency expressions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| de temps en temps | from time to time |
| en ce moment | at the moment |
| au premier plan | in the foreground |
| à l'arrière plan | in the background |
| il est + time | it is/it's + time |
Worked Example: Using Time Expressions in Context
Practice sentences with time expressions:
- De temps en temps, je mange au restaurant. (From time to time, I eat at the restaurant.)
- En ce moment, j'étudie pour mes examens. (At the moment, I'm studying for my exams.)
- Je suis d'accord avec mon professeur. (I agree with my teacher.)
Notice how these phrases add sophistication to your French and help you sound more natural.
Useful constructions with infinitives
Understanding these patterns helps you build more complex sentences and demonstrate advanced grammatical knowledge.
| French pattern | English meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| il faut + infinitive | it is necessary/must + verb | Il faut étudier |
| être en train de + infinitive | to be in the process of | Je suis en train de manger |
| venir de + infinitive | to have just + past participle | Je viens d'arriver |
Infinitive Constructions: These patterns are high-scoring grammatical structures in GCSE assessments. Using il faut + infinitive, être en train de + infinitive, and venir de + infinitive correctly demonstrates advanced understanding and can significantly boost your marks.
Weather and descriptions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| il fait (beau) | it is (nice) |
| il pleut | it rains/it's raining |
| il neige | it snows/it's snowing |
| il y a du (brouillard) | there is (fog) |
| qu'est-ce qui ne va pas? | what's wrong? |
| qu'est-ce que | what |
Pronunciation tip: Remember that qu'est-ce que sounds like "kess-kuh" and is essential for asking questions. This phrase appears frequently in listening assessments, so recognising its sound pattern is crucial.
Names used in assessments
These French names commonly appear in GCSE exam materials. Familiarising yourself with them helps you follow listening passages and reading texts more easily.
Knowing common French names used in assessments helps you track characters in listening passages and reading texts. When you hear "Marie parle avec Thomas", you'll immediately understand who's speaking to whom.
Popular girls' names
| French names |
|---|
| Ana, Chloé, Clara |
| Diane, Emma, Eva |
| Fathia, Fatima, Inès |
| Jade, Léa, Lola |
| Lucie, Manon, Maria |
| Marie, Myriam, Nadia |
| Sarah, Yasmine, Zoé |
Popular boys' names
| French names |
|---|
| Ahmed, Alessandro, Clément |
| Dorian, Enzo, Hugo |
| Jules, Louis, Lucas |
| Luis, Mathis, Mehdi |
| Mohamed, Nathan, Rachid |
| Raphaël, Sofiane, Théo |
| Thomas, Tom, Yanis |
Common adult names
For characters representing parents, teachers, or other adults in exam scenarios:
| Female adults | Male adults |
|---|---|
| Sabrina | Patrick |
| Sylvie | Richard |
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercise
French to English:
- Je suis d'accord avec toi, mais ça m'est égal.
- De temps en temps, il fait beau en Angleterre.
English to French:
- At the moment, I am studying in France.
- What's wrong? You are welcome here.
Answers:
-
- I agree with you, but I don't mind. | 2. From time to time, it's nice weather in England.
-
- En ce moment, j'étudie en France. | 2. Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas? Tu es le/la bienvenu(e) ici.
Key Points to Remember:
- Country genders matter - most ending in -e are feminine, use correct prepositions (en/au/aux)
- Time expressions with "il est" for clock time, "il fait" for weather conditions
- Infinitive constructions like "il faut + infinitive" help create complex sentences
- Common phrases like "de temps en temps" and "je suis d'accord" make your French sound natural
- French names in exams help you follow characters in listening and reading tasks