Vocab list 3 (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Basic vocabulary - Vocab list 3
This vocabulary list covers essential French words that you'll use frequently in everyday conversations and writing. These terms form the foundation for expressing yourself clearly in French.
Building a strong vocabulary foundation is crucial for French fluency. Focus on learning these words in context rather than as isolated terms, and practice using them in your own sentences.
Articles and pronouns
Understanding articles and pronouns is crucial for building proper French sentences. These words help you refer to people, things, and quantities, and they appear in almost every French sentence you'll encounter.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| on | one, you, we |
| tous | everyone, all |
| tout le monde | everybody |
| tout | everything, all |
| quelqu'un | someone |
| ça, cela | that, it |
| que (?) | what (?), that |
Example Usage in Context:
- On va au cinéma ce soir - We're going to the cinema tonight
- Tout le monde aime les vacances - Everyone likes holidays
- Quelqu'un a téléphoné - Someone phoned
Question words
These essential question words allow you to ask for information and engage in conversations effectively. Mastering these will help you navigate real-world French interactions with confidence.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| combien (?) | how much (?), how many (?) |
| comment (?) | how (?) |
| quand (?) | when (?) |
| où (?) | where (?) |
| qui (?) | who (?) |
| pourquoi (?) | why (?) |
Practical Question Examples:
- Combien ça coûte? - How much does it cost?
- Où habites-tu? - Where do you live?
- Pourquoi es-tu en retard? - Why are you late?
Negatives
French negatives follow specific patterns that differ significantly from English. Understanding this system is essential for accurate French communication.
Key Grammar Rule: Most French negatives use ne + another negative word to create the negative meaning. Don't forget both parts of the negative construction!
| French | English |
|---|---|
| ne ... jamais | never |
| ne ... personne | no one, not anyone |
| ne ... rien | nothing, not anything |
| ne ... aucun | not one |
| ne ... plus | no longer |
| ne ... ni ... ni | neither ... nor |
| ne ... pas encore | not yet |
| ne...que | only, nothing but |
Negative Construction Examples:
- Je ne mange jamais de viande - I never eat meat
- Il n'y a personne ici - There's no one here
- Elle ne fait rien - She's doing nothing
Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect ideas, sentences, and clauses. They're essential for creating flowing, coherent French and will help you move beyond simple sentence structures.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| et | and |
| comme | as, like, in terms of |
| car | because |
| parce que | because |
| mais | but |
| si | if |
| ou | or |
| donc | therefore, so |
| quoique | although |
| cependant | however |
Connecting Ideas with Conjunctions:
- J'aime le football mais je préfère le tennis - I like football but I prefer tennis
- Il pleut, donc nous restons à la maison - It's raining, so we're staying at home
Prepositions
Prepositions show relationships between words and are vital for expressing location, time, and direction. These small words carry significant meaning in French sentences.
Prepositions often don't translate directly from English to French. It's best to learn them in context and memorise common phrases that use specific prepositions.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| contre | against |
| à, en, chez | at, to, in, on |
| avant | before |
| derrière | behind, at the back |
| entre | between |
| pendant | during, for |
| pour | for, in order to |
| sous | under |
| avec | with |
| sans | without |
Prepositions in Action:
- Le chat est sous la table - The cat is under the table
- Je vais chez mon ami - I'm going to my friend's house
- Nous partons avant midi - We're leaving before midday
Parts of the body
Learning body parts is essential for describing yourself, health issues, and physical activities. This vocabulary will be particularly useful in medical situations and daily descriptions.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| bras (m) | arm |
| cœur (m) | heart |
| corps (m) | body |
| doigt (m) | finger |
| dos (m) | back |
| gorge (f) | throat |
| jambe (f) | leg |
| main (f) | hand |
| nez (m) | nose |
| oreille (f) | ear |
| French | English |
|---|---|
| pied (m) | foot |
| tête (f) | head |
| ventre (m) | stomach |
| visage (m) | face |
| yeux (mpl) | eyes |
| peau (f) | skin |
| voix (f) | voice |
Pronunciation Tip: Remember that yeux (eyes) is the plural of œil (eye) and is pronounced "yuh". This is an irregular plural form that you must memorise.
Body Parts in Everyday Expressions:
- J'ai mal à la tête - I have a headache
- Elle se lave les mains - She's washing her hands
- Il a les yeux bleus - He has blue eyes
Translation practice
Test your understanding of this vocabulary with these translation exercises:
Translate from French to English:
- Je ne comprends rien
- Où est tonne frère?
Translate from English to French: 3. Everyone is here 4. I'm going to the doctor's
Answers:
- I don't understand anything
- Where is your brother?
- Tout le monde est ici
- Je vais chez le médecin
Key Points to Remember:
- Negatives in French typically use ne plus another negative word - don't forget both parts!
- Question words are essential for engaging in conversations - practise using them in different contexts
- Prepositions often don't translate directly from English, so learn them in phrases and contexts
- Body parts have gender - learn the article (le/la) with each word to improve your accuracy
- Conjunctions help create more sophisticated sentences - use them to connect your ideas smoothly