Vocab list 2 (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
General vocabulary - List 2
This vocabulary list contains essential French words that appear frequently in GCSE exam contexts. Learning these terms will help you understand texts, express ideas clearly, and improve your overall French fluency.
Core vocabulary - Descriptive words
| French | English |
|---|---|
| fou/folle | crazy, wild |
| froid | cold |
| général | general |
| génial | great |
| gratuit | free |
| gros/grosse | big, large |
| habituel/habituelle | usual |
| important | important |
| impossible | impossible |
| intéressant | interesting |
These descriptive words are fundamental for expressing opinions and describing people, places, and situations. They form the backbone of descriptive language in French and will help you create more vivid and precise descriptions.
Notice that many adjectives have different masculine and feminine forms (e.g., fou/folle, gros/grosse). This agreement pattern is essential for grammatical accuracy in French.
Example sentences:
- C'est une idée géniale! (That's a brilliant idea!)
- Le musée est gratuit le dimanche. (The museum is free on Sundays.)
- Il fait très froid aujourd'hui. (It's very cold today.)
Time and frequency vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| heure | hour, o'clock |
| jour | day |
| journée | day |
| matin | morning |
| maximum | maximum |
| minimum | minimum |
| minute | minute |
| mois | month |
| moment | moment |
| nuit | night |
Understanding time expressions is crucial for describing when events happen and how long they take. These words appear constantly in both spoken and written French, making them essential for effective communication.
Note the important difference between jour (refers to the day as a unit) and journée (refers to the duration of the day). This distinction affects how you express time-related concepts.
Example sentences:
- Je pars à huit heures du matin. (I'm leaving at eight o'clock in the morning.)
- J'ai passé une excellente journée. (I had an excellent day.)
- Il faut attendre un moment. (You have to wait a moment.)
Action and movement words
| French | English |
|---|---|
| laisser | to let, leave |
| lire | to read |
| marcher | to walk |
| mettre | to put |
| monter | to go up |
| mouvement | movement |
| oublier | to forget |
| ouvrir | to open |
| passer | to spend (time), take (exam) |
| partir | to leave |
These verbs describe common actions and movements that you'll use frequently in everyday French conversation. They help you express what people do and how they move through the world.
Many of these are irregular verbs, so it's important to learn their conjugation patterns for different tenses. Don't just memorise the infinitive - practice their various forms!
Example sentences:
- N'oublie pas tes clés! (Don't forget your keys!)
- Je vais ouvrir la fenêtre. (I'm going to open the window.)
- Nous partons demain matin. (We're leaving tomorrow morning.)
Places and locations
| French | English |
|---|---|
| jardin | garden |
| lieu | place |
| niveau | level |
| ouest | west |
| pays | country |
| place | room, space, square, place |
| porte | door |
| région | region |
Location vocabulary helps you describe where things are and where events take place. These words are essential for giving directions, describing settings, and talking about travel and geography.
Place is particularly useful as it has multiple meanings depending on context - it can mean room/space, a town square, or a place/location. Understanding context clues will help you choose the correct translation.
Example sentences:
- Le jardin est derrière la maison. (The garden is behind the house.)
- Quel est votre pays d'origine? (What is your country of origin?)
- Il n'y a pas de place dans le parking. (There's no space in the car park.)
Abstract concepts and ideas
| French | English |
|---|---|
| idée | idea |
| image | image, picture |
| importance | importance |
| nécessité | necessity |
| opinion | opinion |
| passion | passion |
| période | period |
| plaisir | pleasure |
| possibilité | possibility |
| problème | problem |
These abstract nouns are essential for expressing complex ideas and opinions, particularly in speaking and writing tasks. They allow you to discuss concepts, feelings, and theoretical ideas with sophistication.
Example sentences:
- C'est une bonne idée de réviser régulièrement. (It's a good idea to revise regularly.)
- À mon opinion, c'est très important. (In my opinion, it's very important.)
- J'ai la possibilité de partir en échange. (I have the possibility of going on exchange.)
Pronunciation tips
Key pronunciation patterns to remember:
- Words ending in -tion: Pronounced like "see-on" (e.g., population, présentation)
- Silent letters: Many French words have silent final letters (e.g., grand, important)
- Nasal sounds: Words like matin and jardin have nasal vowel sounds
Translation practice
Translation Exercise:
French to English:
- Il est impossible de finir ce projet en une journée.
- J'ai oublié mon livre à la maison.
English to French:
- The garden is very big.
- What's your opinion about this idea?
Answers:
- It's impossible to finish this project in one day.
- I forgot my book at home.
- Le jardin est très grand.
- Quelle est votre opinion sur cette idée?
Study technique
Following the textbook's suggestion: Test yourself by covering the French words and trying to say the English translation, then cover the English words and say the French word. This active recall method strengthens memory retention and is proven to be more effective than passive reading.
Key Points to Remember:
- Gender matters - Learn nouns with their articles (le/la/les) to remember their gender
- Adjective agreements - Many adjectives change form for masculine/feminine (fou/folle, gros/grosse)
- Context is key - Some words like "place" and "jour/journée" have different meanings depending on usage
- Practice regularly - Use the cover-and-recall method to test your memory actively
- Look for patterns - Words ending in -tion are usually feminine, words ending in -ment are usually masculine