Do you really need to learn “the 1000 most common words in French”?

delwoda
May 2
2 min read

Maybe you’ve heard about those lists — the 1000 or 3000 most-used French words. Yes, they do exist (just like in many other languages), and they can be useful.

But let’s save that topic for another time.

Today, I want to help you learn French vocabulary that’s actually useful for you — and show you how to do it more effectively.

How should you choose the words to learn?

It all depends on your goals and your interests.

Planning to live in France? Focus on vocabulary related to everyday life: housing, paperwork, job or school…

Coming as a tourist? Think about shopping, visiting places, using transport…

Working with French-speaking colleagues? Look up the words you need in your professional field.

Learning French just for fun? You might think it’s harder to choose vocabulary. Actually, it’s not!

woman walking in Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Here’s what I recommend:

Think about what you say every day in your own language: what you write to friends, what you chat about with family or coworkers. That’s exactly the kind of vocabulary you want to learn in French.
Be selective. Don’t waste time learning words on topics that don’t interest you.

I’m not into cars, for example. I just know the basics to drive, and that’s enough. So I don’t really need any vocabulary related to cars in English or German (my foreign languages).

But if you’re into triathlons, then that’s definitely a subject worth learning French vocabulary for!

How can you find the vocabulary you need?

It’s easier than you think:

Visit French-language websites that talk about your favorite topics.
Follow French, Belgian, or Swiss creators on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook who share your passions.
Not on social media? That’s a pity (you’re missing my tips and hacks!) — but hey, your choice. In that case, just ask ChatGPT for a list of vocabulary related to what you love.

My golden rules for learning vocabulary:

Learn verbs in full sentences, already conjugated.
Learn nouns with their most common article (like le, une, du…).
Use critical thinking — not all words are useful in daily life.
To check a word’s meaning, try the free dictionary Reverso. It remembers what you search and even suggests quizzes based on your searches - i.e. your interests — much more relevant than a generic “3000 words” list.