🇫🇷 7 French Learning Tips & Tricks That Actually Work

A fun guide for school students, exam-takers, and passionate Francophiles By House of French

Whether you're prepping for your school French exam, aiming for the DELF, or just want to impress someone with "un petit peu de français," learning French doesn’t have to be boring or complicated.

Here are 7 tried-and-tested tips and tricks that’ll make your French journey smoother, smarter, and a lot more fun.

1. 🎯 Know the Gender Game: Use the "-e" Hack (but wisely!)

French nouns have genders — and remembering them is half the battle! A helpful hint? Most nouns ending in “-e” are feminine.📍 la voiture (the car)📍 la baguette (the breadstick)⚠️ But don’t trust it blindly — there are rule-breakers like le problème.

Pro Tip: Create flashcards in two colours — pink for feminine, blue for masculine. Your brain loves colour coding!

2. 🔥 Beware of “False Friends” (Faux Amis)

Some French words look like English, but mean something totally different.For example:❌ Actuellement does NOT mean “actually” — it means currently.❌ Monnaie is NOT “money” — it means change (coins).

Make a list of these “faux amis” and review them often. They’re sneaky!

3. 👂 Master the “Liaison” – It’s Music, Not Grammar

French pronunciation has its own rhythm — and liaison is where the magic happens. When a word ending in a consonant is followed by one starting with a vowel, the consonant suddenly gets pronounced.🗣️ Les amis → “lay-zah-mee”🗣️ Vous avez → “voo-zah-vay”

It sounds elegant and shows you're not a beginner anymore. 😎

4. 🎵 Use Songs, Not Just Books

Learning French songs is one of the easiest and most joyful ways to pick up vocabulary and pronunciation.🎧 Try classics like:

• Dernière danse by Indila

• Papaoutai by Stromae

• La vie en rose by Edith Piaf

Sing along — it trains your ear, improves accent, and boosts memory!

5. 🧠 Learn in Chunks, Not Single Words

Instead of memorising: voir = to see, learn full phrases like:➡️ Je veux voir un film (I want to see a movie)➡️ Tu veux voir mes photos ? (Do you want to see my photos?)

Your brain remembers phrases better than isolated vocabulary. Plus, you’ll speak more naturally.

6. 🪞 Talk to Yourself in French

It may sound silly, but self-talk is one of the best tools to practise fluency.While brushing your teeth:➡️ Je me brosse les dents.While making tea:➡️ Je fais du thé.

You’re practicing grammar, verbs, and vocabulary — without needing anyone else.

7. 📚 Mnemonics Are Your BFF for Verbs

Struggling with past tense verbs that use être in passé composé?Memorise the fun mnemonic: Dr. & Mrs. VandertrampEach letter stands for a verb (e.g., venir, aller, naître, descendre, etc.) that uses être instead of avoir. It’s an exam-saver!

💬 Final Word: Consistency > Intensity

You don’t need to study French for 3 hours a day. Just 20–30 minutes daily with the right mix of speaking, reading, and listening can work wonders. Practice smart, not hard.

Want more such French hacks delivered every week?👉 Follow @HouseOfFrench on Instagram👉 Or explore our student-focused French courses designed for CBSE, IB, and DELF learners

Bonne chance et amuse-toi en apprenant le français! 🇫🇷✨ (Good luck and have fun learning French!)