When many Americans think of a French-speaking country in Europe, they picture the Eiffel Tower, baguettes, and vacations on the French Riviera. However, French is a global language spoken in 74 countries, with over 320 million French speakers on every continent (including Antarctica). Europe has the second-highest concentration of French speakers in the world, after Africa, with 63 million native French speakers and millions more who speak it as a second language.
As you travel through Europe, you’ll run across a variety of French dialects from Belgium to Switzerland. Though these dialects are mutually intelligible and standard French is understood in most of the Francophone world, learning the characteristics of other dialects will help you interact with locals while traveling and appreciate the beauty and variety of the language. Rosetta Stone can help you expand your French horizons into Europe and beyond with engaging lessons and learning tools.
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Which countries in Europe speak French?
French is the second-most-widely-spoken native language in the European Union, and more than one country has designated French as an official language. In several countries, it holds the status of co-official language alongside others. In each French-speaking country, the local culture and influences of other languages spoken in the area shape the dialect. Francophone countries in Europe include:
- France (of course)
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
Out of these countries, French is the sole official language in two of them: France and Monaco. In the rest, French shares the honor with one or more other languages:
- Belgium: French, Dutch
- Switzerland: French, Italian, German
- Luxembourg: French, German, Luxembourgish
The proximity of these countries show that linguistic borders aren’t as rigid as the borders on a map.
Differences in the French language across Europe
Let’s take a look at how French attained official language status in various countries, identify the languages that share this distinction, and explore the differences between each dialect and standard French.
France
The birthplace of the French language is, of course, France. Like all Romance languages, French evolved from Vulgar Latin, which is what linguists call “informal Latin dialects” that were spoken in the Roman Empire. The Celtic languages of Northern Gaul and the Germanic languages spoken by the armies that invaded after the Roman Empire also influenced early French.
The “standard” French dialect taught in most academic settings and primarily spoken in Paris is called Metropolitan French. Creating this standard took a lot of effort over centuries, including establishing L’académie Française as a governing body of the language in the 17th century.
Additional policies in the 19th century focused on removing minority and regional languages for a consistent and rigid French alphabet, grammar rules, and more. The academy continues to govern the French language as it grows and changes today. Spelling reform and gender neutral language are two current debates about the future of the French language.
Metropolitan French is not the only dialect spoken in l’hexagone (a common French term used to describe France). Meridional French, also known as Franctican, is a regional dialect spoken in the south of France, most prominently in Marseille, Avignon, and Toulouse. Thanks to the influence of Occitan, a historic regional language, some vowel sounds are more nasal and the “e” at the end of some words is more pronounced.
>>If you’re new to French, basic French phrases are a great place to start.
Belgium
Belgium is a culturally and linguistically diverse country. At the time of its independence in 1830, French was widely used for literature, culture, and the arts. Many lawmakers proposed that it should be the newly independent country’s sole official language, but Dutch speakers pushed back on this decision.
Today, the two dominant languages in Belgium are French and Dutch. The former is primarily spoken in the Wallonia region, which borders France. The latter is primarily spoken in the Flemish region, which borders the Netherlands. Though most Francophone Belgians can understand Metropolitan French, there are a few notable vocabulary and pronunciation differences. Pronunciation differences between French and Belgian French include a few key components.
- Clearer vowel pronunciation in Belgian French
- The Belgian “w” is pronounced with a “v” sound, similar to the German pronunciation of the letter
- Many people describe the Belgian accent as more nasal than Metropolitan French
- In some regions, Belgian French speakers use a more guttural R sound. The result is somewhere between a Spanish “erre” and a rhotic “r”
The vocabulary differences that are most likely to come up in daily life are the Belgian simplified number system and the replacement of pouvoir with savoir. While Metropolitan French uses soixante-dix for 70 and quatre-vingt for 90, Belgians make numbers easier with the respective words septante and huitante. This can be a huge relief for French learners, since counting French numbers can be tricky!
Savoir (to know, to know how) is a common verb in all French dialects, but it’s even more common in Belgium. In Belgian French, the verb is frequently used when other dialects would use pouvoir (can, to be able to).
For example, “Tu sais me passer le sel?” would sound strange to a Parisian. Of course they know how to “pass the salt.” But to a Belgian Francophone, it means “can you pass me the salt?” Linguists believe this quirk comes from an old standard that changed in France but held on in Belgium.
Here are a few other notable Belgicismes (words unique to Belgian French):
| Belgian French Word | English Meaning |
| A tantôt! | See you soon! |
| Je te dis quoi | I’ll let you know |
| un GSM | a cell phone |
| Je te sonne | I’ll call you |
| faire la file | to line up/stand in line |
| un bic | a pen |
| le déjeuner | breakfast |
| le dîner | lunch or midday meal |
| le souper | dinner or supper |
Switzerland
Switzerland is a multilingual country whose culture has been shaped by the Alps and the countries that surround it. The country’s three dominant languages are French, German, and Italian. About 22 percent of the Swiss population speaks French as a first language. Swiss French pronunciation is only slightly different from Metropolitan French. The differences that do exist vary slightly.
- Clearer pronunciation of word endings in Swiss French
- Swiss Francophones often speak more slowly and enunciate more clearly than speakers of other French dialects
- Syllable stress in some words and rhythm of some sentences is different from French spoken in other regions
- Slight difference between long and short vowel sounds. For example, mettre (to put) and maître (teacher) sound the same in Metropolitan French but different in Swiss French
Many German loanwords have crossed into Swiss French. Here are a few examples:
| Swiss French Word | Original German Word | English Meaning |
| une action | Aktion | promotional campaign |
| Le foehn | der Föhn | hairdryer |
| Poutzer | Putzen | to clean |
| Mutr | Mutter | mother |
| Vatr | Vater | father |
Swiss Francophones use the same simplified number system and words for meals as Belgians. Here are some other Swiss-French words and phrases to know:
| Swiss French word | English Meaning |
| Adieu | Hello/goodbye |
| un bancomat | an ATM |
| bonnard | nice (informal) |
| une bonne-main | a tip/gratuity |
| Ca joue? | Does that work? |
| un cornet | a plastic shopping bag |
| Sans autre | No problem |
| Santé! | Bless you! |
| Service! | You’re welcome! (shortened form of À votre service) |
| un natel | a cell phone |
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a small country that borders Belgium, France, and Germany with a long history of neighboring occupation before becoming independent in 1815. This history is reflected in their multilingual society.
Though their official language is Luxembourgish, French and German are both widely spoken. In fact, French is the official language of Luxembourg’s legislature, though French, German, and Luxembourgish are all used for administrative purposes. When the country was founded, French speakers had prestigious status in politics. That status continues to shape what settings the language is used in though the demographics in the country have changed.
Though only 16 percent of residents claim French as their native language, 98 percent speak it at a high level. The majority of Luxembourg’s people can speak two or more languages conversationally. School children are taught in Luxembourgish first, then German, then French. By secondary school, most instruction is in French.
The French spoken in Luxembourg is closer to Metropolitan French than the Belgian and Swiss dialects, but the small vocabulary and pronunciation differences come from the German influence. Some would describe the Luxembourg Francophone accent as clearer and more Germanic than French accents.
Luxembourgish, in turn, is influenced by French and German. Standard German is its closest modern relative—so close that there is some debate among linguists if it’s its own language or a West Central German dialect.
However, French words like merci (thank you), pardon (excuse me), frigo (refrigerator), and camion (truck) have crossed over. There are even Luxembourgish compound words that are half German and half French. For example, they call the main dish of a meal the “Haaptplat” from the German word “haat” (main) and the French word plat (dish).
Monaco
Monaco is a microstate located in the French Riviera. It’s best known as a wealthy destination where tourists skip between beachfront property and the Monte Carlo Casino. French is its official language.
At 58 percent of the population, French nationals are the majority in Monaco, making Monacan citizens a minority in their own country. Wealthy French nationals often move to Monaco to take advantage of their low tax rates. Italian is also a common first language. Monaco does not have its own French dialect, but they speak with a Southern French accent.
It’s worth noting that France was not always the dominant language of Monaco. Before France annexed the territory in 1893, residents spoke Monégasque, a dialect of Ligurian. It nearly died out in the 1920s before the government made a point to preserve it in the years that followed. Today, native Monégasque speakers are rare, but many residents of Monaco speak it as a second language.
Explore French-speaking countries and beyond with Rosetta Stone
Whether you’re interested in learning more about chocolate making in Belgium or skiing down the slopes in Switzerland, French can help you make the most of your travels in France and beyond! Rosetta Stone can help you learn French intuitively—without the boring memorization. Learn in a fun, immersive environment with Tutors and Live Lessons available to help improve your conversations!
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