From zero
How to learn French from scratch
From scratch does not mean a children’s course. It means you have a reason — a move, a partner, a trip — and you need the first useful sentences, not a 40-page syllabus.
Start here if
You have little or no French, and you would rather speak with a person than collect streaks.
- You are a complete beginner, or you “did a bit once”
- You want English allowed at the beginning
- You need a pace that does not humiliate you
What the first lessons look like
English is allowed. You leave able to say something you could not yesterday. We do not pretend you are fluent in week one.
- A clear beginner path if you want structure
- Or a conversational pace even at A0 — we match you on the intro
- Free 25-minute intro to place you — you do not need a level name
Do not start with the whole language
Beginners fail by trying to learn French. Learn a greeting, a need, a sentence about you. Then the pattern behind it. Sounds first, gently — so you are not fossilising a pronunciation you will hate later.
A textbook that starts with twenty verb charts is a delay. You can meet être and avoir when you need them to say something true.
A simple order that works
Identity and politeness. Food, transport, time. Then the present tense of the verbs you actually use. Listening at real speed comes in small doses, not a film on day one.
- Speak every session, even if it is three lines
- Write almost nothing until the mouth has it
- Short homework: a voice note, not a chapter
App, class, or 1 on 1
An app is fine as a pocket dictionary. A group class moves at the fastest student’s pace. 1 on 1 is slower where you need it and faster where you don’t. If the standard classroom never fit, this is the point of a private tutor.
Next step
Twenty-five minutes, free, then you decide.
Tell us the goal on WhatsApp. We match you to a tutor and a first focus. Study between lessons or see all programs.
Book a free introQuestions people ask next
Keep reading
Related pages — same problem, next angle.
Time to learn
How long does it take to learn French?
How long it takes to learn French depends on the level you need. Honest ranges from A1 to B2, and how 1 on 1 lessons shorten the wait.
Read thisAdults
Best way to learn French as an adult
The best way to learn French as an adult is regular speaking with a tutor, not another app. How 1 on 1 lessons fit a real week.
Read thisOnline tutoring
Learn French online with a tutor — not another app
Learn French online with a 1 on 1 tutor: live video, your pace, free intro. Why a person beats an app when you actually need to speak.
Read thisDifficulty
Is learning French hard?
Is learning French hard? Gender, liaison, and the speaking freeze — what is actually difficult, and what a 1 on 1 tutor changes.
Read this