How to say "French" in French
How do you say French in French? Well, that depends on whether the word French is being used as a noun or an adjective!
- Vous parlez français ? "You speak French?" (polite form)
- Oui, je parle français "Yes, I speak French"
- Je sais parler français "I know how to speak French"
- Je suis française "I am French"
- Un fromage français "A French cheese"
- Marie est française "Marie is French"
Le français (the noun)
Le français is a masculine noun, and the word for the French language in French.
Remember, a noun is a naming word. In French, nouns do not change their gender based on the gender of the person talking.
So, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman you would say: Je parle français "I speak French."
Because you are talking about the French language.
français (the adjective)
When français is used as an adjective it is describing something that is French.
Remember, an adjective has to agree with the nouns/subjects that they describe. And in French you add an e to the end to make the adjective agree with a feminine noun/subject.
For instance, if you are a female and wish to describe yourself as being French you would say: Je suis française "I am French" (and therefore pronounce the "s" sound.)
Whereas a male would describe themselves this way: Je suis français "I am French" (and therefore not pronounce the "s" sound.)
How to say "French" in French: Some examples
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As a noun
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As an adjective
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Marie-Claire and the Rocket French team