Fabrice Theveny

In any language, one verb stands above all others in importance: the verb “to be.” In French, that verb is être. Whether you’re introducing yourself, describing someone, or simply saying where you are — être is essential.

This lesson will take you through the basics and beauty of être, explain where it comes from, how to use it, how to ask questions with it, and even why it sometimes includes a mysterious little accent: the circumflex (ˆ).

One of the first things you may want to do in French is… talk. To speak. To express yourself. That’s exactly what the verb parler means: to speak.

When learning French, one of the very first things you’ll encounter is greetings. Not only are they essential to polite conversation, but they also reveal a lot about French culture and language roots. In this article, we will explore the most common greetings in French, breaking down each expression, its meaning, and where it comes from.