Learning the language where you live
Practical guides for expats, nomads and travelers learning the local language, plus honest comparisons of language learning apps.
Learning guides
The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually Use
The 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.
App comparisons
Duolingo vs Busuu: Which Is Better for Actually Improving?
Duolingo vs Busuu compared: a free gamified habit versus structured levels with corrections from native speakers. Which to choose, and when to use both.
Learning guides
Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)
How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.
App comparisons
Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?
Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.
Learning guides
Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"
How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.
App comparisons
Babbel vs Pimsleur: Reading Your Way In or Listening Your Way In?
Babbel vs Pimsleur: short structured lessons on screen versus 30-minute audio lessons you answer out loud. Which gets you speaking, and which fits your day.
Learning guides
How to Learn to Speak French, Not Just Read It
Why reading French doesn't make you speak it, and a practical way to learn to speak French: real conversations, speaking out loud from day one, and practice with people.
Learning guides
Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)
The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.
Learning guides
“Do You Speak English?” in French, and What to Say When You Don't Speak French
How to say “do you speak English?” in French politely, what you'll hear back, and the phrases for “I don't speak French” and “can you repeat that?”, with audio.
Living abroad
The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in Portugal
The European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.
Best apps
The Best App to Learn French in 2026: An Honest Comparison
Duolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.
Learning guides
French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually Use
Six basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.
Learning guides
French Phrases for Tourists: What to Say in Cafés, Shops, Stations and Restaurants
The French phrases tourists actually use, sorted by situation: greetings, directions, cafés, restaurants, shopping and emergencies, with native audio.