What Language Do They Speak in France?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
The official language of France is French. French is also an official language in 30 other countries worldwide.
Learn some French before you go
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French Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of France at a glance
| Official language | French |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 1 |
| Countries on this site where French is official | 31 |
| People (demonym) | French |
| Capital | Paris |
| Internet domain | .fr |
Other countries where French is official
French is also an official language in 30 other countries covered here:
- Belgium
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- DR Congo
- Djibouti
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Ivory Coast
- Lebanon
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- Niger
- Republic of the Congo
…and 6 more.
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Andorra | Catalan |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Dutch, French, German |
| Germany | German |
| Italy | Italian |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourgish, French, German |
| Monaco | French |
| Spain | Spanish, Basque, Catalan, Galician |
| Switzerland | Swiss German, French, Italian, Romansh |
France in context
- France covers 543,908 km², making it the 48th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 122 people per km² ranks 74th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 8 countries: Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland.
- With 66,351,959 people, France holds about 35.0% of the population of Western Europe.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
- France is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare France
Useful phrases for visitors to France
Everyday French phrases you will hear and use in France:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour |
| Thank you | Merci |
| Please | S'il vous plaît |
| Goodbye | Au revoir |
| Yes | Oui |
| No | Non |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in France — FAQ
What language do they speak in France?
The official language of France is French.
How many official languages does France have?
France has 1 official language: French.
Is French spoken anywhere else?
French is also an official language in 30 other countries.
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