French: The Language of Love

welocalize August 1, 2022

Descended from Old Latin used in the ancient Roman Empire, French, like English, is taught in every country of the world, and is the 2nd most popular language to learn (English is the most popular.) French is also known as the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance, and architecture.

French is a relatively easy language to learn, and due to its Latin roots, similar to many other languages.

In fact, learning to speak French makes it easier for you to learn other Romance languages, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, as well as English, since a significant percentage of English actually comes from French. In fact, up to 45% of modern English words are derived from French.

 Did You Know?

French was the official language of England for nearly 300 years.

French speakers and French-speaking countries are both called Francophones.

French is one of the six official languages used in the United Nations.

French is an official language in 33 countries.

There’s no “kid’s menu” in France. Generations of French children have been raised to eat the same food as adults.

Although Parisian French is considered the model for the French language, there are many variations and French dialects spoken around the world.

Most of Canada’s Francophones live in Quebec. Over 22% of all Canadians speak French, and all of Canada’s federal institutions operate and provide services in both English and French.

French Is Growing in Popularity

The number of Francophones is increasing, especially in Africa, as the continent’s population grows. In fact, 48% of all French speakers live in Africa.

 En Faire tout un Fromage – Making a Whole Cheese Out of It

French is a rich, colorful language with many delightful expressions. En faire tout un fromage, literally “to make a whole cheese out of it” in English, means to overreact to something small. Milk is simple to make, but cheese? Much more time-consuming and complicated.

 French Culture: If Everyone’s Late, No One Is

Traditionally, members of French society are known for arriving fashionably late to social events. Many believe arriving early, or even just arriving on time, is rude to the host and puts pressure on them to start entertaining you even earlier than expected.

So, the next time you’re invited to the home of a traditional French host or hostess, know that it’s fine to arrive 10-15 minutes late. That gives them time to fix their makeup, put final touches on the table settings, and prepare for your arrival.

Appealing to French Speakers

As one of the most popular languages in the world, you don’t want to miss out on learning more about this wonderful language, its history, and French culture. French’s importance in world affairs, including critical diplomacy matters, and its impact on world culture can’t be overstated.

Why is French Known as the Language of Love?

There is no real clear explanation as to why French is commonly known as the language of love. Maybe it is due to its melodic rhythm and smooth pronunciation. Although according to a Google Translate Study, French IS the language most commonly used to translate romantic phrases ahead of other European languages. ❤️ Apparently ‘Je t’aime’ is the most commonly requested French translation after ‘Bonjour’. ❤️

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