A Guide to the Different Varieties of French Used All Over the World
French is spoken all over the world. Learn all about the different French varieties here–from Standard French to Canadian, African, +more.
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How did French Become an International Language?French in FranceFrench in EuropeFrench in CanadaFrench in AfricaFrench in the French TerritoriesDid you know that more than 300 million people around the world speak French? French is a top 10 language in terms of speakers around the world!
French is the official language in more places than just in France – you can find native French speakers in parts of the Americas, Africa, and many of the French territories.
The French language is an essential part of several cultures, and each place has its own influence on the way that they speak French. In this article, we will take a look at the different varieties of French being used all over the globe.
How did French Become an International Language?
As the Kingdom of France began to spread internationally, starting in the Middle Ages, so did the widespread use of French. The spread of the French began in Europe as it became the official language of the European courts and used prominently in education and diplomacy during the 17th-18th Centuries.
During the same period, the Kingdom of France set out to colonize several parts of the world, a major location being the Americas. The new colonies introduced French to new regions now recognized as parts of Canada, the Caribbean, and South America.
Constant wars led to the Kingdom of France losing a lot of its overseas territories in the 18th-19th Centuries, but the French language remained.
During the 19th Century, France began to establish colonies throughout Africa. Even after the African countries gained independence from France, the language was so widely spoken that it remained the official language in many places.
French in France
As you might’ve guessed, the home of the French language is France. Ever since the rise of the Kingdom of France, the French language has held an essential role in the country’s politics and education. With such pillars, the French that you hear in France is the standard version of French that most people refer to.
French is spoken differently throughout the country, with specific regions and cities having their accents, tones, and quirks that they use to communicate.
Standard French has historical links to the Paris region, but everyday Parisian French is not always identical to Standard French.
Parisian French may sound fast to learners, with connected words and pronunciations creating a fluid tone. Speaking speed varies by person and situation.
As compared to a southern accent in the US, the south of France also has a distinctive accent for the local French. One of the most notable in the region is called Marseille French (le français marseillais). It can sound fast to learners, with more pronounced syllables; speaking speed varies by person and situation.
French in Europe
France isn’t the only place where they speak French in Europe. In fact, it’s an official language in several countries, including Switzerland and Belgium.
There are approximately two million native French-speakers in Switzerland, a majority in the western region of the country. In Belgium, around 40% of the population speaks French, mostly in the southern region (Wallonia) and in Brussels. Both of the areas share a border with France.
French-speaking communities have long existed in neighboring countries such as Belgium and Switzerland. French’s official status developed through each country’s own history and political arrangements, rather than simply because it was chosen as a language of high society.
Belgian French and Swiss French vary considerably compared to the Parisian standard.
In Switzerland, there are several word differences. Many of the numbers are different (septante and nonante instead of soixante-dix and quatre-vingt-dix), and so are other common words such as déjeuner (France) vs. dîner (Swiss) for lunch.
In Belgium, many of the differences come from a change in accent and a few words borrowed from Dutch. French is spoken mainly in Wallonia and Brussels, while Flemish, a variety of Dutch, is spoken in the north of the country.
French in Canada
The hub for French speakers in Canada is in the Quebec province. As Canada’s largest province by area, Quebec is home to nearly seven million native French speakers (as compared to about one million) in the rest of the country.
There was a time when French was the primary language spoken in the colony of New France, until the British took control in 1763 and English-speaking settlers arrived. French remained strongest in the eastern part of the country, now recognized as Quebec.
Quebec French, one major variety of Canadian French, is one of the most distinctive varieties compared to the Parisian standard. Many people compare the differences to UK English vs. American English.
Most speakers can generally understand each other, although there might be slight differences in accent and word use.
French is widely used throughout Quebec – prominent in the media and taught in schools.
See also:
The Differences Between French in Québec and France
French in Africa
French in Africa is perhaps the most interesting place to study the language. Africa has the most French-speakers compared to any other continent, with well over 100 million first- or second-language speakers. Several other local dialects have derived from French.
French spread more widely in Africa through colonial expansion in the 19th century, although French settlements such as Saint-Louis in Senegal date back to the 17th century. Many of the countries which use French as an official language were former French colonies. The regions where people speak French most prominently include West Africa, Central Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
African French is the most varied due to blending with local languages. It’s one of the hardest to decipher for non-native speakers because of a phenomenon called “code-switching,” in which two or more languages alternate within a conversation or, sometimes, within the same sentence.
French in Africa borrows words from local languages and vice versa.
French in the French Territories
Not all former French territories established their independence. France maintains several territories in various parts of the world that fall under the jurisdiction of the country. In addition to being governed by France, these territories also have French as their official language.
Although Haiti is no longer a French territory, it remains closely related to France and worth mentioning. French settlers came to Haiti around the same time as in Canada, and French remains one of its two official languages, alongside Haitian Creole.
Haitian French is fairly close to Standard French, and French media is popular there.
Some of the French territories include French Polynesia, French Guiana, and Réunion Island. Even with locations around the world, having French as their official language connects them all to the culture.
When you learn French, you’ll often learn the standard Parisian French. With so many countries around the world that speak French, you’ll have no issue traveling to any continent and finding native speakers to practice your French.
