A frequency dictionary organizes vocabulary according to how frequently words appear in authentic communication, rather than listing them from A to Z.
Instead of relying on assumptions about which words might be useful, this type of dictionary reflects real usage. The terms at the top are the ones speakers and writers use again and again in daily conversations, articles, books, and common situations.
For language learners, this approach saves time and energy. When you start with the most common words, your comprehension grows quickly because you recognize what appears most often. Mastering the first 1,000 high-frequency words can already unlock a significant portion of everyday spoken and written language.
For educators, developers, and creators of learning materials, frequency data offers a practical and objective framework. It allows courses, apps, flashcards, and lessons to be built around actual language patterns instead of personal preference or guesswork.
| # | French | IPA | Meaning (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | être | /ɛtʁ/ | to be |
| 2 | avoir | /avwaʁ/ | to have |
| 3 | faire | /fɛʁ/ | to do, to make |
| 4 | dire | /diʁ/ | to say |
| 5 | aller | /ale/ | to go |
| 6 | voir | /vwaʁ/ | to see |
| 7 | savoir | /savwaʁ/ | to know |
| 8 | vouloir | /vulwaʁ/ | to want |
| 9 | pouvoir | /puvwaʁ/ | to be able to |
| 10 | falloir | /falwaʁ/ | to be necessary |
| 11 | prendre | /pʁɑ̃dʁ/ | to take |
| 12 | mettre | /mɛtʁ/ | to put |
| 13 | donner | /dɔne/ | to give |
| 14 | parler | /paʁle/ | to speak |
| 15 | aimer | /eme/ | to like, to love |
| 16 | passer | /pase/ | to spend, to pass |
| 17 | croire | /kʁwaʁ/ | to believe |
| 18 | trouver | /tʁuve/ | to find |
| 19 | demander | /dəmɑ̃de/ | to ask |
| 20 | venir | /vəniʁ/ | to come |
| 21 | devoir | /dəvwaʁ/ | must, to have to |
| 22 | penser | /pɑ̃se/ | to think |
| 23 | regarder | /ʁəgaʁde/ | to look at |
| 24 | répondre | /ʁepɔ̃dʁ/ | to answer |
| 25 | connaître | /kɔnɛtʁ/ | to know (be familiar) |
| 26 | vivre | /vivʁ/ | to live |
| 27 | appeler | /aple/ | to call |
| 28 | arriver | /aʁive/ | to arrive |
| 29 | sortir | /sɔʁtiʁ/ | to go out |
| 30 | partir | /paʁtiʁ/ | to leave |
| 31 | comprendre | /kɔ̃pʁɑ̃dʁ/ | to understand |
| 32 | écrire | /ekʁiʁ/ | to write |
| 33 | lire | /liʁ/ | to read |
| 34 | entendre | /ɑ̃tɑ̃dʁ/ | to hear |
| 35 | attendre | /atɑ̃dʁ/ | to wait |
| 36 | rester | /ʁɛste/ | to stay |
| 37 | permettre | /pɛʁmɛtʁ/ | to allow |
| 38 | tenir | /təniʁ/ | to hold |
| 39 | sembler | /sɑ̃ble/ | to seem |
| 40 | laisser | /lese/ | to let |
| 41 | porter | /pɔʁte/ | to carry, to wear |
| 42 | ouvrir | /uvʁiʁ/ | to open |
| 43 | fermer | /fɛʁme/ | to close |
| 44 | changer | /ʃɑ̃ʒe/ | to change |
| 45 | suivre | /sɥivʁ/ | to follow |
| 46 | montrer | /mɔ̃tʁe/ | to show |
| 47 | commencer | /kɔmɑ̃se/ | to begin |
| 48 | finir | /finiʁ/ | to finish |
| 49 | jouer | /ʒwe/ | to play |
| 50 | travailler | /tʁavaje/ | to work |
| # | French | IPA | Meaning (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | acheter | /aʃte/ | to buy |
| 52 | vendre | /vɑ̃dʁ/ | to sell |
| 53 | entrer | /ɑ̃tʁe/ | to enter |
| 54 | sortir | /sɔʁtiʁ/ | to go out |
| 55 | tomber | /tɔ̃be/ | to fall |
| 56 | recevoir | /ʁəsəvwaʁ/ | to receive |
| 57 | envoyer | /ɑ̃vwaje/ | to send |
| 58 | apprendre | /apʁɑ̃dʁ/ | to learn |
| 59 | enseigner | /ɑ̃seɲe/ | to teach |
| 60 | écouter | /ekute/ | to listen |
| 61 | habiter | /abite/ | to live (reside) |
| 62 | aider | /ede/ | to help |
| 63 | utiliser | /ytilize/ | to use |
| 64 | marcher | /maʁʃe/ | to walk |
| 65 | courir | /kuʁiʁ/ | to run |
| 66 | rire | /ʁiʁ/ | to laugh |
| 67 | pleurer | /plœʁe/ | to cry |
| 68 | perdre | /pɛʁdʁ/ | to lose |
| 69 | gagner | /gaɲe/ | to win, earn |
| 70 | choisir | /ʃwaziʁ/ | to choose |
| 71 | expliquer | /ɛksplike/ | to explain |
| 72 | essayer | /eseje/ | to try |
| 73 | payer | /peje/ | to pay |
| 74 | compter | /kɔ̃te/ | to count |
| 75 | chercher | /ʃɛʁʃe/ | to look for |
| 76 | retrouver | /ʁətʁuve/ | to find again |
| 77 | utiliser | /ytilize/ | to use |
| 78 | changer | /ʃɑ̃ʒe/ | to change |
| 79 | continuer | /kɔ̃tinye/ | to continue |
| 80 | décider | /deside/ | to decide |
| 81 | préférer | /pʁefeʁe/ | to prefer |
| 82 | espérer | /ɛspeʁe/ | to hope |
| 83 | oublier | /ublije/ | to forget |
| 84 | rappeler | /ʁaple/ | to remember, recall |
| 85 | revenir | /ʁəvəniʁ/ | to come back |
| 86 | devenir | /dəvəniʁ/ | to become |
| 87 | mettre | /mɛtʁ/ | to put |
| 88 | garder | /gaʁde/ | to keep |
| 89 | tourner | /tuʁne/ | to turn |
| 90 | monter | /mɔ̃te/ | to go up |
| 91 | descendre | /desɑ̃dʁ/ | to go down |
| 92 | ouvrir | /uvʁiʁ/ | to open |
| 93 | fermer | /fɛʁme/ | to close |
| 94 | apporter | /apɔʁte/ | to bring |
| 95 | emporter | /ɑ̃pɔʁte/ | to take away |
| 96 | conduire | /kɔ̃dɥiʁ/ | to drive |
| 97 | rencontrer | /ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁe/ | to meet |
| 98 | demander | /dəmɑ̃de/ | to ask |
| 99 | réussir | /ʁe.ysiʁ/ | to succeed |
| 100 | commencer | /kɔmɑ̃se/ | to begin |
| # | French | IPA | Meaning (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | la | /la/ | the (feminine) |
| 102 | le | /lə/ | the (masculine) |
| 103 | les | /le/ | the (plural) |
| 104 | un | /œ̃/ | a, an (masculine) |
| 105 | une | /yn/ | a, an (feminine) |
| 106 | des | /de/ | some |
| 107 | du | /dy/ | some (of the) |
| 108 | de | /də/ | of, from |
| 109 | à | /a/ | to, at |
| 110 | et | /e/ | and |
| 111 | mais | /mɛ/ | but |
| 112 | ou | /u/ | or |
| 113 | donc | /dɔ̃k/ | so |
| 114 | parce que | /paʁs kə/ | because |
| 115 | si | /si/ | if |
| 116 | que | /kə/ | that |
| 117 | qui | /ki/ | who, which |
| 118 | quoi | /kwa/ | what |
| 119 | où | /u/ | where |
| 120 | quand | /kɑ̃/ | when |
| 121 | comment | /kɔmɑ̃/ | how |
| 122 | pourquoi | /puʁkwa/ | why |
| 123 | tout | /tu/ | all, everything |
| 124 | rien | /ʁjɛ̃/ | nothing |
| 125 | personne | /pɛʁsɔn/ | nobody |
| 126 | toujours | /tuʒuʁ/ | always |
| 127 | jamais | /ʒamɛ/ | never |
| 128 | souvent | /suvɑ̃/ | often |
| 129 | parfois | /paʁfwa/ | sometimes |
| 130 | encore | /ɑ̃kɔʁ/ | again, still |
| 131 | déjà | /deʒa/ | already |
| 132 | maintenant | /mɛ̃tnɑ̃/ | now |
| 133 | ici | /isi/ | here |
| 134 | là | /la/ | there |
| 135 | avant | /avɑ̃/ | before |
| 136 | après | /apʁɛ/ | after |
| 137 | pendant | /pɑ̃dɑ̃/ | during |
| 138 | avec | /avɛk/ | with |
| 139 | sans | /sɑ̃/ | without |
| 140 | chez | /ʃe/ | at someone’s place |
| 141 | sur | /syʁ/ | on |
| 142 | sous | /su/ | under |
| 143 | dans | /dɑ̃/ | in |
| 144 | entre | /ɑ̃tʁ/ | between |
| 145 | contre | /kɔ̃tʁ/ | against |
| 146 | vers | /vɛʁ/ | toward |
| 147 | très | /tʁɛ/ | very |
| 148 | bien | /bjɛ̃/ | well |
| 149 | mal | /mal/ | badly |
| 150 | beaucoup | /boku/ | a lot |
| # | French | IPA | Meaning (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | homme | /ɔm/ | man |
| 152 | femme | /fam/ | woman |
| 153 | enfant | /ɑ̃fɑ̃/ | child |
| 154 | ami | /ami/ | friend (m.) |
| 155 | amie | /ami/ | friend (f.) |
| 156 | famille | /famij/ | family |
| 157 | maison | /mɛzɔ̃/ | house |
| 158 | école | /ekɔl/ | school |
| 159 | travail | /tʁavaj/ | work |
| 160 | argent | /aʁʒɑ̃/ | money |
| 161 | temps | /tɑ̃/ | time |
| 162 | jour | /ʒuʁ/ | day |
| 163 | nuit | /nɥi/ | night |
| 164 | semaine | /səmɛn/ | week |
| 165 | mois | /mwa/ | month |
| 166 | année | /ane/ | year |
| 167 | heure | /œʁ/ | hour |
| 168 | matin | /matɛ̃/ | morning |
| 169 | soir | /swaʁ/ | evening |
| 170 | minute | /minyt/ | minute |
| 171 | pays | /pei/ | country |
| 172 | ville | /vil/ | city |
| 173 | rue | /ʁy/ | street |
| 174 | voiture | /vwatyʁ/ | car |
| 175 | train | /tʁɛ̃/ | train |
| 176 | avion | /avjɔ̃/ | airplane |
| 177 | eau | /o/ | water |
| 178 | nourriture | /nuʁityʁ/ | food |
| 179 | question | /kɛstjɔ̃/ | question |
| 180 | réponse | /ʁepɔ̃s/ | answer |
| 181 | problème | /pʁɔblɛm/ | problem |
| 182 | idée | /ide/ | idea |
| 183 | raison | /ʁɛzɔ̃/ | reason |
| 184 | chose | /ʃoz/ | thing |
| 185 | histoire | /istwaʁ/ | story, history |
| 186 | monde | /mɔ̃d/ | world |
| 187 | vie | /vi/ | life |
| 188 | main | /mɛ̃/ | hand |
| 189 | tête | /tɛt/ | head |
| 190 | corps | /kɔʁ/ | body |
| 191 | grand | /gʁɑ̃/ | big |
| 192 | petit | /pəti/ | small |
| 193 | bon | /bɔ̃/ | good |
| 194 | mauvais | /movɛ/ | bad |
| 195 | nouveau | /nuvo/ | new |
| 196 | vieux | /vjø/ | old |
| 197 | jeune | /ʒœn/ | young |
| 198 | premier | /pʁəmje/ | first |
| 199 | dernier | /dɛʁnje/ | last |
| 200 | même | /mɛm/ | same |
