French Dialects From Around the World

French is one of the most popular languages in the world and people speak it on 4 different continents. The popularity of French is no surprise, but it might surprise you to know that there are 28 different French dialects! The good news is that you don’t need to study each separately to communicate. 

In this guide, I’ll go over 9 important French dialects to teach you how this language is spoken around the world. I’ll show you how they evolved and special characteristics that will help you tell them apart.

French Dialects in Europe

The French language evolved from Latin but also belongs to the larger family of Indo-European languages. In the European continent, this language crossed the borders of France through books and education. It’s the third most spoken language in Europe and it plays an important role in political and business affairs in the continent.

Parisian (Metropolitan) French

Metropolitan French or Parisian French is the standard dialect used in education, media, and political affairs. If you’re studying French outside of France, you probably are studying this dialect. While this variety of French is often referred to as “the standard,” it borrows a fair number of words from English. Some other characteristics include the use of the French liaison and elision. Parisians speak very fast, so it’s common to hear French words blend! Note that while French is the official language of France, there are many other regional languages in the country like Occitan and Alsatian.

Meridional French

Meridional French is a dialect of the language that’s spoken in the regions of Marseille, Avignon, and Toulouse. During the Middle Ages, southern France was part of the territory of Occitan. Because of this, the Occitan language has influenced the French spoken in this part of the country.

You might notice that Meridional French pronounces nasal vowels with a “g” at the end. At the same time, Meridional French also has a similar pronunciation to that of Spanish and Catalan with an “r” that sounds more like “erre.” However one of the variations most French speakers notice is the use of words like chocolatine instead of pain au chocolat (“chocolate croissant”) or flûte instead of pain parisien (“baguette”). 

Belgian French

Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French, and German. French was introduced to Belgium through books and quickly became the preferred language of nobility in the 13th century. Then, it was influenced by languages like Walloon, Picard, and Champenois. In the present, Belgian French is spoken mainly in the southern region of Wallonia.

Some differences in Belgian French pronunciation include a stronger guttural “r” than the one in Metropolitan French. With Belgian French, you also use septante, huitante, and nonante instead of soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. But, the easiest way to tell apart Belgian French from other dialects is the use of the filler word, une fois (“once”).

Swiss French

There are four official languages spoken in Switzerland: German, Italian, Romansh, and French. Like other neighboring countries, French was introduced to Switzerland in the 15th century through books. However, this variety was influenced by other languages already present in the country like Swiss German.

For example, while Metropolitan French has silent letters “s” and “e” at the end of words, Swiss French pronounces every letter. You’ll also hear variations in common French phrases like Ça va? (“How are you?”) which is Ça joue? in Swiss French. In this dialect, you also count using septante, huitante, and nonante instead of soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. These minor differences can make learning French a little harder at first, but you’ll quickly adapt to the difference!

Here’s a table to show you some of the unique vocabulary of Swiss French:

French Dialects in North America

French was introduced to the North American continent as a result of French colonization in the 16th century. The American countries where you can now find French dialects, like the United States, Canada, and Haiti were once part of the French colonies or had areas that were dominated by the French. As a result, they developed their own variations of French. We’ll learn more about the North American French dialects below:

Canadian French

Canada has two official languages: English and French. Canadian French or Québécois is spoken mainly in Québec and New Brunswick. This is a direct result of French colonization in the 16th century. However, both Québec and New Brunswick later belonged to the British Empire. Because of this, the French spoken in this region was influenced by the English language. If you want to hear what Canadian French sounds like, there are quite a few French-language podcasts available on all major streaming platforms.

Many differences make Canadian French stand out from other dialects. For example, the use of the filler word, ben (“really”) at the beginning of phrases and là at the end of sentences for emphasis. Canadian French also has a different pronunciation, with the “a” sometimes sounding like a “ô.” This dialect also uses French expressions differently, like saying bienvenue instead of de rien when saying “you’re welcome” or voyons instead of allons!

Here’s a French YouTube video that breaks down some more interesting aspects of Canadian French:

Louisiana French, Louisiana Creole

Lousiana French is a dialect of the language spoken in the state of Louisiana in the United States. Like Québec and New Brunswick in Canada, Louisiana also belonged to the French colony of New France which later belonged to the British Empire. Louisiana Creole, on the other hand, is a mix of the African languages brought by slaves to the United States, French, and English. Louisiana French and Louisiana Creole are often mistaken as the same but Louisiana Creole has developed enough differences from French to be considered a separate language.

A standout characteristic of Louisiana French is the code-switching between English, Creole, and French, which occurs in everyday scenarios. The “r” is pronounced with a trill instead of a nasal sound, which makes it sound similar to the Spanish “r.” Louisiana French speakers also avoid using contractions, so instead of using the standard “du,” you’d say “de le.” And, of course, here’s a table with some unique Lousiana French words:

Haitian French, Haitian Creole

French was introduced to Haiti when France colonized the Americas in the 16th century. Many people believe that Haitian French and Haitian French are the same, but this isn’t true. Haitian French is a dialect spoken in formal settings like media, businesses, and schools. Meanwhile, Haitian Creole is a mix of French as well as African and indigenous languages present in Haiti. While Haitian French is a dialect of French, Haitian Creole has French origins but is not mutually intelligible with French.

One of the easiest ways to spot Haitian French is to pay attention to its pronunciation. The Haitian French “r” is almost silent, which causes words like faire to sound like “fae.” Haitian Creole, on the other hand, has a different sentence structure. It uses simplified grammar (no gendered nouns!) and is used mainly in informal contexts.

French Dialects in Africa

Africa is the continent with the biggest number of French speakers and French-speaking countries in the world. For this reason, it’s not surprising that many French dialects have developed in Africa over time. Below, you’ll learn about how French has been adopted on the African continent:

North African (Maghreb) French

Maghreb French is a dialect spoken in countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Even though French is not an official language in these countries, there is still a large number of French speakers in North Africa. This is a result of the history of French colonization in the African continent.

In this part of Africa, French has been influenced by Arabic and other indigenous languages like Berber which it borrows words and sounds from. You might notice that Maghreb French speakers pronounce French words with a stronger “s” and “z,” similar to Arabic. One of the easiest ways to spot Maghreb French is by the use of Arabic words and phrases like kif-kif (“similar”) or saha! (“cheers!”).

Central and West African French

There are several countries with French as an official language in the Central and West parts of the continent. For example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has the second highest number of French speakers in the world. Many of the countries in this region were under French control for hundreds of years and adopted the language. 

While you may also find some Arabic sounds in this dialect, the influence of Arabic is not as strong as it is with Maghreb French. Instead, the Central and West African French dialects have been more influenced by indigenous languages and English. The “t” and “d” in this dialect are pronounced with a dental sound, very similar to how they are pronounced in English. Below, you’ll find a table with unique Central and West African French words:

Other Countries Where French is Commonly Spoken

There are many countries around the world that speak French even though it’s not one of their official languages. India, Vietnam, and Laos are three of France’s former colonies where the French language is still popular among their speakers. Like the United States and Canada, India even has districts (Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahé, and Yanam) where French is spoken as a first language. So if you’re traveling to any of these countries, it’s worth it to take a French course and learn the basics before you arrive!

You can also find many French speakers in countries that have been influenced by the language due to French migration. For example, Argentina has a large community of French speakers and many of its citizens descend from French people. Brazil also has a significant number of French speakers because they adopted the language as a way to show rejection of Portuguese colonialism.

How to Learn French Dialects

When you start learning French, you should focus on building a strong foundation in grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills. This is the best way to learn “general” French. However, once you reach an intermediate level, you may want to focus on a certain dialect. 

Maybe you live in one of the regions listed above, have family or friends there, or just have a genuine interest in a certain part of the world. No matter what your motivation, there are always resources available to learn a specific dialect of French. The best way is always through immersion, particularly if you’re learning one of the less-spoken dialects.

You can find French learning apps, YouTube videos, and other resources online to learn all of the dialects listed above. Through platforms like italki, you can also find tutors from these regions who can share their personal insights. There are also French books that teach different dialects if you’re more of a self-study type.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way! With some research, you’ll be on your way to speaking like a native French speaker in a short amount of time.

Take Your French to the Next Level with Langoly

French is a rich language and learning its dialects can teach you a lot about the influence of the language in our world. Once you have a good level of French, you can try learning different dialects to learn more about the language and connect with different speakers. With a language so widely spoken, this is truly a good opportunity to re-discover the world.  

To learn more about the French language, be sure to check out Langoly’s French Hub!