9 Mind-Blowing Facts About French That You Probably Didn’t Know

Don’t you just love the sound of French? It’s not only beautiful to hear, it also has a very rich past – and a quite promising future. Here are 9 astonishing facts about French that will leave you longing for more of our beautiful language!

1. French Is Spoken on 5 Continents

French is an official language in 29 countries across multiple continents, making it one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide. French is spoken in countries across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania.

French is spoken by over 300 million people as either a first or second language, according to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

2. French Has Influenced English More Than Any Other Language

Nearly 30% of English words come from French, including words like “restaurant,” “judge,” “parliament,” “menu”, “ballet,” and “bouquet.” Around 30% of English words have French origins, largely due to historical events like the Norman Conquest.

3. The Académie Française Decides What’s Official

The French Academy (Académie Française), founded in 1635, oversees the official rules of the French language and continuously updates what’s allowed in formal usage. It regulates the official use of French in France.

4. French Used to Be the Language of Diplomacy

French was historically the language of diplomacy from the 17th century through the early 20th century. It was used for international treaties, official diplomatic correspondence, and negotiations, largely due to France’s political and cultural influence in Europe.

French maintained this status until the aftermath of World War I, when English gradually replaced it as the dominant diplomatic language, especially in international organizations like the League of Nations and later the United Nations.

However, French remains one of the official languages of many international institutions, including the UN and the European Union.

5. French Is One of the Fastest Growing Languages

Experts believe that by 2050, there could be as many as 700 million French speakers due to population growth in Africa and other Francophone regions.

6. French Was the Language of the Nobility in England

After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, French became the language of the English court, government, and nobility. Specifically, Anglo-Norman French was spoken by the ruling class, while the general population continued to speak Old English.

This period lasted for several centuries, with French being used for legal documents, administration, and court proceedings until English gradually regained prominence in the 14th century.

7. The Longest French Word Has 27 Letters

The longest official word in the French language is “anticonstitutionnellement,” which means “unconstitutionally.”

8. French Is the Second Official Language of the Olympic Games

French and English are the two official languages of the Olympic Games. This reflects the role of French in the foundation of the International Olympic Committee, which was established by a Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin.

9. French Has More Nasal Vowel Sounds Than Most Languages

French has four distinct nasal vowel sounds (as in words like “vin,” “blanc,” “bon,” and “un”). These nasal vowels are a distinguishing feature of French and are less common in many other languages. They are challenging for learners to master.