Product Description

A Frequency Dictionary of French is an invaluable tool for all learners of French, providing a list of the 5000 most frequently used words in the language.

Based on a 23-million-word corpus of French which includes written and spoken material both from France and overseas, this dictionary provides the user with detailed information for each of the 5000 entries, including English equivalents, a sample sentence, its English translation, usage statistics, and an indication of register variation.

Users can access the top 5000 words either through the main frequency listing or through an alphabetical index. Throughout the frequency listing there are thematically-organized lists of the top words from a variety of key topics such as sports, weather, clothing, and family terms.

An engaging and highly useful resource, the Frequency Dictionary of French will enable students of all levels to get the most out of their study of French vocabulary.

Deryle Lonsdale is Associate Professor in the Linguistics and English Language Department at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). Yvon Le Bras is Associate Professor of French and Department Chair of the French and Italian Department at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #473018 in Books
• Published on:
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 9.69" h x .79" w x 6.85" l, 1.30 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author

Deryle Lonsdale is Associate Professor in the Linguistics and English Language Department at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah). Yvon Le Bras is Associate Professor of French and Department Chair of the French and Italian Department at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah).

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful.
The greatest
By pogopogo
This book actually motivated me to learn French because I knew this: if I could just learn the words in this book and get through a basic French grammar, I would be able to read 90% of normal French (Le Monde, say), which is enough to make learning the rest of the language self-sustaining, easy and fun.

The big secret about learning languages is that they're usually taught badly. You get "units" about "everyday life" and learn those terms--this week it's shopping and you learn random junk like how Jean would buy a hair-dryer. The trouble is, "hair-dryer" really isn't that useful to know early-on, whereas other obscure-seeming words really are. Example: my textbook had me learn "gorge" (throat) almost right away, even though it's only the 4194th most common word, whereas it never did teach me "souhaiter" (wish), even though it's the 403rd most common. That's wrong by an order of magnitude. This makes learning to read hard and confusing. (On the other hand, I'm all set next time I'm buying a hairdryer for my sore throat in France.) So, this dictionary makes the whole experience more rational and easier.

Two more thoughts: 5000 words isn't as bad as it sounds: it counts cognates separately, so related nouns/verbs are double-counted, but you only need learn them once, and of course you'll know very many of these words from English. Also, this is most helpful for reading, probably. It's best of all for autodidacts--using this and a basic grammar, I was able to go from nothing to reading daily papers, Le Petit Prince, and now Moliere in less than a year, without classes while working. Yablas can help with aural learning these days, so with some initiative and a book like this you can learn on your own.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
a wonderful tool
By Dewdrop
This book is a gem. Anyone learning French, particularly those interested in written French, will appreciate this tool. This frequency dictionary allows the learner to quickly gain a casual familiarity with the most frequently used French words. The presentation is exemplary in every respect - definitions and sample sentences are excellent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Fast track to read French articles, understand movie dialogues and French radio podcast
By Good Reader
I learned French in college for two years up to intermediate level and another 9 months at the Alliance Francaise after that, yet my French was practically non existent, so I gave up studying.

I believe that part of the problem is the way the language is being taught, we learned vocabularies which are not really relevant to use in adult conversations, like " I brush my teeth in the bathroom". Who'd say something like that in a dinner conversation?. Hence people can only expect to start making meaningful conversations around advanced level course, which is really too slow & boring.

The way I use this book is by memorising words as many as I can (periodically) & going back over it again and again. I also frequently watch French movies, listens to French radio podcast, and read French articles on the internet.

I am pleased to say that my French has improved quite fast considering that I am studying on my own.

This book is very useful!!!