Identity and relationships
un ami / une amiea friend
s’entendre avecto get on with
la confiancetrust / confidence
A phrase to adapt: Je m’entends bien avec ma sœur.
GCSE · French · vocabulary
For Years 9–11 · Learn, try, checkGCSE French Vocabulary: Words You Can Use
Start with useful words and adaptable phrases across nine broad revision areas.
Learn a word with a sentence attached
Learn nouns with their article and verbs with a phrase you could actually use. Cover the English, retrieve the meaning, then cover the French and try to produce it. Finish by changing one detail in the phrase.
These are starter words, not a complete vocabulary list. Exact specification vocabulary varies by board and tier. The categories below are student-friendly revision groups, not identical official themes across AQA, Pearson and Cambridge.
- Retrieve a small set from memory rather than rereading a long list.
- Mix old and new words so familiar items stay available.
- Learn a useful opposite or related expression: expensive / cheap, arrive / leave.
- For listening, use an authentic recording or teacher model to connect each word with its sound.
Nine useful revision areas
School
une matièrea subject
les devoirshomework
apprendreto learn
A phrase to adapt: Ma matière préférée est le français.
Free time
jouerto play
un loisira leisure activity
se détendreto relax
A phrase to adapt: Je lis pour me détendre.
Food and health
un repasa meal
avoir faimto be hungry
la santéhealth
A phrase to adapt: Je mange des fruits tous les jours.
Travel and holidays
un billeta ticket
le trajetthe journey
réserverto book
A phrase to adapt: Nous allons prendre le train.
Home and local area
un quartiera neighbourhood
près denear
une bibliothèquea library
A phrase to adapt: Il y a un parc près de chez moi.
Environment
les déchetswaste / rubbish
réutiliserto reuse
économiserto save
A phrase to adapt: Je réutilise les sacs.
Technology and media
un écrana screen
un réseau sociala social network
partagerto share
A phrase to adapt: Je regarde les informations en ligne.
Work and future plans
un métiera job / profession
un stagea work placement
plus tardlater / in the future
A phrase to adapt: Plus tard, je voudrais travailler à l’étranger.
Retrieve, then use
Original practice · not an exam paper
A school-day vocabulary check
- Give the French for “a subject” and “homework”.
- Complete: Je lis pour me ___.
- Write one sentence about your school, with a reason.
Reveal answers and explanations
une matière ; les devoirs ; détendre
A possible sentence: J’aime mon collège parce que les professeurs sont gentils. Other relevant, accurate sentences work too.
Watch the little differences
Un stage means a work placement, not a theatre stage. Les devoirs is plural even when English “homework” is not. Use jouer au football, but jouer de la guitare.
Use vocabulary to understand reading passages as well as to write or speak. When you meet an unfamiliar word, record the sentence around it so you remember its meaning in context. Do not label a list “Higher” or “Cambridge” unless it has actually been checked against that specification.
Check the assessment for your board
Confirm your board and tier with your teacher. These are original learning resources, not official papers or a grade prediction.
AQA
AQA has defined vocabulary lists and three broad themes: People and lifestyle; Popular culture; Communication and the world around us. Our revision categories below are practical groupings, not a replacement for that specification.
Official AQA French specification (PDF)Pearson Edexcel GCSE
Pearson Edexcel GCSE organises vocabulary around six thematic contexts, including My personal world and My neighbourhood. Use its current vocabulary list for your tier; our nine revision categories are not the board’s official theme structure.
Pearson Edexcel GCSE French speaking guide
Official Pearson Edexcel GCSE French specification (PDF)GCSE guidance uses the specifications first taught in September 2024, first examined in 2026. Older GCSE task formats are not interchangeable with these.
Carry the skill into your next answer
Move between understanding language and using it. Pick a related resource rather than starting another long checklist.
Ready to say it aloud?
The website supports broad revision. The ScoreMySpeech app stays specialist: French and Spanish speaking practice with feedback, not full reading, listening or writing assessment.