Learn French in Liège
Liège is a French-speaking city in Wallonia, close to the German and Dutch borders. Students at ULiège, workers commuting from Maastricht or Aachen and newcomers settling in the city all find that daily life here runs in French.
French in Liège
Liège lies in Wallonia, Belgium's French-speaking region, so French is the language of the city council, schools, hospitals and the university. The commune had about 201,500 registered residents in December 2025, according to Belgium's Federal Public Service Interior. The city also keeps a strong attachment to Walloon, the regional language once spoken across the area. During the 15 August festivities in Outremeuse, the day opens with a procession and a Mass that includes a sermon in Walloon, and the puppet Tchantchès, a local folk hero, mixes Walloon with easy French. The east of the province of Liège is home to Belgium's German-speaking Community, which gives the area an unusually multilingual neighbourhood.
Why people in Liège learn French
Many people come to Liège to study at the Université de Liège, where most courses are taught in French. Others are drawn by jobs in logistics around Liège Airport, in healthcare or in research, and by rents that are lower than in Brussels. Some live across the border in Maastricht or Aachen and want French for work or shopping trips. French is also the key to the city's social life: the Carré bars, the Batte Sunday market along the Meuse and the August celebrations in Outremeuse are far richer when you can chat with the people around you.
The French you'll hear
Liégeois speak Belgian French with a recognisable eastern Walloon accent, often described as sing-song, and with some vocabulary from Walloon. You will hear the Belgian numbers septante and nonante, and the meal names dîner for lunch and souper for dinner. Local culture adds its own words: pèkèt is the juniper spirit served at festivals, and Outremeuse calls itself a free republic during its August party. Learn standard French first and the regional colour will come naturally once you live here.
- Un pèkèt au citron, s'il vous plaît.A lemon pèkèt, please.
- On va au marché de la Batte dimanche ?Shall we go to the Batte market on Sunday?
- Vous servez encore à souper ?Are you still serving dinner?
- C'est à nonante mètres d'ici.It's ninety metres from here.
- Je suis étudiant à l'université de Liège.I'm a student at the University of Liège.
French exams in Liège
The Institut supérieur des langues vivantes (ISLV) at the Université de Liège is an official DELF and DALF centre, with three sessions a year for adults covering levels A1 to C1. ISLV also offers the TEF and the TEFAQ, which are useful if you are preparing an immigration file for Canada or Québec. Dates, fees and registration deadlines change each year, so check the ISLV website before you plan your preparation.
Check dates and fees with the exam centre directly; they change every session.
Where to start in the course
French Ultimate is an online course, so you can follow it from Liège or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Liège
Can I study at ULiège if my French is still basic?
Most bachelor's programmes at ULiège are taught in French, so you will need a solid level, often around B2, before you start. Requirements vary by faculty, so check with the admissions office. Many students use an online course such as French Ultimate to build up from A1 or A2 before arriving, then sit the DELF at ISLV.
Will I understand people in Liège if I learn standard French?
Yes. Liégeois speak French, and the regional accent and a few local words take a little time but not a separate course. Walloon itself is mostly heard at festivals and in folklore. Our listening practice uses a range of voices, and our unit on French around the world introduces Belgian features like septante and nonante.
Does French Ultimate have classes in Liège?
No, French Ultimate is an online course with no school or teachers in Liège. You learn through animated video lessons, speaking practice and graded stories at your own pace. When you are ready for an official certificate, you can book the DELF or DALF at ISLV and use our mock exams to prepare.
Learn French from Liège, at your own pace
Animated video lessons that stop for your answers, speaking practice, graded stories and DELF/DALF mock exams, from A1 to C2. Start with the free placement test to see where you are.
Take the placement test