Learn French in Paris
Paris is where many newcomers to France first meet French in daily life: at the prefecture, the bakery, on the metro and at work. This page covers how the language works in the capital, what Parisians actually say, and where you can take an official exam.
French in Paris
Article 2 of the French Constitution states that the language of the Republic is French, and in Paris that shows up in every lease, school letter and hospital form. The city had about 2.1 million residents on 1 January 2023, according to INSEE, slightly fewer than a few years earlier. The Académie française, founded in 1635 to watch over the language, meets in the Institut de France on the Left Bank. Paris is also home to UNESCO and the OECD, both of which use English and French as working languages, so some international offices run partly in English. Prefectures, landlords, doctors and schools, however, deal with residents in French.
Why people in Paris learn French
Paperwork is a big reason. Since 1 January 2026, a first multi-year residence card requires French at A2 and a first ten-year resident card requires B1, with renewals exempt, and naturalisation now requires B2. Work is another: jobs in shops, healthcare, teaching or the public sector in Paris are done in French all day. Students applying to French-taught programmes are usually asked for proof of their level. And many people simply want to follow a dinner conversation, read a letter from the building's syndic or talk to their neighbours without switching to English.
The French you'll hear
Parisian French is close to the standard taught in textbooks, but it is fast and full of shortened words: le resto, l'appart, le déj, à toute for à tout à l'heure. Younger speakers use plenty of verlan, where syllables are reversed, such as relou for lourd (annoying) and chelou for louche (shady). In speech, many people drop the ne in negatives, so je sais pas is normal. Daily life also has its own vocabulary: the Navigo pass, the RER suburban trains and the twenty numbered arrondissements.
- Je voudrais recharger mon passe Navigo.I'd like to top up my Navigo pass.
- Ce RER s'arrête à Châtelet ?Does this RER stop at Châtelet?
- J'ai rendez-vous à la préfecture demain.I have an appointment at the prefecture tomorrow.
- C'est dans quel arrondissement ?Which arrondissement is it in?
- Une demi-baguette, s'il vous plaît.Half a baguette, please.
French exams in Paris
The Alliance Française Paris Île-de-France holds DELF and DALF sessions and the TEF, and it also offers the examen civique, the civic exam now required alongside the language proof for many residence and nationality applications. For naturalisation, the government accepts a French diploma or a TCF or TEF certificate issued less than two years before you apply, so check which document your prefecture expects before you book. France Éducation international keeps the official list of accredited DELF, DALF and TCF centres in the Paris region.
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 Paris or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Paris
Do I need French to live in Paris?
For a short stay you can manage with English in central Paris. Once you rent a flat, register with a doctor or deal with the prefecture, French becomes necessary, and since 2026 a first multi-year residence card requires A2. Most residents start with greetings, numbers and directions, then work towards the level their permit asks for.
Is French Ultimate a school in Paris?
No. French Ultimate is an online course, with animated video lessons, speaking practice, graded stories and DELF/DALF mock exams from A1 to C2. You can study from anywhere in Paris on your own schedule, then sit the official exam at an accredited centre in the city.
Which French exam do I need for French nationality?
Since 1 January 2026, naturalisation applicants must show B2 in spoken and written French. The usual proofs are a French diploma or a TCF or TEF certificate less than two years old. The civic exam is a separate requirement. Check service-public.gouv.fr before booking, because the list of accepted proofs can change.
Learn French from Paris, 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.
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