Learn French in Strasbourg
Strasbourg sits on the Rhine facing Germany and hosts several European institutions, so French here lives alongside German, Alsatian and English. This page explains how those languages fit together and where to take an official French exam in the city.
French in Strasbourg
Strasbourg had 293,771 residents on 1 January 2023 (INSEE). French is the official language, but the city's history has been shaped by its position on the Rhine: Strasbourg was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 and was annexed again during the Second World War. Alsatian, a Germanic dialect, is still spoken by some residents, mostly older people. Strasbourg is also an international capital: the Council of Europe, whose official languages are English and French, and the European Court of Human Rights are based there, and the European Parliament holds its plenary sessions in the city.
Why people in Strasbourg learn French
Many people in Strasbourg work for, or alongside, the European institutions, where French is used daily in meetings and documents. Others live in Strasbourg and work across the Rhine in Germany, or the reverse, and need French for French administration, schools and healthcare. The Université de Strasbourg welcomes international students, and its Pôle FLE-IIEF teaches French to non-native speakers. Diplomats and officials posted to the city often bring families, who need French for local schools, sports clubs and daily errands.
The French you'll hear
Strasbourg French carries an Alsatian accent and some borrowed words you'll meet quickly. A winstub is a traditional Alsatian wine tavern, bredele are the small biscuits baked for Christmas, and tarte flambée, also called flammekueche, is the classic local dish. Hopla is a common interjection, used a bit like allez or voilà. Because of the European institutions, you'll also hear plenty of administrative and diplomatic French, so formal vocabulary is especially useful here.
- Une tarte flambée pour deux, s'il vous plaît.A tarte flambée for two, please.
- On va dans une winstub ce soir ?Shall we go to a winstub tonight?
- J'ai acheté des bredele au marché de Noël.I bought bredele at the Christmas market.
- Je travaille au Conseil de l'Europe.I work at the Council of Europe.
- Le tram pour Kehl part d'ici ?Does the tram to Kehl leave from here?
French exams in Strasbourg
The Université de Strasbourg runs DELF and DALF exams through its Pôle FLE-IIEF, the faculty of languages' department for French as a foreign language. For the TCF IRN, the TCF Tout Public and the civic exam, Institut Stralang is an accredited test centre in the city. If you are applying to the Bas-Rhin prefecture for a residence card or naturalisation, confirm which certificate it asks for before you register.
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 Strasbourg or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Strasbourg
Do I need French if I work at a European institution in Strasbourg?
You can often do much of your job in English, but French is one of the Council of Europe's two official languages and is widely used around the institutions. Outside work, French is what you need for housing, schools and the town hall. A B2 level lets you follow meetings and read documents comfortably in both languages.
Do I need to speak Alsatian or German in Strasbourg?
No. French is the language of daily life and administration. Alsatian is a regional dialect spoken mainly by some older residents, and German is useful if you cross the Rhine to Kehl or work in Germany. Learning French first is the practical choice, and a few Alsatian food words will come naturally.
Can French Ultimate help me prepare for the DALF in Strasbourg?
Yes. French Ultimate is an online course with DELF and DALF mock exams and units on debating, nuance and presentations, skills the DALF tests directly. It has no classroom or teachers in Strasbourg. When you're ready, you register for the real exam with an accredited centre, such as the Université de Strasbourg's Pôle FLE-IIEF.
Learn French from Strasbourg, 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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