This French B2 lesson explains Francophonie step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on Francophonie and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: The Francophonie is both the community of French speakers and an international organization, the OIF, founded in 1970. French has a different status in each member country, and its vocabulary varies between France, Québec, Belgium, Switzerland and Africa, while grammar stays almost identical.
Level: French B2 (CEFR upper intermediate) · Standards: CEFR B2, Reading
Francophonie: the lesson
What is the Francophonie, and who belongs to it?
The word covers two ideas. La francophonie (lowercase) is the community of people who speak French. La Francophonie (capital F) is the political organization, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), which links states and governments on five continents. Today most of the world’s French speakers live in Africa, not in Europe.
Definition
Un pays francophone is a country where French is official, widely used or taught as a main language. Status varies a lot, as the table shows.
| Place | Status of French |
|---|---|
| le Québec | only official language of the province |
| le Sénégal | official language, next to national languages such as Wolof |
| la Belgique | one of three official languages |
| la Suisse | one of four national languages |
| Haïti | co-official with Haitian Creole |
| le Maroc | not official, yet common in business and media |
How does French change from one country to another?
Grammar and spelling stay almost the same everywhere. The differences appear in vocabulary, accent and a few number words. Native speakers understand each other without difficulty.
| Meaning | France | Québec | Belgium, Switzerland |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | soixante-dix | soixante-dix | septante |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix | quatre-vingt-dix | nonante |
| evening meal | le dîner | le souper | le souper |
| un e-mail | un courriel | un e-mail |
Watch out
English speakers learn that déjeuner means lunch. That is true in France only. In Québec, Belgium and Switzerland, le déjeuner is breakfast, le dîner is lunch and le souper is the evening meal.
What does the Québec language law require?
Rule: the Charter of the French Language
Adopted in 1977 and known as la loi 101, it makes French the official language of Québec and the normal language of government, work, education and business. On commercial signs, French must be clearly predominant; other languages may appear, but smaller. Children of most newcomers attend French-language school.
Examples
- Cette enseigne respecte la loi : le français domine. — This sign respects the law: French dominates.
- L’Office québécois de la langue française veille à son application. — The Office oversees how it is applied.
How do you discuss language policy at B2 level?
- promouvoir / défendre une langue — to promote / defend a language
- le plurilinguisme — the use of several languages
- un locuteur — a speaker
- à l’échelle mondiale — worldwide
- veiller à ce que + subjunctive — to make sure that
Culture note
Each year on 20 March, the French-speaking world celebrates the Journée internationale de la Francophonie.
Zoé’s tip
When a French friend says dîner, ask where she lives. In Lyon it is the evening meal; in Montréal it is lunch.
Key points to remember
- The OIF links states and governments on five continents.
- Most French speakers in the world live in Africa.
- Québec’s Charter of the French Language dates from 1977.
- Septante and nonante are used in Belgium and Switzerland.
- In Québec, le souper is the evening meal.
French-speaking world: institutions and varieties: frequently asked questions
What does OIF stand for?
It stands for Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. It brings together states and governments that share French and promotes education, culture and cooperation.
Is French the only official language of Québec?
Yes. The Charter of the French Language of 1977 makes French the sole official language of the province, although English remains widely spoken and protected in some public services.
Why do Belgians say septante instead of soixante-dix?
Belgian and Swiss French kept older, more regular number words. Septante (70) and nonante (90) are standard there, while some Swiss areas also say huitante for 80.
Does French differ a lot between countries?
Mainly in vocabulary, expressions and accent. Written grammar and spelling are very close, so a B2 learner can read texts from every French-speaking region.
When is the Journée de la Francophonie?
It is celebrated on 20 March every year, with events in schools, libraries and cultural centers across the French-speaking world.