Essential French Vocabulary: Words for Your Online Life

The French have their own set of words for the online world. Tutor Tyler S. shares how to type French accents, helpful phrases for email, and more!

In the most recent decade, technological advances have affected languages all over the globe. Thanks to these advances, it is easy to communicate with others over long distances at the touch of a button.

The internet and high-tech mobile devices have given rise to many new, abbreviated word forms. One example is the way the French use their own abbreviated language for social media and texting.

This article will help you modernize your French skills for a world where people text, email, and use social media, plus you’ll learn how to type accents on the daily!

After all, when you’re learning a new language, it’s essential to learn vocabulary related to your interests. Whether you’re traveling to France or just trying to learn more about the culture, here are some French words and phrases that will come in handy for your online life. Bon voyage! 

How Many French Vocabulary Are There?

There are thousands of basic French vocabulary words to learn! And when it comes to learning French vocabulary, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

• There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The amount of vocabulary you need will depend on your level of proficiency and the purposes for which you are learning the language. 
• Actively seek out new words and phrases. A good way to do this is to find a French dictionary or grammar book and make a list of new words and phrases that you come across. 
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more you practice using your new vocabulary, the more confident you will become.

Can’t wait to get started with learning new French vocabulary words for online terms? Be sure to sign up for French lessons! In addition to learning the latest “digital lingo,” you’ll also learn topics like what is covered in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvwykXJ4mQI 

How to Type French Accents

There are a lot of ways to type accents using a computer keyboard or mobile device. Here is how to type accents in French using Mac, PC, Android, or iOS.

1. How to Type Accents on a Mac

Accents are easy to type when using a Mac. Below are the common keystrokes. Remember to have the caps lock on when typing uppercase characters.

Àà – Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a].

Èè – Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e].

Ùù – Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u].

Éé – Press [e] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e] again.

Ââ – Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a].

Êê – Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e].

Îî – Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [i].

Ôô – Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [o].

Ûû – Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u].

Ää – Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a].

Ïï – Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [i].

Üü – Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u].

Ÿÿ – Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [y].

Œœ – Press [q] and the [options] key at the same time.

Çç – Press [c] and the [options] key at the same time.

2. How to Type Accents on a PC/Windows

Accents are slightly tedious to type on a PC/Windows operating system. But, it does get easy once you’re in the habit. As long as you have the list below, on either a sticky note or in a word processing file for reference, you will be fine.

À – Hold [ALT] and type 0192

à – Hold [ALT] and type 0224

 – Hold [ALT] and type 0194

â – Hold [ALT] and type 0226

Ä – Hold [ALT] and type 142

ä – Hold [ALT] and type 132

È – Hold [ALT] and type 0200

è – Hold [ALT] and type 138

É – Hold [ALT] and type 144

é – Hold [ALT] and type 130

Ê – Hold [ALT] and type 0202

ê – Hold [ALT] and type 136

Î – Hold [ALT] and type 0206

î – Hold [ALT] and type 140

Ô – Hold [ALT] and type 0212

ô – Hold [ALT] and type 147

ΠРHold [ALT] and type 0140

œ – Hold [ALT] and type 0156

Ù – Hold [ALT] and type 0217

ù – Hold [ALT] and type 151

Û – Hold [ALT] and type 0219

û – Hold [ALT] and type 150

Ü – Hold [ALT] and type 154

ü – Hold [ALT] and type 129

Ÿ – Hold [ALT] and type 0159

ÿ – Hold [ALT] and type 0255

Ç – Hold [ALT] and type 128

ç – Hold [ALT] and type 135

3. How to Type Accents on Android/iOS

Accents are extremely easy to type using most smartphones. To type an accent using your phone’s touchscreen keyboard, simply press down on the letter you want to accent and hold your finger over that same letter. A small menu will appear over the letter you selected, and various accented versions of that letter are included in that menu.

To select an accented letter, slide your finger while still holding down on the touchscreen in the direction of the letter you wish. You will see that the letter selected is darkened so that you know it is selected. Once selected, release you finger from the touchscreen, and the accented character will be typed into your current message.

For example, if you hold your finger over “u,” the following set of accented letters will appear over your finger on most smartphones: ū, ú, ù, ü, û

Vocabulary in French for Emails

Below is the basic structure of a typical French email. Each number on the left-side column represents a basic part of an email. Below the example email is an explanation of the email’s basic part and other suggestions for improving your vocabulary.

(1) Chère Mme Blanc,

(2) Je suis très desolé, mais je ne peux pas assister à votre classe aujourd’hui. Je suis malade, et il faut que j’aille au docteur.

(3) Merci,

(4) [Your Information]