Check out our pick of the best podcasts to learn French.
Our Selection of the Best Podcasts To Learn French
1. Coffee Break French
Cost: Free access to the podcast library or a $124 one-time payment for courses
Coffee Break French is a podcast that combines language and culture in quick 15-minute lessons. In the podcast, Mark, the teacher, coaches Anna, another student. Usually, the classes involve a quick discussion in French, an analysis of the English and a run-through of any important grammar concepts. We also love that Mark is always quick to point out cultural facts! While the podcast was originally designed for beginners, Coffee Break French has recently started a series for both intermediate and advanced speakers. If you want to follow up the episode with self-study and don’t mind paying extra for the premium version, each lesson is accompanied by notes and a pronunciation guide. However, if you are on a budget, this is undoubtedly one of the best podcasts to learn French.
What we like:
- 15-20 minute episodes, ideal for those who prefer shorter study sessions.
- The podcast includes a small section in English at the end.
- Aside from language learning, there are also a ton of cultural facts included too.
What we don't like:
- To have access to more materials, you need to pay for the premium version.
- Some people complain that the owner of the podcast isn't French…
- The app is quite limited: you may need to use other resources to become fluent.
2. One Thing in a French Day
Cost: Free
One Thing in a French Day gives you an insight into the daily life of a lady living in France. Leatitia, the host of the podcast, covers a different day, or event, in each episode. This could be something as simple as buying a croissant, going to the hairdressers, going shopping or meeting up with friends. Established in 2006, there are now more than 1,900 episodes to listen to, all around five minutes long. You can also pay to sign up for a weekly newsletter that delivers a transcription of each episode into your inbox.
What we like:
- More than 1,900 episodes to date: that's a ton of content!
- The host offers an insight into French culture and society.
- You are taught by a French native speaker.
What we don't like:
- Episodes are limited to a certain type of content: typical daily activities.
- Very little mention or explanation of grammar concepts.
3. Learn French by Podcast
Cost: Free
Unlike the previous two podcasts, Learn French by Podcast is a comprehensive series of lessons that take you from beginner learner to advanced. They release a new podcast every day, covering a specific topic, and using a combination of native English and French teachers. That’s until you reach the advanced podcasts, where lessons will be entirely in French! The podcast is divided into two sections: first, the listener hears a conversation in French, and some parts are repeated twice for clarity. Afterwards, there is an analysis of the grammar and phrases used. Amazingly, this podcast is completely free, however, if you wish to purchase the lesson guide and script you have to pay a small fee.
What we like:
- New podcasts uploaded daily!
- Quick episodes perfect for whenever you have a free moment to learn French.
- Caters to all ability levels, from beginner to advanced.
What we don't like:
- The episodes are quite hard to find and the website hard to navigate.
- Not an effective way to learn grammar.
- It should be used as a supplementary tool only.
4. News in Slow French
Cost: Free, or $19.90 for premium
The title says it all; News in Slow French is a very thorough podcast series featuring important and current news articles read out loud in French but at a much slower speed. It’s ideal for those who love to be up-to-date with current affairs while practising their language skills! One of the great features of this podcast is the transcription which you can read as you listen to the news. Each episode also breaks down important grammar points as well as tricky vocabulary. If you decide to purchase the premium version, you will also gain access to a bunch of other resources like quizzes, a pronunciation guide, and a vocabulary list.
What we like:
- There is a seven-day free trial to test out the premium version.
- The podcast is constantly updated alongside the most current news.
- Great for students with an interest in current affairs and politics.
What we don't like:
- Limited free content available.
- Absolute beginners may struggle at first, even while listening to the beginner podcast. You need some knowledge of French.
- Each episode is quite long and can get tiring.
5. Parlez Away: Babbel's French Podcast
Cost: 20 episodes for $30
Parlez Away is a podcast from the team behind Babbel, a leading language learning app. During the podcast, you follow Ted, a beginner, while he learns French with the help of Caroline, a native speaker. This podcast is ideal for beginners, as it focuses on conversational practice, starting with greetings and slowly building up to more complex topics. Aside from following a course outline, you are also introduced to some elements of culture and some common faux pas. You can listen to Parlez away on the Babbel app, and accompany the podcast with lessons, or you can stream it on Spotify.
What we like:
- Created by a credible and loved language learning app.
- Available on all streaming services: like Apple or Spotify.
- Teaches you about language, as well as elements of culture and society.
What we don't like:
- It is best suited for those following the Babbel course on the app.
- Only suitable for beginners.
- Quite expensive for a podcast.
6. Je French
Cost: Free
Je French is one of the best podcasts to learn French for beginners. Its methodical approach mimics that of a textbook, leaving us with a comprehensive course. All of the episodes are taught by a native French speaker and follow a very simple format. They begin with a short dialogue, followed by a translation into English, and a conversion between the two presenters based on the topic. The instructors also speak in English and often give some tricks and tips on learning French. The basic lessons are free, but if you want to have weekly lessons you’ll need to pay for a subscription.
What we like:
- Offers beginners a solid foundation in French.
- This podcast is great for teaching and helping you understand grammar.
- After each podcast, there is a line-by-line translation available and a transcript.
What we don't like:
- It can be a little difficult for those with absolutely zero knowledge of French.
- Only the basic lessons are included for free, you’ll need to pay to access more material.
7. One Minute French
Cost: Free
One Minute French does exactly what it says: it focuses on delivering quick, useful lessons in the shortest amount of time possible. Are the episodes a minute long? No, they last between two and four minutes, still making it one of the shortest podcasts around. The teacher Pierre-Benoit helps students learn language basics while discussing popular themes like holidays, work and business trips. It is not enough to help you reach fluency, but if you are learning French to go travelling or as a hobby, this is one of the best podcasts for you. With short episodes like these, you have no excuse but to pick up your phone and start learning French!
What we like:
- Very accessible short episodes.
- Pierre-Benoit is a native French speaker: perfect for your pronunciation.
- Ideal for those travelling or looking to study in France.
What we don't like:
- This won't help you reach fluency.
- There are no supplementary materials included.
8. French Blabla
Cost: Free
French BlaBla is a podcast hosted by Caroline who has taught French both online and in-school for over ten years. She has a ton of great experience, as well as a great sense of humour, making learning fun, entertaining and of course – educational. The podcast focuses on how to “speak French like a native”. Caroline introduces slang, common phrases, and ways to speak French that aren’t always grammatically correct but are used by French speakers regularly. These real-world tips are why it has made it onto our list of the best podcasts to learn French. She also helps with pronunciation for those that are struggling with the French ‘R' or other elements of pronunciation. There are no extra resources available, however, vocabulary lists, grammar tips and explanations, as well as exercises can be purchased on her website.
What we like:
- The presenter is an experienced teacher and explains concepts well.
- The podcast is both very educational, as well entertaining.
- Focuses on grammar, vocabulary, as well as speaking like a native.
What we don't like:
- You will need to supplement your learning with other resources.
- Extra resources are only available for a fee.
- Not a podcast for beginners, ideal for intermediate learners.
9. Language Transfer
Cost: Free
Language Transfer isn’t a podcast, but it is a short audio course divided into bite-size lessons. Language Transfer focuses on teaching you how the French language works: you will learn about key grammar rules and new vocabulary, develop and understand how to pronounce French words and more. The instructor, Mihalis, interacts with the students during the episodes and corrects their mistakes, giving a friendly, classroom-like feel to the course. An added bonus is that you can download all the audio files to your computer, allowing you to listen to them offline!
What we like:
- It includes a lot of free materials and content for you to download.
- Supported by several platforms: you can listen on Youtube or SoundCloud.
- It focuses a lot on pronunciation from the beginning.
What we don't like:
- Limited amount of episodes, and they are not being updated regularly.
- Not a fully comprehensive course: you will need more to support your French language learning.
10. Fleur-De-Lis
Cost: Free
Fleur-De-Lis is one of the best podcasts to learn Quebecois French. While the podcast is solely in French, words are clearly pronounced and spoken slowly, giving even the newest of learners the chance to follow along. Each of the podcast episodes features a new guest and discusses a theme like travel, literature, history, psychology and even neuroscience! It’s a great podcast for broadening your vocabulary while learning about a topic that interests you!
What we like:
- Covers interesting topics that spark a conversation.
- There is a different guest included in each episode.
- The episodes are about 5-10 minutes long: perfect to include a lot of content but not overwhelm the student.
What we don't like:
- You need at least an intermediate level of French.
- No English help during the podcast – she focuses on immersion.
- Not enough to help you reach fluency in French.
11. Learn French with Alexa
Cost: 15 free podcasts, or $20/month for full access.
Learn French with Alexa is an engaging and educational podcast. As you might have guessed the host is Alexa, a French native with a very popular Youtube channel. Alexa is informative and an amazing motivator, two things that make this one of the best podcasts to learn French. Throughout the podcast, she will ask you to repeat words and phrases to help you memorise them, while also explaining any tricky grammar concepts. To access the podcast you’ll need to subscribe to her online course first (for free). If you want to check her teaching style out before you decide to subscribe, you can check out her Youtube channel: Learn French with Alexa Youtube.
What we like:
- Alexa is a very friendly and motivating teacher!
- She has a ton of content on Youtube for additional help.
- She uses the repetition method to help you memorise new content.
What we don't like:
- Only 15 podcasts are available for free.
- Doesn’t include enough supplementary resources to help you with French.
12. FrendPod101: 4/5
Cost: $4/month old and a few new
FrenchPod101 is a well organized, and thorough podcast put together by a team of French language learning experts. It is available on a free trial (so you can see if you are willing to pay the full price), however, you will have to pay a small monthly fee if you want to continue using it. Along with its audio lessons, FrenchPod101 includes a vast library of supplementary resources including transcripts, vocabulary lists, quizzes, flashcards and more. What makes FrenchPod101 stand out is its voice comparison feature, where you can compare your pronunciation to that of a native speaker. FrenchPod 101 is available for beginner learners as well as advanced learners, so you can use it throughout your whole French learning journey.
What we like:
- High-quality language lessons
- Inexpensive: only $4 a month!
- Varied lessons on different topics.
What we don't like:
- Low-quality audio and video.
- Not an actual course, only a supplementary tool.
- The mobile app could be improved.
13. Un Petit Caoua?
Cost: Free
Un Petit Caoua is a French podcast focused solely on beginner students. The episodes are only five minutes long and they are narrated by Paul, who focuses on a different topic each week, from cooking, musical and film genres to health and technology. Paul discusses the topic using basic vocabulary, then asks questions and responds to them. He repeats all the new words several times and uses them in different contexts. The podcast is very educational, however, it sets a fun and interactive tone, perfect for students who disliked school-based language learning. It is available on Apple Podcasts and contains 33 episodes.
What we like:
- Great podcast for beginners.
- The podcast is very informative and educational, but also fun.
- It focuses on interesting topics that you can discuss with friends.
What we don't like:
- There are only 33 episodes available.
- It is not certain whether Paul will continue making the podcast.
14. Paris O'Clock
Cost: Free
Paris O'Clock was started by Aurelia, a French teacher based in…you guessed it: Paris! She started the podcast to help intermediate French learners improve their vocabulary and comprehension. Often, when you reach the intermediate level your learning stagnates, and it becomes more difficult to learn new things and make progress. With this podcast, she will ensure you continue learning French and help you to gain more confidence. During her podcast, you will listen to interviews with French speakers talking about historical figures and sights, French fashion, cinema culture and more. She also includes a free transcript, vocabulary notes and quizzes with all of the episodes.
What we like:
- Aurelia is a native speaker and a real French teacher.
- She helps you overcome obstacles while learning and gain confidence.
- Includes a transcript, notes and quizzes!
What we don't like:
- A limited number of podcasts available.
- The interface of the website isn't great.
15. Français Authentique
Cost: Free
Français Authentique is one of the best podcasts to learn French for upper-intermediate and advanced learners. It has a very thorough approach to learning, and you don't focus on grammar as much but learn intuitively as you go. The podcast includes high quality and original content, but, it does rely heavily on repetition. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly helps you learn new vocabulary and phrases quicker. What is also great is that the host of the podcast knows that motivation is extremely important when learning a language and he encourages you to learn and get the most out of his teaching method. He includes additional content to help you study in the form of PDF files, which are very useful while listening.
What we like:
- The host offers a lot of motivation and support to help you continue learning French.
- Extra materials are included in the form of PDF so you can download them to your computer and use them offline.
- This podcast is completely free!
What we don't like:
- There is no speaking or writing practice, focuses solely on listening and reading
- There is quite a lot of repetition and it can get boring.
- No grammar explanations or help
16. Duolingo's French Podcast
Cost: Free
Here is a familiar name for everyone! The Duolingo French Podcast. You probably already know Duolingo as one of the leading language learning apps on the market. Well, now they include a podcast ideal for all levels: from beginner to advanced. The Duolingo Podcast also includes a story feature where you can read the short story, while you listen to the audio version. This is great if you want to combine your reading and listening skills at the same time. The stories and interesting and interactive for any level and any age. Duolingo Podcast is continually updated and there are 40 episodes in total so far: that’s a lot of French learning you can do!
What we like:
- Constantly releasing new episodes.
- Includes an extra service where you can read stories alongside the podcast.
- This podcast is created by a well-known and respected language learning app.
What we don't like:
- There is chance to practice your speaking.
- Sometimes the stories can feel a little childish…
- No focus on grammar.
17. Daily French Pod
Cost: Free
Don't confuse this with FrenchPod101! The Daily FrenchPod podcast is completely free and created by former French students. Each episode follows a similar format. The host reads out a text at normal speed. They then revisit the text, breaking it down sentence by sentence and analysing each word. They also teach you how to use some keywords in other scenarios. You can display the script of the podcast in both French ad English. The podcast is updated each day, which means you have a lot of episodes to get through to learn French.
What we like:
- The podcast is continually being updated.
- There are over 4,500 episodes available on a variety of topics!
- The episodes are very short and quick, however, they offer a lot of information.
What we don't like:
- Some of the topics can be quite difficult for beginner learners.
- There is no focus on grammar or any speaking practice.
18. Easy French Poetry
Cost: Free
Easy French Poetry is a language learning podcast with a difference. You’ll need an intermediate level of French for this one though! Combining a love of poetry with a passion for languages, Easy French Poetry aims to improve your French through the magic of the written word. The podcast is very simple: the hosts read a poem in French twice and very slowly, and then break it down for you. You can also find transcripts online if you want to follow along. While this won’t teach you the language in its entirety, it’s one of the best podcasts to learn French, while also providing an insight into French culture and literature.
What we like:
- Discover more French culture by listening to French poems.
- A unique way to learn new vocabulary in French.
- This podcast is completely free!
What we don't like:
- It is not enough to help you learn French.
- There is no focus on language learning: no speaking practice, writing or grammar.
19. French Voices Podcast
Cost: Free
The French Voices Podcast is hosted by native speaker, Jessica. In the podcast, she interviews a variety of different people on interesting topics. It’s a great way to get accustomed to different accents and dialects, while broadening your vocabulary, improving your grammar and learning how to speak like a native. The podcast comes complete with free study materials to help you including articles, transcripts, worksheets, cheat sheets and more. While this podcast will be a little more challenging for beginners, Jessica is a patient and understanding host and her guests speak clearly and slowly to help you understand.
What we like:
- The host wants to help you learn french, not only discuss interesting topics.
- A ton of extra materials available for free.
- Different people are invited for each episode. Great for diversity and practising different accents.
- Updated regularly.
What we don't like:
- You have to purchase the full notes if you want more resources.
- Not enough to help you learn French.
20. French Your Way
Cost: Free
French Your Way is owned, and hosted by the same person as French Voices, Jessica. However, this time instead of a nearly scripted interview and discussion topics prepared by the host and the guest, Jessica interviews random strangers on the street. This is a unique concept as you can get a preview into the lives of real Parisians living their life in Paris, speaking real French. It’s authentic conversion, not edited and random, just as if you were walking down the street in Paris! You will hear a wonderful array of french accents, lots of slang and commonly used expressions.
What we like:
- A unique concept for a podcast.
- Extra materials are included for free!
- Jessica is a great teacher and very motivated to help students improve their french.
What we don't like:
- Since the interview is not scripted, there is not teaching. You don’t get taught grammar or vocabulary. It’s an immersive experience.
- Some accents may be hard to understand for beginner students.
Kris is the founder of Actual Fluency, and has spent the last 8 years becoming an expert in language learning software, methods, and techniques.
He lives in Denmark and speaks 5+ languages at varying levels. His other interests are Wine, Online Marketing, and Travelling.