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French · 3-year-olds

French for 3-year-olds

Three-year-olds are talking more every week, asking "why?" constantly and starting to play pretend. That makes it a lovely age to add French: they can copy whole short phrases, join in with call-and-response, and use new words in their games.

Is it a good fit? Three is a great age for the songs: well inside the 2–8 range they're designed for.

What's realistic at three

A realistic goal is a handful of words and phrases your child understands and sometimes uses: greetings, please and thank you, a few animals and colors, counting to three or five with you. Some children will say much more, some much less; both are fine.

Call and response suits this age

The songs go back and forth: an English word or line, then the French one. Three-year-olds pick up that pattern quickly and start shouting the answer, which is exactly the kind of active listening that helps words stick.

Use pretend play

Teddy only speaks French. The toy shop takes orders in French. Three-year-olds happily accept rules like this, and it gives them a reason to use the words.

French words to start with

Words from the songs below that fit this moment. Tap one for pronunciation help and practice ideas.

EnglishFrenchSounds like ≈
hellobonjourboh(n)-ZHOOR
pleases'il te plaîtseel tuh PLEH
thank youmercimehr-SEE
catle chatluh SHAH
redrougeROOZH
numbers 1 to 10un, deux, trois…UH(N), DUH, TWAH…
Good to know about French: French spelling hides a lot: many final letters are silent, and vowels like the nasal "on" don't exist in English. Listening first and reading later works especially well for French.

French songs for 3-year-olds

Hand-picked from the French library. Songs marked Free are part of the free first unit; the rest are Premium.

Quick tips

  • Pick one French phrase per week and use it every day (for example please at snack time).
  • Give a favorite toy a French name and let it "only understand" French words.
  • Ask questions from the songs, like "what does the cat say?", and let your child answer.
  • Keep sessions short: one or two songs, then something else.

Questions parents ask

My 3-year-old answers in English. Is it working?

Yes, that's very common. Understanding usually comes before speaking. If your child responds correctly to a French word, even in English, they've understood it.

Can a 3-year-old use the app alone?

The app is designed so a child can press play and sing along, but at three it works best with you nearby, singing too. It has no ads and no autoplay into other videos.

Sing it in French, free

The first unit, 6 greeting songs with lyrics and English translation, is free forever. No card needed. Premium unlocks all 134 songs.

Start free — no card