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French · Parents who don't speak it

How to teach your child French when you don't speak it

Lots of parents want their child to learn French without speaking it themselves. The good news: you don't have to be the teacher. Your job is to make French a regular, fun part of the week, and to learn alongside your child. Bilingual songs make that possible, because you always know what you're singing.

Is it a good fit? Made for exactly this: every French line in the songs comes with its English meaning, for ages 2–8.

Be a co-learner, not a teacher

Children love it when adults learn with them. Saying "I don't know that word, let's find out!" is a great example to set. You'll be surprised how quickly you pick up the songs too.

Let the audio be the model

Your accent doesn't need to be perfect. The songs give your child a clear model of the French sounds; your role is to sing along, show enthusiasm and use the words in daily life.

Start with words you'll use every day

Greetings, please and thank you, good night, a few foods. These come up so often that you'll both be using them within days.

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
how are you?comment ça va ?koh-mah(n) sah VAH
good nightbonne nuitbun NWEE
goodbyeau revoiroh ruh-VWAHR
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 parents who don't speak it

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

Quick tips

  • Start with the free greetings unit; it's free forever.
  • Read the English line, then sing the French line together.
  • Pick one phrase a week and use it in real life, not just in the song.
  • Don't worry about your accent; enthusiasm matters more.

Questions parents ask

Will my bad accent hurt my child's French?

Children listen to many voices, and the songs give them a clear model of the French sounds. Singing along with enthusiasm helps far more than staying quiet because you're worried about your accent.

How will I know what the words mean?

Every line in every song is shown with its English meaning, and the songs themselves go back and forth between English and French.

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