Learn French A1 from zero, in English
You don't need to know a single word. From the alphabet and greetings to introducing yourself, shopping, and asking for directions — explained in a language you actually understand.
Try the first unit freeHow long does this level take? 4-6 weeks
What does A1 mean in French?
A1 is the first of the six levels of the CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) and the start of the “basic user” range. In French, an A1 speaker understands and uses familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, can introduce themselves and others, and can ask and answer simple questions about where they live and the people they know, as long as the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
In practice, A1 is the level of greetings, introductions, shopping, ordering a coffee and asking for directions. Many learners from Morocco already know some French words from school and daily life, so A1 often feels familiar. The goal is to make it correct: the right gender, the right verb forms, clear pronunciation.
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A1 vs A2: what actually changes
| Skill | A1 | A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Short, memorised phrases about yourself and simple questions, said slowly. | Short, simple conversations about daily life, such as shopping, travel and your work. |
| Listening | Slow, clear speech and simple instructions. | The main point of short, clear messages and announcements. |
| Reading | Names, signs, menus and very short, simple sentences. | Short, simple texts such as messages, notices and timetables. |
| Writing | A form and a few simple sentences about yourself. | Short, simple notes and messages, with “et”, “mais” and “parce que”. |
| Grammar | Articles and gender, “être” and “avoir”, the present of regular verbs, questions and the negation. | The passé composé, the near future, object pronouns and the partitive. |
Who needs French A1?
Almost every French journey starts here. A1 is enough for a first trip or a form, and for a few specific files.
Complete beginners
If you know no French, A1 is where you start: greetings, numbers, the alphabet and the first useful phrases.
Learners with school French
If your French is patchy, restarting at A1 fixes gender, agreement and verb forms before they set.
Travellers and students
At A1 you can manage a hotel, transport, a café and simple questions in a French-speaking country.
People who need a first proof of level
A few routes, for example some family-related files, ask for a basic level of French. Check the exact requirement with the consulate or authority.
Exams around A1
A1 has its own official diploma. Most files and programs ask for higher levels, so an A1 exam is often a first milestone.
DELF A1
The first DELF diploma, awarded by France Éducation international. It certifies basic French, is pass or fail, and does not expire.
TCF and TEF
Scored tests that place you on the whole scale in one sitting; at A1 they are used when a file asks for a recent score.
Lerniyo’s A1 mock exam
At the end of the level, a mock exam in the style of the DELF covers listening, reading, writing and speaking. It prepares you, but it is not an official certificate.
Lerniyo's exam is built in the style of internationally recognized exams (DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF) — it is not an official registration with any of those organizations. The Lerniyo certificate is a completion certificate for our own curriculum.
What you study in French A1: grammar
A1 grammar gives you the few patterns you need to say simple things correctly.
- Articles and gender
- “un garçon, une fille”, “le livre, la table, les enfants”. Every noun is masculine or feminine, so learn it with its article.
- Être and avoir
- “Je suis étudiant.” “Elle est marocaine.” “J’ai vingt ans.” “Nous avons une voiture.”
- Regular verbs in -er
- “Je parle français.” “Tu habites à Casablanca.” “Ils travaillent ici.”
- The negation
- “Je ne parle pas arabe.” “Il n’a pas de voiture.”
- Questions
- “Où habites-tu ?” “Est-ce que tu travailles ?” “Combien ça coûte ?”
- Possessives
- “mon père, ma mère, mes frères”.
- Adjectives and agreement
- “un grand garçon, une grande maison”. Adjectives agree with the noun.
- Countries and cities
- “J’habite à Rabat.” “Je vais au Maroc.” “Elle vit en France.”
Mistakes to avoid at A1
- Guessing the gender: “le table”. It is “la table”. Learn each noun with its article.
- Dropping the article: “J’ai voiture”. It is “J’ai une voiture”. In Arabic and Darija the indefinite article does not exist, so it is easy to forget.
- Mixing “tu” and “vous”: “tu” for friends and family, “vous” for strangers, elders and formal situations.
- Forgetting the agreement: “une grand maison”. It is “une grande maison”.
- Writing without accents or with the wrong one: “ecole”, “apres”. It is “école” and “après”.
- Pronouncing the silent endings: “ils parlent” sounds like “ils parle”. Learn the sound with the word.
A realistic study plan for A1
Lerniyo’s A1 track is planned as about 4 to 6 weeks at 15 to 20 minutes a day. That is only an estimate. A simple weekly rhythm:
- 1
Learn the alphabet, sounds and accents
Start with the alphabet, the numbers and the French sounds that are new, such as “u” and the nasal vowels, and say each word aloud.
- 2
Learn words with their article
Learn the words for family, food, the shop and the city, each with “le”, “la” or “un”, “une” and a short example sentence.
- 3
Practise one grammar point at a time
One pattern a week, such as “être” and “avoir”, then the regular verbs, with short exercises.
- 4
Listen and repeat
Short, slow dialogues and the audio from your lessons. Repeat aloud after the speaker.
- 5
Speak with Nour
Practise introducing yourself and ordering out loud from the first week. Mistakes are part of learning.
What you'll be able to do after A1
- Introduce yourself: your name, where you're from, your age
- Handle the airport and public transport
- Shop at the market or a store without trouble
- Ask for directions and understand the answer
- Book an appointment at a doctor's or pharmacy
- Understand simple signs and everyday announcements
What you'll do every day
Vocabulary
Everyday-situation words: the market, the apartment, the doctor, public transport
Grammar
Basic verbs (être, avoir, -er verbs), noun gender (le/la), and simple sentence order
Listening
Short dialogues at a beginner-friendly pace
Speaking
Record your voice from lesson one and get instant feedback
Sample sentences you'll learn in A1
Je m'appelle Amina et je viens du Maroc.
How you introduce yourself: your name + your country.
Où est la pharmacie, s'il vous plaît ?
Où = where — used to ask for a place.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
voudrais = I'd like, a polite way to ask.
Le train part à neuf heures.
le (masculine) + time — heures means o'clock.
A first introduction
Bonjour ! Comment tu t'appelles ?
Hi! What's your name?
Je m'appelle Youssef. Et toi ?
My name is Youssef. And you?
Je m'appelle Fatima. Tu viens d'où ?
My name is Fatima. Where are you from?
Je viens de Casablanca.
I'm from Casablanca.
What will you learn in French A1?
- Greetings and introductions
- Introducing yourself: name, country, age
- Numbers, time, and dates
- Family
- Food and shopping
- Housing and the apartment
- Transport and getting around
- The doctor and the pharmacy
- Basic verbs in the present tense (être, avoir, -er verbs)
- Articles: le/la/les, un/une
- Simple sentence order
- Everyday questions: what, where, how much, why
Learn French A1 in English with Lerniyo
Most apps explain grammar using confusing jargon or a third language, adding difficulty on top of difficulty. Lerniyo explains everything in plain English, so you focus on French, not on decoding the explanation.
French A1: frequently asked questions
What does A1 mean in French?
A1 is the first CEFR level. You understand and use very basic everyday phrases, introduce yourself and ask and answer simple questions when the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
How long does it take to reach A1?
About 4 to 6 weeks at 15 to 20 minutes a day, according to Lerniyo’s estimate, and a little less if you already know some French.
Can I learn French from zero?
Yes. A1 assumes you know no French: you start with the alphabet, greetings and numbers, and build from there.
What is the difference between A1 and A2?
At A1 you manage introductions and very simple questions. At A2 you talk about the past and the near future, handle short daily conversations and write short messages.
Is there an official A1 exam?
Yes, the DELF A1 is the first DELF diploma. Most files and programs ask for a higher level, so check the official requirement before you register.
I learned French at school. Should I still start at A1?
If you are unsure, take the free level test. It shows where you stand, and you can skip what you already know.
Can I learn French A1 in Arabic or Darija?
Lerniyo explains grammar and vocabulary in your own language, which makes A1 much easier to follow, and Nour gives you speaking practice with feedback.
Does Lerniyo replace the official exam?
No. Lerniyo prepares you with A1-style lessons and mock exams, but it is not an exam center. To get a certificate you must register for an official exam such as the DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF.
Keep going
After A1 comes A2
See A2