Learning French is an exciting adventure… but sometimes discouraging. Many learners feel lost when they listen to natives. Why? Because French people speak fast, chain sentences without pauses, use familiar expressions and cut words. Result: you feel like you’re always one or two sentences behind.
 

In this article, I’ll give you practical tips to better follow spoken French, even when the speed seems too fast.
And if you want to go further, I’m offering my free ebook « Master Spoken French » to download right now.

 

Why do French people speak so fast?

The speed of the French language is not just an impression: it’s linked to several linguistic and cultural factors:

  1. Liaisons: words stick together, which makes it difficult to distinguish each one.

  2. Swallowed words: instead of saying « je ne sais pas », a French person will say « chais pas ».

  3. The rhythm: unlike English, which stresses certain syllables, French is a syllabic language, so each syllable is pronounced quickly, almost at the same rhythm.
     

Result: even if you know the vocabulary, your ear doesn’t have time to catch everything.
 

In my free ebook « Master Spoken French », I explain in detail why French people speak fast and how to train your ear effectively.

 

Learners’ difficulties

When you listen to conversations between French people, you may feel:

  • đŸ˜© Overwhelmed in group conversations, where everyone interrupts each other.

  • 😬 Confused by informal language: slang, abbreviations, shortened words.

  • 😓 Afraid of repeating “Could you repeat?” again and again.
     

These difficulties are normal, and don’t worry: they can be overcome with the right methods.
 

The key is not to understand everything

Many learners think they must understand every single word to follow a conversation. That’s a mistake!

👉 The goal is not to decode everything, but to recognize the key sounds and recurring patterns.

For example:

  • If you hear « alors du coup » → you know an explanation is coming.

  • If you hear « en fait » → it’s a clarification.

  • If you hear « tu vois ? » → the person is checking if you’re following.
     

Focusing on sound signals and keywords allows you to grasp the main idea, even if you miss some words.

 

3 tips to follow fast French
 

1. Train your ear every day

Expose yourself to short audios: podcasts, videos, subtitled series. No need to watch a whole movie: 5 minutes a day is enough to get your brain used to the natural rhythm of French.
 

2. Focus on keywords

Identify the most important words: subjects, verbs, main adjectives.
 

Example:

  • Fast sentence: « En fait j’peux pas venir ce soir parce que j’ai un truc urgent au boulot. »

  • Keywords: can’t come – tonight – urgent – work.
    Even without understanding everything, you get the meaning.
     

3. Learn spoken shortcuts

Spoken French is full of abbreviations:

  • « T’inquiĂšte » = don’t worry

  • « Chuis » = I am

  • « Y’a » = there is/are

  • « T’as vu ? » = did you see?
     

👉 In my free ebook "Master Spoken French", you’ll find the most common abbreviations to memorize in order to understand faster.

 

Bonus: practice in small groups

An effective method is to start in small groups where people speak more clearly, like in our French conversation group. Then gradually increase the difficulty, like a workout.

It’s exactly like at the gym: you start with light weights, then increase the load. Here, you start with a slow pace, then train your ear to faster speeds.

 

Example of a simple exercise to do at home

  1. Choose a 3-minute YouTube video in French.

  2. Listen once without taking notes.

  3. Listen a second time and only write down keywords.

  4. Read your notes and try to reconstruct the meaning.

  5. Listen again with French subtitles to check.
     

By repeating this exercise regularly, your brain learns to recognize sound patterns effortlessly.

👉 In the ebook « Master Spoken French », I suggest other simple and effective exercises to practice every day.

 

Conclusion: understanding spoken French is possible!

You don’t need to be perfect or understand every word. What matters is:

  • Getting your ear used to the fast pace,

  • Identifying keywords,

  • Recognizing informal expressions,

  • Gradually practicing in real-life situations.
     

With daily practice, you’ll quickly feel the difference. And soon, instead of being one sentence behind, you’ll be able to follow a discussion without any problem.
 

🎁 Download your free ebook:
👉 « Master Spoken French » is a complete guide that helps you understand French people in real life, with tips, lists of expressions, and practical exercises.