Lonsdale, D: A Frequency Dictionary of French Core Vocabulary for Learners

Language Teaching: Surveys and Studies (Cambridge University Press)

Lang. Teach. (2010), 43:1, 1-37 c Cambridge University Press 2010

This book is a useful tool for all learners of French, providing a list of the 5000 most frequently used words in the language. Based on a 23-million-word corpus of French which includes written and spoken material both from France and overseas, this dictionary provides the user with detailed information for each of the 5000 entries, including English equivalents, a sample sentence, its English translation, usage statistics, and an indication of register variation. Users can access the top 5000 words either through the main frequency listing or through an alphabetical index. Throughout the frequency listing there are thematically-organized lists of the top words from a variety of key topics such as sports, weather, clothing, and family terms. An engaging and highly useful resource, the book will enable students of all levels to get the most out of their study of French vocabulary.