French Language Quiz: 50 Questions to Test Your Knowledge

Key takeaways

• This French language quiz covers five categories: vocabulary, grammar, numbers and dates, culture, and French phrases.
• Questions span beginner (A1-A2), intermediate (B1-B2), and advanced (C1) levels, so there is something to challenge every learner.
• Each section includes an answer key and tips to address the gaps the quiz reveals.
• Working through your weak areas with a qualified French tutor speeds progress significantly faster than self-study alone.

A French language quiz is one of the fastest ways to find out where you actually stand. Whether you are just starting out or working toward a proficiency exam, answering targeted questions reveals gaps that everyday study can miss.

This quiz has 50 questions across five categories: vocabulary, grammar, numbers and dates, culture, and everyday phrases. It covers A1 through C1 material, so beginners and intermediate learners alike will find something that stretches them.

When you spot the gaps, filling them gets easier with a qualified tutor. italki connects learners with French tutors who can build structured lessons around exactly the areas this quiz identifies. The platform has helped over 10 million learners across 150+ languages since 2007, with 30,000+ teachers available globally. Book a trial lesson today

How to use this French quiz

Work through each section without checking the answers first. Write your answers down or keep a mental note, then score yourself using the answer keys at the end of each part. Use the score guide at the end to interpret your results.

This is not a test with stakes. It is a diagnostic. The goal is to surface the areas worth focusing on, not to produce a number to feel good or bad about.

Part 1: French vocabulary quiz

These 10 questions test your French vocabulary at beginner and intermediate levels, covering common nouns, adjectives, and everyday words.

Questions

1. What does maison mean in English?
   
   • a) School
   • b) House
   • c) Market
   • d) Window
2. Which word means “red” in French?
   
   • a) Bleu
   • b) Vert
   • c) Rouge
   • d) Jaune
3. What is the French word for “book”?
   
   • a) Cahier
   • b) Stylo
   • c) Livre
   • d) Bureau
4. What does rapide mean?
   
   • a) Slow
   • b) Quiet
   • c) Fast
   • d) Tall
5. Which word means “cat” in French?
   
   • a) Chien
   • b) Oiseau
   • c) Chat
   • d) Lapin
6. What does fenêtre mean?
   
   • a) Door
   • b) Floor
   • c) Ceiling
   • d) Window
7. Which of these means “teacher” in French?
   
   • a) Élève
   • b) Professeur
   • c) Directeur
   • d) Secrétaire
8. What is the French word for “rain”?
   
   • a) Neige
   • b) Soleil
   • c) Pluie
   • d) Vent
9. What does beau mean when referring to the weather? (Hint: Il fait beau.)
   
   • a) Cold
   • b) Cloudy
   • c) Beautiful / fine
   • d) Rainy
10. What does the verb manger mean?
    
    • a) To drink
    • b) To sleep
    • c) To eat
    • d) To walk

Answer key: Part 1

1. b) House
2. c) Rouge
3. c) Livre
4. c) Fast
5. c) Chat
6. d) Window
7. b) Professeur
8. c) Pluie
9. c) Beautiful / fine
10. c) To eat

Score: __ / 10

Part 2: French grammar quiz

These questions test your knowledge of French grammar, including verb conjugation, gender agreement, tenses, and sentence structure.

Questions

11. Which is the correct conjugation of être (to be) in the first person singular (present tense)?
    
    • a) Es
    • b) Est
    • c) Suis
    • d) Sommes
12. What is the correct article for the noun table?
    
    • a) Le
    • b) La
    • c) Les
    • d) Un
13. Complete the sentence: “Nous ___ au cinéma hier soir.” (We went to the cinema last night.)
    
    • a) Allons
    • b) Sommes allés
    • c) Irons
    • d) Allaient
14. Which sentence is correct?
    
    • a) Elle a un belle robe.
    • b) Elle a une belle robe.
    • c) Elle a un beau robe.
    • d) Elle a une beau robe.
15. What does the passé composé tense express?
    
    • a) Ongoing past actions
    • b) Completed past actions
    • c) Future actions
    • d) Hypothetical actions
16. Which is the correct negative form of “Je mange”?
    
    • a) Je ne mange pas
    • b) Je mange ne pas
    • c) Ne je mange pas
    • d) Je pas mange ne
17. Complete: “Si j’___ le temps, j’apprendrais le piano.” (If I had the time, I would learn the piano.)
    
    • a) Aurai
    • b) Avais
    • c) Ai
    • d) Aurais
18. Which verb requires être (not avoir) in the passé composé?
    
    • a) Manger
    • b) Finir
    • c) Partir
    • d) Voir
19. What does ne… que express in French?
    
    • a) Negation (not… at all)
    • b) Restriction (only)
    • c) Quantity (a lot)
    • d) Time (never)
20. Which is the correct subjunctive form of avoir after “Il faut que…”?
    
    • a) A
    • b) Ait
    • c) Avait
    • d) Aura

Answer key: Part 2

11. c) Suis
12. b) La
13. b) Sommes allés
14. b) Elle a une belle robe.
15. b) Completed past actions
16. a) Je ne mange pas
17. b) Avais
18. c) Partir
19. b) Restriction (only)
20. b) Ait

Score: __ / 10

Part 3: French numbers and dates quiz

This section tests your ability to work with French numbers, tell the time, and use dates correctly.

Questions

21. What is quatre-vingt-dix in numbers?
    
    • a) 70
    • b) 80
    • c) 90
    • d) 100
22. How do you say “the second of March” in French?
    
    • a) Le deux mars
    • b) Le deuxième mars
    • c) Le deux de mars
    • d) Le second de mars
23. How do you say 71 in French?
    
    • a) Soixante-et-onze
    • b) Septante-et-un
    • c) Soixante-onze
    • d) Soixante-dix-un
24. What does Il est midi et demi mean?
    
    • a) 12:00 AM
    • b) 12:30 PM
    • c) 12:15 PM
    • d) 11:30 AM
25. How would you say “in the year 2001” in French?
    
    • a) En deux-mille-un
    • b) En deux-mille-et-un
    • c) En l’an deux-mille-un
    • d) Both a and c are acceptable
26. What is the French word for “one thousand”?
    
    • a) Cent
    • b) Mille
    • c) Million
    • d) Millier
27. How do you say “the 21st century” in French?
    
    • a) Le vingt-et-unième siècle
    • b) Le vingt-un siècle
    • c) Le vingtième-et-un siècle
    • d) Le siècle vingt-et-un

28. What does Il est trois heures moins le quart mean?
    
    • a) 3:15
    • b) 2:45
    • c) 3:45
    • d) 2:15
29. How would you write 80 in French as it is used in France (not Belgium or Switzerland)?
    
    • a) Octante
    • b) Quatre-vingts
    • c) Huitante
    • d) Quatre-vingt
30. What is deux cent cinquante in numerals?
    
    • a) 205
    • b) 520
    • c) 250
    • d) 225

Answer key: Part 3

21. c) 90
22. a) Le deux mars (cardinal numbers are used for dates in French, except for the first day: “le premier”)
23. a) Soixante-et-onze (standard French; “septante-et-un” is used in Belgium and Switzerland)
24. b) 12:30 PM
25. d) Both a and c are acceptable
26. b) Mille
27. a) Le vingt-et-unième siècle
28. b) 2:45
29. b) Quatre-vingts (with the -s when it is a round number and not followed by another number)
30. c) 250

Score: __ / 10

Part 4: French culture quiz

French is not just a language. It is the key to a culture that spans 29 countries and over 320 million speakers worldwide, according to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. These questions test cultural knowledge that any serious French learner should have.

Questions

31. What is the national motto of France?
    
    • a) Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
    • b) Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline
    • c) Travail, Famille, Patrie
    • d) Unité, Dignité, Amour
32. Which French-speaking country is the most populous in the world?
    
    • a) France
    • b) Canada
    • c) Democratic Republic of Congo
    • d) Belgium
33. What is le baccalauréat in France?
    
    • a) A university entrance exam
    • b) A secondary school leaving certificate
    • c) A national scholarship program
    • d) A professional certification
34. Which of these is a French overseas territory, not an independent country?
    
    • a) Senegal
    • b) Morocco
    • c) Réunion
    • d) Algeria
35. What does Bastille Day (July 14th) commemorate?
    
    • a) The end of the French Revolution
    • b) The storming of the Bastille prison in 1789
    • c) The birth of the French Republic
    • d) Napoleon’s coronation
36. Which French city is known as the “gastronomic capital” of France?
    
    • a) Paris
    • b) Marseille
    • c) Lyon
    • d) Bordeaux
37. What is the name of the French parliament’s lower house?
    
    • a) Le Sénat
    • b) L’Assemblée Nationale
    • c) Le Conseil d’État
    • d) La Chambre des Représentants
38. The French writer Marcel Proust is best known for which monumental novel?
    
    • a) Les Misérables
    • b) À la Recherche du Temps Perdu
    • c) Madame Bovary
    • d) Le Père Goriot
39. What is the official language of Quebec’s provincial government?
    
    • a) English
    • b) French and English equally
    • c) French
    • d) Neither; Quebec uses its own linguistic standard
40. Which of these culinary terms did NOT originate in French?
    
    • a) Sauté
    • b) Roux
    • c) Entrée
    • d) Tapas

Answer key: Part 4

31. a) Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
32. c) Democratic Republic of Congo (with an estimated 77 million French speakers)
33. b) A secondary school leaving certificate (equivalent to A-levels or a high school diploma)
34. c) Réunion (a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean)
35. b) The storming of the Bastille prison in 1789
36. c) Lyon
37. b) L’Assemblée Nationale
38. b) À la Recherche du Temps Perdu
39. c) French (the Charter of the French Language makes French the official language of Quebec)
40. d) Tapas (Spanish in origin)

Score: __ / 10

Part 5: French phrases quiz

These 10 questions test everyday phrases and expressions that come up in real conversations, including greetings, polite requests, and commonly misunderstood idioms.

Questions

41. What does Je n’en reviens pas mean in English?
    
    • a) I am not coming back.
    • b) I cannot believe it.
    • c) I did not return.
    • d) I am not going back there.
42. How would you politely ask for the check at a restaurant?
    
    • a) Donnez-moi l’addition.
    • b) L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
    • c) Je veux payer maintenant.
    • d) Où est l’addition ?
43. What does Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard mean literally and idiomatically?
    
    • a) Literally: It doesn’t break three duck legs. Idiomatically: It’s nothing special.
    • b) Literally: Three ducks are missing legs. Idiomatically: Something is broken.
    • c) Literally: Duck legs are expensive. Idiomatically: It’s too costly.
    • d) Literally: The duck lost a race. Idiomatically: He failed.
44. What is the difference between tu and vous when addressing one person?
    
    • a) No difference; they are interchangeable.
    • b) Tu is formal; vous is informal.
    • c) Tu is informal; vous is formal or polite.
    • d) Tu is for older people; vous is for younger people.
45. What does Bonne continuation mean?
    
    • a) Good night.
    • b) Keep up the good work / All the best going forward.
    • c) Have a good trip.
    • d) See you soon.
46. How do you say “I am hungry” in French?
    
    • a) Je suis faim.
    • b) J’ai faim.
    • c) Je me sens faim.
    • d) Je fais faim.
47. What does Avoir le cafard mean idiomatically?
    
    • a) To be very busy.
    • b) To feel down or depressed.
    • c) To be surprised.
    • d) To be afraid of insects.
48. What is the correct way to say “Nice to meet you” in a formal context?
    
    • a) Enchanté(e)
    • b) Salut, comment ça va ?
    • c) Ça m’est égal.
    • d) À bientôt.
49. What does the phrase Il pleut des cordes mean?
    
    • a) There are ropes on the floor.
    • b) It is raining heavily (literally: it is raining ropes).
    • c) The weather is unpredictable.
    • d) It is windy.
50. Which farewell phrase is used specifically when someone is leaving for a journey or trip?
    
    • a) Au revoir
    • b) À tout à l’heure
    • c) Bon voyage
    • d) Bonne soirée

Answer key: Part 5

41. b) I cannot believe it.
42. b) L’addition, s’il vous plaît. (The polite phrasing is preferred over a direct command.)
43. a) Literally: It doesn’t break three duck legs. Idiomatically: It’s nothing special.
44. c) Tu is informal; vous is formal or polite.
45. b) Keep up the good work / All the best going forward.
46. b) J’ai faim. (French uses avoir, “to have,” not être, “to be,” for hunger and many physical states.)
47. b) To feel down or depressed.
48. a) Enchanté(e)
49. b) It is raining heavily.
50. c) Bon voyage

Score: __ / 10

Pro tip: French idioms like questions 41, 43, and 47 rarely appear in textbooks but come up constantly in real conversations. Working through French idioms regularly, and testing them in live conversation, is one of the fastest ways to sound natural.

Score guide and what your results mean 

Add up your totals across all five sections for your score out of 50.

Score	Level	What it suggests
0–15	Beginner (A1–A2)	Core vocabulary and grammar foundations need attention. Focus on high-frequency words and basic verb conjugations.
16–25	Elementary (A2–B1)	You have the basics. Time to work on verb tenses, gender agreement, and common phrases.
26–35	Intermediate (B1–B2)	Solid working knowledge. The gaps are likely in grammar precision, idioms, and cultural knowledge.
36–45	Upper intermediate (B2–C1)	Strong overall command. Refine edge cases in grammar, subjunctive use, and register.
46–50	Advanced (C1+)	Near-native range. Focus on staying sharp through regular conversation and reading authentic French content.

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the international standard for measuring language proficiency, running from A1 (complete beginner) to C2 (mastery). If you are targeting a formal CEFR certification,French proficiency exam covers all the main options including DELF and DALF.

What to work on based on your score

Scored below 25: build your foundations

Focus on high-frequency vocabulary first. Research consistently shows that knowing the most common 1,000 words in a language covers approximately 85% of spoken conversation. 

Build a habit around the core verb forms: être, avoir, aller, and faire. These four verbs appear in the majority of everyday French sentences and underpin most compound tenses.

Scored 26–35: work on precision and fluency

At this level, the goal is reducing errors in areas you already partially understand: tense selection, noun gender, pronoun placement, and formal versus informal register.

The good news is that most of these errors are predictable and correctable with targeted practice. An online French tutor can identify your specific error patterns and give you structured correction that self-study rarely provides.

italki, which has supported over 10 million learners globally, offers both professional teachers and community tutors depending on whether you want structured lessons or conversational practice. You can filter by teaching style, lesson price, and availability. Find French tutoring online and book a trial to see what a focused lesson looks like.

Scored 36 and above: maintain and refine

At B2 and above, the biggest gains come from immersion in authentic French content and regular speaking practice rather than more grammar study.

For content, try reading French-language journalism, listening to podcasts from French-speaking countries (not just France), and watching French TV series without subtitles. For a structured list of options, best French learning resources covers tools across all formats.

For speaking, regular conversation with a native French tutor is hard to replace. italki’s scheduling flexibility lets you book short sessions as often as daily without committing to a fixed timetable.

Take what the quiz revealed and act on it

A French language quiz shows you where you are. What you do next determines where you go.

If you found clear gaps, whether in grammar, vocabulary, or confidence with phrases, the fastest way to close them is through structured conversation with a qualified tutor. italki connects you with 30,000+ vetted teachers across 150+ languages, trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide. Book a trial lesson, tell the tutor your score and weakest category, and build from there.

Learn French faster with personalized guidance from qualified French tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide. Book a trial lesson and start speaking French like natives.

FAQ

What is a good score on a French language quiz?

A good score depends on your level. A score of 25–35 out of 50 on this quiz suggests solid B1–B2 range knowledge, which is functional for travel, work in French, and most everyday conversations. Scoring above 40 suggests you are approaching C1 territory.

How can I practice French for free before taking a formal test?

Free options include language exchange with native speakers, listening to French podcasts, and reading French news sites. Paid tutoring through italki starts at a few dollars per session and gives you structured feedback that free tools do not.

How long does it take to reach B2 in French?

The U.S. Foreign Service Institute classifies French as a Category I language, estimating approximately 600–750 hours of study for English speakers to reach professional working proficiency. With consistent daily study and regular speaking practice, most learners reach B2 in two to three years.

What is the hardest part of the French language quiz for English speakers?

Most English speakers find the grammar section hardest, particularly the subjunctive, verb agreements in compound tenses, and noun gender. These require repeated exposure and correction, which is why conversation practice with a tutor produces faster results than grammar drills alone.

Is this French quiz suitable for beginners?

Yes. The quiz starts with beginner-level A1 vocabulary and phrases and builds to more advanced C1 material. Beginners should expect to score lower on grammar and culture sections, and that is useful diagnostic information, not a reason to be put off.