Thursday, February 22, 2018

Welcome

This is a website where I share frequency lists and Anki decks.

I made this website in 2016 to post my Anki flashcard decks. 

8 years later, this site has over 2 million page views, and my Anki decks have over 900 000 combined downloads. This is really nice!

Over the years I had new ideas on how to improve my Anki decks, and I updated my decks to implement those ideas. I still have new ideas, so check my decks every year to see if I updated them. 

Good studies, and remember... Learning languages is a wonderful exercise for your brain.


Index of blog posts:

Frequency lists:
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Russian Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Japanese Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Korean Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used French Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Spanish Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used Mandarin Chinese Nouns
> The 2000 Most Frequently Used German Nouns

> The 2980 Most Frequently Used German Nouns (With Plural)

List of sentences, with audio on Anki, sorted by the average frequency of the words on them:
> 5000 Spanish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 German Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 French Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Dutch Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Polish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Turkish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Russian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest
> 5000 Italian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

"5000? Why so many sentences?"

 Memorizing the meaning of individual words... is pretty much pointless. If you want actual fluency, you need to see a word in as many example sentences as possible. That makes the language start to flow in your head. That shows you how to use the word. How it is combined with the other words. And many other things. 

 We think that effort always converts into fluency. This is not true. If you memorize the meaning of individual words you won't get fluent and you will spend a ton of effort. But studying sentences is the real deal. Is the method of learning that actually converts effort to fluency. 

 Get some basic grammar, some basic vocabulary, then just dive into sentences and more sentences until you're fluent.

 ~

It is OK to memorize individual words if:
1) You don't have enough vocabulary to focus your study on sentences, or
2) You are a very advanced learner

 Otherwise, it is better to just focus on learning and memorizing sentences — instead of memorizing individual words. 

- Also available on Anki - 

If you have technical issues with Anki you should ask the developer: https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/help.html

I am not affiliated with the developer of Anki. I'm just the rare user who is willing to contribute instead of consuming.


I was getting automated spam everyday so I disabled new comments in 2017. But as usual you can still reach me at: neribrandao2@gmail.com

"Without music, life would be a mistake." —Nietzsche

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Thursday, November 30, 2017

The First Thing You Should Do When Learning a Language


Learn 100% flawless pronunciation.

It's much easier to memorize a word's meaning when you know the correct pronunciation.

This is because the sound a word makes is always eerily reminescent of it's meaning.

The occurrence where the sound of a word seems to mirror its meaning is called phonetic symbolism or sound symbolism. This phenomenon suggests that the elements of a word like vowels, consonants, and syllables can carry meaning that aligns with the actual definition of the word. This is different from onomatopoeia, where words like "buzz" or "whisper" mimic natural sounds.

There are different factors to consider in sound symbolism:

- The Kiki-Bouba effect: The Kiki-Bouba effect is a fascinating phenomenon often observed in sound symbolism studies, where individuals consistently match certain speech sounds to specific visual shapes. In this particular case, people tend to associate the invented word "kiki" with a sharp, spiky shape, and the word "bouba" with a soft, curvy shape. The assumption is that these arbitrary words exhibit a certain inherent quality that creates a subconscious connection between the auditory aspects of the words and the physical properties of the shapes they represent. This effect suggests that even in the absence of a direct linguistic association, our minds are able to perceive and create a relationship between sounds we hear and the corresponding shapes we see. 
Read more about it on the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouba/kiki_effect
  
- Vowel sounds: For instance, high front vowels like 'i' in 'tiny' are often linked with smallness, while low back vowels like 'o' in 'gloomy' suggest largeness or darkness.
  
- Consonant sounds: Words with hard consonants, such as 'k' or 't', tend to be perceived as more aggressive or forceful compared to those with softer consonants, like 'l' or 'm'. For instance, the words "kick", "attack", "cut", and "hit" all imply strong action or force, reflecting the sharp, harsh sounds of 'k' and 't'. On the other hand, the words "lamb", "limber", "mellow", and "calm" contain softer consonants, and they are associated with gentleness or relaxation.

- Cultural variations: While some sound symbolism appears to be universal, such as the Kiki-Bouba effect, much of it can change depending on the individual culture's language and sounds. For example, in English-speaking cultures, the word "hiss" mimics the sound a snake makes, but in Japanese culture, the word is "shaa". Similarly, different languages may use different words to mimic the sound of a crying baby or a loud crash, demonstrating that cultural context greatly influences sound symbolism.

- Applications: Sound symbolism is widely used in branding to create product names that suggest certain qualities or feelings. This can influence a consumer's perspective of a product or service. For example, the brand "Twitter" may evoke the idea of small, rapid-fire communication, akin to the tweeting of birds. "Ferrari" conveys the potential power and luxury associated with the product, offering subtle phonetic suggestions of a fast, daring, and elite vehicle. In contrast, a company named "SoftBank" tries to communicate an image of reliability, comfort, and financial stability through its name.

- Linguistic relativity: Linguistic relativity posits that our language influences our cognitive processes and the way we perceive and experience the world. For example, Inuit languages have numerous words for different kinds of snow, which might offer them a more nuanced understanding of snow compared to someone who speaks a language with fewer such terms. Similarly, the Russian language makes a distinction between light blues and dark blues with different words (goluboy and siniy respectively). This leads to debates around whether Russians perceive these color shades differently from non-Russian speakers. Basically, the discussion revolves around how our linguistic system might shape our cognitive abilities and influence our world view.

Even though sound symbolism is a noted occurrence, it's more like a subtle effect rather than a clear-cut rule in language. The definitions of most words are decided by societal agreement, not only their sounds.

Phonoaesthetics studies whether sounds are pleasant or not and how these sounds might bring up feelings or impressions. Words like "mellifluous," which means sweetly or smoothly flowing, have soft sounds. In contrast, the word "grating," meaning an unpleasant noise, has harsh sounds.

Cultural or historical experiences can also link certain sounds with specific meanings or concepts. For example, in English, the "gl-" sound, as in "glow," "gleam," and "glisten," often suggests light or brightness. Similarly, the "sn-" sound can suggest slyness or stealth, as present in words like "sneak," "snitch," and "snoop."

Examples of words which sound like their meaning include "eerie", "slither", "gargantuan", "crisp", and "babble". In these instances, sound symbolism enriches the listener's understanding of the words and reinforces their meanings.

The sounds of certain words can cause a sensory or emotional response that mirrors the word's meaning. Phonetic symbolism implies that certain sounds may bring up a feeling or image consistent with the word's meaning. For example, the word "whisper" sounds soft and quiet, showing the idea of a gentle, hushed tone. Similarly, "gargle" sounds like the act it describes, creating an auditory and sensory connection.


Another example of sound symbolism is phonaesthemes.

In linguistics, phonaesthemes are sound sequences that, across a set of words, suggest a common meaning or theme. They are not just confined to the initial sounds; they can also be in the word endings or middles. This indication of meaning through sounds contributes to sound symbolism. To expand, consider the following examples:

- The initial sound cluster “gl-” as in "gleam," "glitter," "glisten," "gloss," "glint," "glory," and "glossy." These words all suggest a sense of brightness or shining.

- Pay attention to the "sn-" sound, typically found in words connected with the nose or quick, stealthy movements. Words such as "sneeze," "sniff," "snort," "snot," "sneak," "snitch," "snake," and "snappy" exemplify this.

- The "fl-" sound in words like "flicker," "flash," "flame," "flutter," and "flare" often suggests quick or bright movement. 

- The 'tw-' sound often indicates smallness or a pair, as seen in words like "twig," "twin," "twine," "twist," and "twinkle."

- The "cr-" sound in words like "crack," "crush," "crunch," "crumble," and "crisp" often signals something breaking or being broken.

- The "-ump" sound at the ends of words such as "dump," "lump," "bump," and "thump" generally signifies a heavy fall or hit.

While these are not hard and fast rules of the English language, recognizing these phonaesthemic patterns can help in predicting some aspects of a new or unfamiliar word's meaning. Sound symbolism in this way brings an additional layer of richness and intrigue to language, as the sounds within words can help to subtly convey meaning.


Overall, sound symbolism helps create a deeper understanding of word meanings by evoking strong emotions, associations, and mental images. This language phenomenon makes language more engaging and richer by using phonetic cues and associations.

So a good first step in language learning, is to learn perfect pronunciation first. So you have an easier time memorizing the words' meanings.

The author Gabriel Wyner said that if you don't learn 100% flawless pronunciation right from the very start, you will end up learning two languages instead of one. Don't find out about it the hard way.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Study Hints


General Tips

  • If you see a word and immediately check it's translation, you'll hardly memorize it at all. If you try your best to recall what the word means before checking the translation, the chances of memorization are much better.
  • It is much easier to memorize a word's meaning when you know how to pronounce it corretly, so get it right.   
  • Go to Youtube and search for as many videos as possible about how to learn pronunciation on your target language. Don't limit yourself to a couple videos: see as many as you can because sometimes one video will get something wrong, so the other videos will fix it.
  • Pronunciation guides have a strong tendency to have over-simplified information that is misleading or just plain wrong. So at the end of the day, the best way to learn good pronunciation is by listening to a native speaker and trying to replicate it well, not by reading a guide.
  • If you want to type some sentences of my books into Google Translate (to see alternative translations, to hear the pronunciation) you might want to learn how to type faster. "Touch typing" is a technique in which you type with all ten fingers of your hand, and when you get good at it you can type as fast as you're reading this sentence. It's a skill that takes little time to master and will be useful all your life. You can learn it by searching "touch typing" on google or visiting the following sites. http://www.keybr.com/ and https://www.typingclub.com/

Getting rid of Distractions

    The two following tools are designed specifically for Windows and macOS operating systems.

    "Cold Turkey" is a productivity software that helps users limit their digital distractions by blocking access to time-wasting websites, apps, and games. It's recommended for increasing focus, reducing procrastination, and promoting healthy work habits by enforcing self-discipline and preventing online distractions. You can download it here:
     
    "Micromanager" software, created by the same maker as "Cold Turkey," restricts access to non-essential apps, allowing only whitelisted ones for enhanced productivity. It prevents multitasking, promotes focused work, and minimizes distractions. An example of use: you can use this software to block yourself from leaving the Anki app for one to two hours, thereby eliminating distractions. This software, combined with the Speed Focus Mode add-on for Anki, is very effective in boosting your focus during your study sessions. You can download it here:
     
    There are apps for Android that serve a similar purpose. Such as the app called "Stay Focused": 
    Stay Focused: Site & App Block - Apps on Google Play
    Do some research and find what distractions-blocking app best suits you.

Improving Anki with Addons

    What are Anki add-ons?
    Anki add-ons are like extra tools that you can add to the Anki flashcard app. They give you more options and features to personalize your studying. With add-ons, you can change how the app looks, add new types of flashcards, automate tasks, and connect with external resources. They help you customize Anki to fit your learning style and make studying more effective.
     
    Where can I install Anki add-ons?
    Anki is available on the following platforms:
    1. Anki Desktop for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
    2. AnkiMobile for iOS devices.
    3. AnkiDroid for Android devices.
    4. AnkiWeb, which is a web-based interface accessible through a browser.
     
    But Anki addons are available for Anki Desktop only.
    I should mention that I have no affiliation with the developers of Anki. I only make decks and share them.
     
    What add-ons do you recommend? 
    This add-on helps you focus when you're studying, and I think it's a must have:
    The first version of this addon was actually commissioned by me, then it became a very popular add-on.
     
    These add-ons allow you to add audio to the cards of a deck. I recommend them if you want audio on all cards, or if you wish to try out different voices for a deck.
    AwesomeTTS is better if you wish to add audio for many cards all at once, as HyperTTS may crash when selecting over 1000 cards.
     
    This add-on allows you to use a gamepad/joystick to study on Anki. It makes study more a lot more comfortable:
    For the sentences deck, it's very useful to have a shortcut to suspend a card.
    To suspend a card means: remove that card from the deck.
    It's useful to have a shortcut to suspend a card, because you're supposed to remove cards that are too easy for you, or cards that teach you nothing new.
    You can configure this add-on to have a joystick shortcut to suspend the card:
    • When you install this add-on, go to the main screen of Anki, click Tools → Controller Opions → Add → In the Action column, type 'Suspend', in the Shortcut column type '@' → click 'Controls' → click 'Review' → select the RB bu (or whichever button you prefer) → select 'Suspend' → click 'Save'.
    This will add a shortcut that suspends the card whenever you press the RB button in your joystick.
    You should suspend:
    • cards that are repeated
    • cards that are too easy for you
    • cards that contain nothing new to you (for example: no new vocabulary, no new word pattern)
    You should remove or suspend those cards, otherwise your 'due reviews' will pile up to a big number.
     
    This add-on shows a little pop-up confirming which option you picked (Again/Good/Hard/Easy). It goes well with the previous add-on that I recommended, because it lets you know you selected the right option.


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Friday, August 19, 2016

5000 Polish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made:

 1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Polish words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 20 000 translated Polish sentences from the internet 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest.

The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.




To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.

These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:

Posted by at No comments:

5000 Turkish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Turkish words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 30 000 translated turkish sentences from the internet 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest.

The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.



To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.


These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:
Posted by at No comments:

5000 Russian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made:

 1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Russian words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 60 000 translated Russian sentences from the internet, each sentence no longer than 5 words. 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest.
The best part is, an expanded version of this list(with audio!) is available for you to study on the learning software Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1555716615
For free, of course.

If you don't have Anki, you can download here: http://ankisrs.net/


The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.


To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.



These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:
Posted by at 1 comment:

5000 Swedish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Swedish words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 15 000 translated swedish sentences from the internet 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest. The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.



To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.


These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki: https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/209865065 For free, of course. If you do not have Anki, you can download it here: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
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5000 Italian Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made:

1) I grabbed a list with the 5000 most frequently used Italian words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least.

2) I grabbed 60 000 translated italian sentences from the internet

3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)"

4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence.

The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be  low.

5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest.


The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.


The best part is, an expanded version of this list(with audio!) is available for you to study on the learning software Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1713927804
For free, of course.

If you don't have Anki, you can download here: http://ankisrs.net/


To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.

Posted by at 8 comments:

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

5000 Spanish Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 4000 most frequently used Spanish words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 60 000 translated spanish sentences from the internet (no longer than 6 words) 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest. The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.


The best part is, an expanded version of this list(with audio!) is available for you to study on the learning software Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1169967797
For free, of course.

If you don't have Anki, you can download here: http://ankisrs.net/


To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.


These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:
Posted by at 4 comments:

5000 German Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 4000 most frequently used German words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 60 000 translated german sentences from the internet (no longer than 6 words) 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest. The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.


The best part is, an expanded version of this list(with audio!) is available for you to study on the learning software Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/785874566
For free, of course.

If you don't have Anki, you can download here: http://ankisrs.net/


To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.


These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:
Posted by at 8 comments:

5000 French Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 4000 most frequently used French words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 60 000 translated french sentences from the internet (no longer than 6 words)
3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest. The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.

The best part is, an expanded version of this list(with audio!) is available for you to study on the learning software Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1089240419
For free, of course.

If you don't have Anki, you can download here: http://ankisrs.net/


To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.



These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki:
For free, of course.

If you do not have Anki, you can download it here:
Posted by at 15 comments:

Saturday, June 18, 2016

5000 Dutch Sentences Sorted from Easiest to Hardest

Here's how this list was made: 1) I grabbed a list with the 4000 most frequently used Dutch words -- sorted from the most frequently used, to the least. 2) I grabbed 15 000 translated Dutch sentences from the internet 3) I wrote a program that assigns a Frequency Rank Number to each word from every sentence, this Frequency Rank Number based on the list mentioned on item "1)" 4) This program calculates the average value of the all the words' Frequency Rank Numbers. And assigns this value to the sentence. The result is that if a sentence contains advanced words, the sentence will have a high Average Frequency Rank Number. If a sentence contains only beginner words, the AFRN will be low. 5) Finally, I sorted the sentences: from the ones with the lowest AFRN, to the highest. The end result is that this list begins with very, very simple sentences, and new words get slowly introduced as you progress.
To view in a big screen, click the "See Original" button.


These sentences can be studied on the learning software Anki: https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/2146619778 For free, of course. If you do not have Anki, you can download it here: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
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Thursday, May 12, 2016

The 3700 Most Frequently Used Spanish Words (No Verbs)

Suggestions on how to use this list: 
  • If you see a word and immediately check it's translation, you'll hardly memorize it at all. If you try your best to recall what the word means before checking the translation, the chances of memorization are much better. 
  • Pick a word you haven't mastered and type it into Wiktionary to see other definitions, usage notes and example sentences. 
  • It is always interesting to see a word in context, that is, in example sentences. If a word is new to you, type it into http://tatoeba.org/ to see example sentences—that website is a godsent.
The words are ordered from the most frequently used, to the least.

 You should know the grammar basics before diving into this list; so if you are a total beginner, I recommend you take up Duolingo before diving into this list.
Posted by at 2 comments:

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The 8600 Most Frequently Used Spanish Words

Suggestions on how to use this list: 
  • If you see a word and immediately check it's translation, you'll hardly memorize it at all. If you try your best to recall what the word means before checking the translation, the chances of memorization are much better. 
  • Pick a word you haven't mastered and type it into Wiktionary to see other definitions, usage notes and example sentences. 
  • It is always interesting to see a word in context, that is, in example sentences. If a word is new to you, type it into http://tatoeba.org/ to see example sentences—that website is a godsent.
  • It is also interesting to type the words you haven't mastered into Google Images, to have a greater appreciation and grasp of their meaning.

To study the right way, the software Anki is a great help, as it automatically schedules review dates for you. Download this deck for your Anki:
https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1902217808

 The words are sorted from the most frequently used, to the least.
If you memorize the whole list you won't be quite able to speak, but you will be able to understand: You'll be able to read anything in spanish without struggle like books, spanish forums and news articles. And from that learning to speak comes naturally.

 People complained about the verbs' translations being incomplete; the translation doesn't say if the verb is first or second person or past or future. Valid complaint, so I would advise to skip on the verbs, or to look a verb up on Wiktionary for a more complete translation. Ouside the verbs, this list should be virtually flawless.

 A version of this list with no verbs is available here.






Posted by at 3 comments:

Saturday, May 7, 2016

The 500 Most Frequently Used French Words

Suggestions on how to use this list: 
  • If you see a word and immediately check it's translation, you'll hardly memorize it at all. If you try your best to recall what the word means before checking the translation, the chances of memorization are much better. 
  • Pick a word you haven't mastered and type it into Wiktionary to see other definitions, usage notes and example sentences. 
  • It is always interesting to see a word in context, that is, in example sentences. If a word is new to you, type it into http://tatoeba.org/ to see example sentences—that website is a godsent.
  • It is also interesting to type the words you haven't mastered into Google Images, to have a greater appreciation and grasp of their meaning.

1. je

• I

2. de

• of 
• to 
• from 
• by 
• with 
• than 
• at

3. est

• is 
• east 
• eastern

4. pas

• not 
• step 
• steps

5. le

• the 
• it 
• him

6. vous

• you

7. la

• the 
• la

8. tu

• you 
• thou

9. que

• whether 
• that 
• than 
• which 
• what

10. un 

• a 
• an 
• one

11. il

• it 
• he

12. et

• and

13. à

• to 
• in 
• at 
• with 
• by

14. a

• at

15. ne

• not

16. les

• the 
• them

17. ce

• this 
• it 
• that

18. en

• in 
• into 
• to 
• of 
• at

19. on

• we 
• you 
• they

20. ça

• it 
• that

21. une

• a 
• an 
• one

22. ai

• have

23. pour

• for 
• to 
• of

24. des

• from

25. moi

• me 
• I 
• ego

26. qui

• which 
• that 
• who 
• whom

27. nous

• we 
• us

28. y

• there

29. mais

• but 
• although 
• yet

30. me

• me 
• myself

31. dans

• in 
• into 
• within 
• on

32. du

• due 
• owing

33. bien

• well 
• very 
• good 
• OK 
• right 
• nice

34. elle

• it 
• she 
• her

35. si

• if 
• whether 
• so 
• that 
• such 
• as

36. tout

• any 
• every 
• entire 
• very 
• whole 
• all

37. plus

• more 
• most 
• further 
• plus

38. non

• not 
• no

39. mon

• my

40. suis

• am

41. te

• you 
• thee 
• yourself

42. au

• the

43. avec

• with 
• to 
• along with 
• together with

44. va

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

45. oui

• yes 
• yeah 
• yea

46. toi

• you 
• thee 
• thou

47. fait

• fact

48. ils

• they

49. as

• ace

50. être

• be

51. faire

• do 
• make 
• take

52. se

• themselves 
• himself

53. comme

• since 
• as 
• like 
• such as

54. était

• be

55. sur

• on 
• about 
• to 
• over 
• at 
• upon 
• onto 
• with

56. quoi

• what 
• which

57. ici

• here

58. sais

• know 
• see

59. lui

• him 
• it 
• her 
• he

60. veux

• want 
• wish 
• will 
• desire

61. ma

• my

62. là

• there

63. rien

• nothing 
• anything

64. dit

• said

65. es

• be

66. où

• where 
• that 
• wherein

67. votre

• your

68. pourquoi

• why

69. sont

• be

70. cette

• this 
• that

71. quand

• whenever 
• when

72. par

• by 
• per 
• through 
• via 
• to 
• on

73. son

• its 
• his 
• her 
• sound

74. ton

• your 
• thy 
• tone 
• voice 
• pitch

75. peux

• can

76. vais

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

77. dire

• say 
• tell 
• speak 
• state

78. alors

• then

79. comment

• how

80. avez

• have 
• get

81. bon

• good 
• right 
• well 
• nice 
• voucher

82. ou

• or

83. très

• very 
• highly 
• much

84. merci

• thank

85. ont

• have 
• get

86. même

• same 
• even

87. jamais

• never 
• ever

88. aussi

• also 
• too 
• as well 
• as 
• so 
• such 
• and

89. voir

• see 
• look 
• view 
• watch

90. chose

• thing

91. allez

• Go ahead!

92. tous

• all 
• every

93. deux

• two

94. ces

• these 
• this 
• that

95. faut

• must

96. sa

• its 
• his 
• her

97. êtes

• be

98. été

• summer

99. ta

• your 
• thy

100. fais

• do 
• make 
• take

101. avoir

• have 
• get

102. peut

• can

103. autre

• other 
• another 
• different 
• new 
• alternative 
• else

104. m

• m

105. encore

• still 
• yet 
• even 
• again

106. maintenant

• now

107. peu

• little 
• not very 
• bit 
• few

108. mes

• my

109. vraiment

• really 
• truly 
• genuinely 
• actually 
• indeed

110. temps

• time 
• times 
• weather 
• days

111. notre

• our

112. toujours

• always 
• forever 
• constantly 
• still 
• yet 
• ever

113. vie

• life 
• living 
• lifetime

114. sans

• without

115. juste

• just 
• fair 
• right 
• accurate 
• true 
• appropriate

116. oh

• Oh!

117. avait

• have 
• get

118. accord

• agreement 
• understanding 
• deal 
• accordance 
• accord 
• chord 
• tuning

119. vu

• seen

120. monde

• world 
• people

121. quelque

• some 
• a few 
• about

122. fois

• times 
• time

123. aller

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

124. trop

• too 
• overly 
• too much

125. viens

• come 
• be

126. crois

• believe 
• think 
• suppose 
• imagine 
• feel

127. dieu

• god 
• deity

128. dois

• have to 
• owe

129. homme

• man 
• person

130. père

• father 
• dad 
• parent

131. sûr

• sure 
• certain 
• safe 
• secure 
• reliable 
• confident

132. aux

• the

133. leur

• their 
• them

134. avant

• prior 
• before 
• until 
• front 
• forward

135. étais

• be

136. besoin

• need 
• want 
• requirement

137. femme

• woman 
• wife 
• lady

138. aime

• love

139. personne

• person 
• nobody 
• anyone 
• no one 
• anybody 
• none

140. avais

• have 
• get

141. chez

• in 
• among 
• to 
• amongst

142. vrai

• true 
• real 
• actual 
• right

143. ans

• years

144. mal

• evil 
• wrong 
• ill 
• harm 
• hurt 
• trouble 
• difficulty 
• pain 
• disease

145. ses

• its 
• his 
• her

146. parler

• speak 
• talk 
• tell 
• say

147. vos

• your

148. après

• afterwards 
• after 
• following

149. mort

• dead 
• died 
• dying 
• dead man

150. veut

• want 
• wish 
• will 
• desire

151. eu

• had

152. sera

• be

153. bonne

• good

154. parce

• by

155. mieux

• better

156. petit

• small 
• little 
• short

157. voilà

• here 
• this 
• that is 
• there

158. tes

• your 
• thy

159. ca

• it 
• that

160. dis

• tell

161. beaucoup

• many 
• much 
• a lot 
• far 
• plenty 
• so much 
• a great deal

162. depuis

• since 
• from 
• for

163. doit

• have to 
• owe

164. vois

• see 
• look 
• view 
• watch

165. mère

• mother 
• parent 
• mom 
• mum

166. vas

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

167. monsieur

• Mr. 
• sir 
• monsieur

168. quel

• what 
• which

169. déjà

• already 
• previously 
• ever

170. fille

• daughter 
• girl 
• woman 
• child 
• maid

171. gens

• people 
• folks 
• folk

172. donc

• therefore 
• thus 
• consequently

173. jour

• day

174. soir

• evening

175. autres

• other

176. toute

• all

177. bonjour

• Hello! 
• Hi! 
• Good morning! 
• Good afternoon!

178. maison

• house 
• home

179. nom

• name

180. argent

• money 
• silver 
• cash

181. nos

• our

182. ouais

• yeah 
• yep 
• yea

183. pense

• think 
• imagine 
• suppose

184. merde

• shit 
• damn 
• crap 
• poop 
• turd

185. nuit

• night

186. papa

• papa 
• dad 
• daddy

187. cela

• it 
• that

188. salut

• salvation 
• greeting 
• salute 
• saving 
• bow

189. cet

• this 
• that

190. avons

• have 
• get

191. reste

• rest 
• residue 
• remainder

192. désolé

• sorry 
• desolate 
• afraid

193. maman

• mom 
• mum 
• mamma 
• mama 
• mummy 
• momma

194. peur

• fear 
• fright 
• scare

195. arrive

• arrive 
• come 
• happen 
• occur 
• reach

196. seul

• only 
• alone 
• single 
• sole 
• mere 
• only one

197. vite

• quickly 
• quick 
• fast 
• soon 
• rapidly 
• easily

198. prendre

• take 
• assume 
• have 
• catch 
• take up

199. regarde

• look 
• see 
• watch 
• look at 
• view

200. soit

• whether

201. trois

• three

202. quelle

• what 
• which

203. passé

• gone 
• past

204. savoir

• know 
• see 
• knowledge

205. plaît

• please

206. choses

• things

207. moins

• less 
• fewer 
• minus

208. fils

• son 
• boy 
• child

209. entre

• between 
• among 
• amongst

210. bas

• low 
• base 
• bottom 
• foot

211. appelle

• call 
• appeal

212. passe

• pass

213. ah

• ha

214. tête

• head 
• top 
• lead 
• capita

215. demain

• tomorrow

216. grand

• large 
• great 
• big 
• wide 
• broad 
• spacious 
• high 
• tall

217. arrête

• stopped

218. faites

• make

219. voulez

• want 
• wish 
• will 
• desire

220. hé

• Hey!

221. attends

• expect 
• await 
• wait for

222. hein

• huh

223. enfants

• child 
• kid 
• baby 
• infant

224. assez

• enough 
• quite 
• rather 
• pretty 
• relatively

225. raison

• reason 
• cause 
• why 
• purpose

226. aurais

• would have

227. voulais

• want 
• wish 
• will 
• desire

228. elles

• they 
• them 
• those

229. parle

• spoken

230. jours

• day

231. dû

• due 
• owing

232. heure

• time 
• hour 
• hr

233. puis

• then

234. gars

• guy 
• lad

235. hommes

• men 
• mankind

236. amour

• love 
• amour

237. tard

• late

238. toutes

• all

239. sommes

• be

240. tuer

• kill 
• murder 
• slay 
• shoot

241. ami

• friend 
• boyfriend

242. connais

• know 
• experience

243. petite

• small 
• little 
• short

244. aider

• help 
• assist 
• aid 
• support

245. chance

• chance 
• opportunity 
• luck 
• fortune 
• good fortune

246. savez

• know 
• see

247. partir

• leave 
• go 
• start

248. sait

• know 
• see

249. combien

• How many? 
• How much?

250. voiture

• car 
• vehicle 
• carriage

251. tant

• so

252. pris

• taken

253. problème

• problem 
• trouble 
• issue 
• question

254. prends

• take 
• assume 
• have 
• catch 
• take up

255. porte

• door 
• doorway 
• gate 
• gateway

256. coup

• blow 
• shot 
• coup 
• stroke 
• hit 
• move 
• go

257. serait

• would be

258. venir

• come 
• be

259. famille

• family 
• relatives 
• house 
• household

260. travail

• work 
• working 
• labor 
• job 
• task 
• employment

261. pu

• could

262. seule

• only 
• alone 
• single 
• sole 
• mere

263. sens

• sense 
• meaning 
• direction 
• way

264. ni

• or 
• nor 
• neither

265. allons

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

266. revoir

• revise 
• see again 
• meet 
• meet again

267. idée

• idea 
• mind 
• notion 
• concept 
• thought 
• view 
• insight 
• think

268. putain

• whore 
• tart 
• bitch 
• slut 
• hooker

269. passer

• pass 
• spend 
• go 
• proceed 
• skip 
• run

270. contre

• against 
• versus 
• anti

271. comprends

• understand 
• include 
• comprise 
• comprehend 
• realize 
• contain 
• grasp 
• involve

272. entendu

• heard 
• understood 
• agreed

273. trouvé

• found

274. trouver

• find 
• get 
• locate

275. vieux

• old 
• ancient 
• aged 
• old man

276. vient

• come 
• be

277. pendant

• for 
• during 
• over 
• through

278. aurait

• would have

279. quelques

• a few

280. attention

• attention 
• care

281. demande

• request 
• application 
• demand 
• claim

282. chercher

• search 
• seek 
• look for 
• try 
• try to find

283. sous

• under 
• within 
• below 
• beneath 
• underneath

284. voici

• here is 
• this is

285. pourrait

• could

286. sang

• blood 
• bloodstream

287. pouvez

• can

288. sortir

• exit 
• go out 
• come out 
• get 
• output 
• take out 
• pull 
• break out

289. histoire

• history 
• story 
• tale

290. amis

• friends

291. venez

• come 
• be

292. frère

• brother 
• friar

293. rester

• stay 
• remain 
• continue 
• keep 
• be left 
• stick

294. fini

• finished 
• finite 
• over 
• done 
• finish

295. ville

• city 
• town

296. nouveau

• new 
• further 
• novel 
• fresh

297. truc

• thing 
• trick 
• stuff 
• gimmick 
• knack

298. tiens

• like

299. mois

• month

300. eux

• them 
• they

301. mec

• guy 
• dude 
• bloke

302. yeux

• eye

303. laisse

• leash 
• lead

304. super

• great 
• fantastic

305. belle

• fine 
• pretty 
• belle

306. longtemps

• for a long time

307. eau

• water

308. heures

• time 
• hour

309. car

• car

310. importe

• imported

311. cas

• case 
• instance 
• event

312. vont

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

313. chaque

• each 
• every 
• either

314. terre

• earth 
• land 
• ground 
• soil 
• clay

315. place

• square 
• spot 
• position 
• space 
• room 
• seat

316. tué

• slew

317. main

• hand

318. pardon

• forgiveness 
• pardon

319. ensemble

• together 
• set 
• whole 
• ensemble 
• series 
• collection 
• aggregate 
• body

320. seulement

• solely 
• just 
• merely 
• only

321. guerre

• war 
• warfare 
• conflict 
• battle

322. beau

• nice 
• fine 
• handsome 
• good 
• fair 
• pretty 
• beautiful

323. vers

• to 
• towards 
• toward 
• around 
• at 
• about

324. mme

• Mrs.

325. prie

• pray 
• request

326. devant

• in front 
• ahead 
• past 
• before 
• front

327. trouve

• found

328. partie

• part 
• portion 
• party 
• section 
• game 
• proportion

329. suite

• suite 
• sequence 
• continuation 
• sequel 
• series

330. compris

• including 
• included 
• inclusive

331. matin

• morning

332. leurs

• their

333. aucun

• no 
• neither

334. arrivé

• arrive 
• come 
• happen 
• occur 
• reach

335. dessus

• over 
• on top

336. chérie

• dear 
• honey 
• sweet

337. mettre

• put 
• place 
• apply

338. aide

• aid 
• assistance

339. étaient

• be

340. perdu

• lost 
• wasted

341. fin

• end 
• ending 
• close 
• conclusion 
• termination 
• finish 
• stop 
• fine 
• thin

342. sois

• be

343. premier

• first 
• prime 
• initial 
• former 
• top

344. genre

• kind 
• sort 
• gender 
• type 
• genus 
• genre 
• nature 
• style 
• form

345. aimerais

• would like to

346. droit

• straight 
• right 
• law 
• duty 
• fee

347. donne

• given

348. attendez

• Wait!

349. jeune

• young 
• youthful 
• youth

350. feu

• fire 
• flame 
• light 
• heat

351. devrais

• should

352. enfant

• child 
• kid 
• baby 
• infant

353. chambre

• room 
• chamber 
• house

354. gros

• large 
• big 
• great 
• heavy 
• fat 
• coarse 
• thick

355. côté

• side 
• hand

356. venu

• came

357. loin

• far 
• away 
• far away 
• distant

358. laisser

• leave 
• allow 
• let

359. donner

• give 
• yield 
• donate

360. jouer

• play 
• act 
• perform 
• game

361. savais

• know 
• see

362. compte

• account 
• counting

363. parlé


364. regardez

• Look!

365. première

• premiere

366. pouvoir

• power 
• authority 
• can

367. aura

• aura

368. mourir

• die 
• perish

369. dernière

• last 
• final 
• latter 
• latest 
• top

370. donné

• given

371. mari

• husband 
• man

372. écoute

• listening

373. enfin

• finally 
• at last

374. devrait

• should

375. mis

• placed

376. film

• film 
• movie

377. aucune

• no

378. façon

• way 
• manner 
• fashion 
• method

379. pays

• country 
• land 
• nation

380. prêt

• ready 
• willing 
• available 
• loan 
• lending

381. madame

• madame 
• madam 
• Mrs.

382. femmes

• women

383. affaire

• case 
• matter 
• affair 
• thing 
• business 
• deal 
• bargain

384. pourrais

• could

385. espère

• hope

386. parti

• party 
• part

387. boulot

• job 
• work

388. endroit

• place 
• spot 
• point

389. fou

• crazy 
• mad 
• insane 
• crazed 
• fool 
• madman 
• lunatic 
• maniac 
• bishop

390. corps

• body 
• corps

391. hier

• last night 
• yesterday

392. dont

• whose

393. désolée

• sorry 
• desolate 
• afraid

394. grande

• large 
• great 
• big 
• wide 
• broad 
• spacious 
• high 
• tall

395. cinq

• five

396. dehors

• outdoors 
• out 
• abroad 
• outside

397. filles

• daughter 
• girl 
• woman 
• child 
• maid

398. vivre

• live 
• experience

399. près

• near 
• close 
• by 
• nearby

400. pensais

• think 
• imagine 
• suppose

401. garçon

• boy 
• lad

402. chef

• chief 
• head 
• leader 
• boss

403. haut

• high 
• tall 
• top

404. capitaine

• captain 
• master 
• skipper

405. dirait

• would say

406. bébé

• baby 
• infant 
• babe

407. celui

• that 
• he 
• him

408. demandé

• required

409. mains

• hands

410. ainsi

• thus 
• so 
• thereby 
• as

411. quatre

• four

412. nouvelle

• news

413. années

• year

414. plein

• full

415. semaine

• week

416. dites

• say 
• tell 
• speak 
• state

417. croire

• believe 
• think 
• suppose 
• imagine 
• feel

418. marche

• walking 
• march 
• running 
• operation 
• motion 
• foot

419. tour

• turn 
• round 
• tower 
• tour 
• lap 
• ride 
• revolution 
• rotation 
• trick 
• lathe

420. école

• school

421. manger

• eat 
• feed 
• meal

422. plutôt

• rather 
• instead 
• quite

423. docteur

• doctor

424. ceux

• those 
• these 
• who 
• such

425. vérité

• truth

426. vue

• view 
• sight 
• vision

427. arrêter

• stop 
• arrest 
• quit 
• shut down

428. essaie

• try

429. envie

• desire 
• envy 
• wish 
• craving 
• longing 
• inclination

430. bientôt

• desire 
• envy 
• wish 
• craving 
• longing 
• inclination

431. instant

• soon 
• shortly 
• presently 
• almost

432. dernier

• moment 
• instant 
• minute 
• second 
• while

433. affaires

• final 
• latter 
• latest 
• top 
• last

434. arriver

• business 
• affairs

435. demander

• arrive 
• come 
• happen 
• occur 
• reach

436. meilleur

• request 
• seek 
• ask for 
• claim 
• apply for 
• require 
• demand 
• call 
• inquire

437. font

• best 
• better 
• top

438. derrière

• do 
• make 
• take

439. presque

• almost 
• nearly 
• most 
• about 
• practically

440. tellement

• so 
• such

441. tomber

• fall 
• fall down 
• drop

442. journée

• day 
• daytime

443. voulait

• want 
• wish 
• will 
• desire

444. appeler

• call 
• appeal

445. bureau

• office 
• bureau 
• desk 
• study 
• writing desk

446. confiance

• confidence 
• trust 
• faith 
• reliance

447. garde

• custody 
• guard 
• keeping 
• watch 
• guarding

448. attendre

• expect 
• await 
• wait for

449. numéro

• number 
• issue

450. serai

• be

451. dur

• hard 
• tough 
• harsh 
• difficult

452. á

• at

453. souviens

• remember

454. voyez

• see 
• look 
• view 
• watch

455. cours

• course 
• price

456. bonsoir

• Good evening! 
• Good night!

457. route

• road 
• route 
• way 
• path 
• course

458. fera

• do 
• make 
• take

459. prend

• take 
• assume 
• have 
• catch 
• take up

460. cul

• ass 
• butt

461. abord

• on board

462. peine

• penalty 
• sentence 
• trouble 
• pain 
• sorrow 
• grief 
• pains

463. croyais

• believe 
• think 
• suppose 
• imagine 
• feel

464. mot

• word 
• note 
• say

465. devez

• have to 
• owe

466. suffit

• enough

467. ferme

• farm 
• farmhouse 
• firm 
• solid 
• hard

468. plaisir

• pleasure 
• joy 
• enjoyment 
• treat

469. chien

• dog 
• hound

470. jeu

• game 
• play

471. seigneur

• lord 
• seigneur 
• seignior

472. messieurs

• sir 
• monsieur

473. calme

• quiet 
• still 
• peaceful 
• cool 
• calm 
• calmness 
• composure 
• peace 
• quietness

474. voudrais

• would

475. heureux

• happy

476. prenez

• take 
• assume 
• have 
• catch 
• take up

477. mariage

• marriage 
• wedding 
• wedlock 
• matrimony

478. voit

• see 
• look 
• view 
• watch

479. lls

• They

480. dedans

• within 
• in 
• into 
• inside

481. entrer

• enter 
• come in 
• go in 
• get in

482. lit

• bed

483. parfait

• perfect

484. fous

• crazy 
• mad 
• insane 
• crazed 
• fool 
• madman 
• lunatic 
• maniac 
• bishop

485. mlle

• Ms.

486. rentrer

• return

487. ait

• have 
• get

488. musique

• music

489. arrêtez

• stop 
• arrest 
• quit 
• shut down

490. autant

• as much

491. reviens

• return 
• come back 
• get back 
• revert 
• turn

492. ceci

• this 
• it 
• following

493. drôle

• funny 
• amusing 
• comical 
• droll

494. attend

• expect 
• await 
• wait for

495. parfois

• sometimes 
• occasionally

496. téléphone

• phone 
• telephone

497. retour

• return

498. ira

• go 
• proceed 
• travel 
• come

499. pauvre

• poor 
• lean 
• poor person

500. verre

• glass 
• drink 
• crystal



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