It never hurts to give a young child a headstart when it comes to learning another language. The earlier children (Les enfants) and babies (Les bébés) start learning any language, the easier it is for them to become bilingual without even really trying.
When teaching young children, exposing them to simple, everyday language is a must. Things like colors, shapes and common objects are always useful and easy to incorporate into everyday activities and games.
Here are some vocabulary lists and French words for kids to get you started teaching Basic French for Babies and Toddlers.
Colors in French (Les couleurs)
Many young children first begin playing with toy blocks and games that come in an array of different colors and shapes. Teaching children some French words for kids while they’re playing with their toys is a good and easy way to begin to introduce new words to them.
Here is a list of the most common colors in French:
| Les couleurs | Colors |
|---|---|
| Rouge | Red |
| Orange | Orange |
| Jaune | Yellow |
| Vert(e) | Green |
| Bleu(e) | Blue |
| Violet(te) | Purple |
| Rose | Pink |
| Blanc(he) | White |
| Gris(e) | Grey |
| Noir(e) | Black |
| Brun(e) | Brown |
| Doré(e) | Gold |
| Argenté(e) | Silver |
Via Pixabay
Shapes (Les formes)
Here are the most common shapes:
| Les formes | Shapes |
|---|---|
| Un carré | Square |
| Un cercle | Circle |
| Un triangle | Triangle |
| Un rectangle | Rectangle |
| Un ovale | Oval |
| Un demi-cercle | Half circle |
| Un pentagone | Pentagon |
| Une pyramide | Pyramid |
| Un cône | Cone |
| Un cube | Cube |
| Une boîte | Box |
| Un cœur | Heart |
| Une étoile | Star |
Via Pixabay
Common Objects (Les Objets Communs)
Along with colors and shapes, there are many common everyday objects that are useful to teach French words for kids in the early stages of their learning.
Here are some of the most common objects:
| Les Objets Communs | Common Objects |
|---|---|
| Le lolo (le lait) | Milk |
| Un nounours | Teddy bear |
| Une poupée | Doll |
| Un doudou | Stuffed animal or blankie |
| Un joujou | Toy |
| Un jouet de bain | Bath toy |
| Une balle | Ball |
| Un livre | Book |
| Les cubes | Blocks |
| Une comptine | Nursery rhyme |
| Un crayon (de couleur) | (Colored) crayon |
| La tétine, la sucette de bébé | Pacifier |
| Le bavoir | Bib |
| Un bibi (biberon) | Baby’s bottle |
| Un bol | Bowl |
| Une cuillerée | Spoon |
| Un biscuit | Cookie |
| Un toutou | Doggy (sometimes called a ouah-ouah by children) |
| Un minou | Kitty |
| Un dada | Horsey |
| Un cochon | Piggy |
| Un poisson | Fishy |
| Un canard | Ducky |
| Un lapin | Bunny |
| Un oiseau | Birdy |
| Un(e) ours(e) | Bear |
| Une fleur | Flower |
| Une maison | House |
| Une voiture | Car |
| Un train | Train |
| Un camion | Truck |
| Un bateau | Boat |
Via Pixabay
For more information on French for Parents, Baby Talk and Vocabulary check out our blog post
Via Pixabay
What about you? Did you learn French as a child? What words did you learn? What other vocabulary do you think is important to teach French for babies and toddlers? Let us know in the comments!
