What if I told you it’s possible to learn French the lazy way? However you like to relax—on the beach, in the tub, in your bed—you can do it while getting some excellent French practice!
it’s okay, it’s okay: learning French is hard work, there’s no way around it. But with French audiobooks, you can build your vocabulary and listening skills without sitting at your desk or doing exercises and tests.
You are reading: Free french audio books
ready for some “lazy” learning you don’t have to feel guilty about?
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- why listen to french audiobooks?
- types of learning french audiobooks
- original french audiobooks
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- 1. “chroniques des jours entiers, des nuits entières” (“chronicles of whole days and nights”)
- 2. “Madame Bovary”
- 3. “rebekah”
- 4. “les hommes qui n’aimaient pas les femmes” (“the girl with the dragon tattoo”)
- 5. “harry potter à l’école des sorciers” (“harry potter and the philosopher’s stone”)
- 6. “les aventures d’alice au pays des merveilles” (“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”)
- 7. “la petite fille aux allumettes” (“the little match girl”)
- 8. “le petit chaperon rouge” (“little red riding hood”)
- 9. “le tour du monde en 80 jours” (“around the world in 80 days”)
- 10. “le petit prince” (“the little prince”)
download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that you can take anywhere. click here for a copy. (download)
See Also: 10 Interesting Books Like Freakonomics – Books Like This One
why listen to audiobooks in french?
- You will hear different accents: Have you ever thought you had a good understanding of French, only to hear an unfamiliar pronunciation that had completely escaped you? Audiobook narrators come from all over the world, which means they can expose you to a diversity of accents you might not otherwise hear.
Getting used to different accents and pronunciations will be a challenge, but you can always slow down, go back, or even listen more than once: the first time for the general story, the second time for the details.
- you will learn more words: you can get audiobooks that cover so many different topics, time periods and settings. All of these factors make language exposure and vocabulary building diverse. Just like you learned your native language by listening to people speak in different situations, you can use French audiobooks to expand your vocabulary in the same way.
- You will notice how French is applied to different settings: Do you remember the first time you wrote a cover letter and suddenly wondered what is the best way to say your name formally? language is fluid and evolves to suit the needs, time, and background of the speaker.
Academic language is different from language used in business, and dialogue in fiction is generally more conversational than nonfiction exposition. audiobooks allow you to observe the many ways French can be applied.
- You can time out: What else can you do when your hands are submerged in soapy water, attacking a pile of dirty dishes? be there in silence? listen to music? engage in a meaningful conversation with your spouse? nonsense. why not turn mundane daily tasks into an educational opportunity? you can learn a lot by listening to these audiobooks.
- you can learn about French literature: you probably had to read some classic literature in high school: “the great gatsby”, “the wind in the willows”, “pride and prejudice “. “, etc. Wouldn’t you like someone to read them to you? now is your chance!
but don’t think you have to stick to the classics, though those are good too. The great thing about French audiobooks is that they can open you up to a rich variety of French literature, classic and contemporary. some may be above your head or outside your wheelhouse, but some may just be your jam.
- you can immerse yourself in French (for free): listening to audiobooks is probably the easiest and cheapest way to immerse yourself in French without traveling (though that’s certainly an option too). Better yet, listen to French audiobooks while traveling in a French-speaking country. double win.
types of French audiobook learning
Now that you’re fully convinced of the value of French audiobooks, which ones should you listen to? There are four main types of French audiobooks you can explore depending on your proficiency level and learning goals:
- Listen to books in the original French: This is the purist approach and the best way to grow in your understanding of the culture and language. the only downsides are a limited selection of French audiobook titles and a steeper learning curve. these are the books you might want to listen to repeatedly, to make sure you get all you can out of them.
- Listen to books translated into French: This is where you can find the largest selection of French audiobook titles. The good thing is that you can find books translated into French from a multitude of other languages. the downside is that some of the richness of the original language, as in any translated work, can be lost.
- Listen to books from your childhood in French: This approach really allows you to focus on understanding the language because you’re not keeping track of plot and character development. The language is usually simple and accessible to beginning French learners, and you’ll already understand the narrative. The flip side of this approach is that your listener may be a bit more passive. but if you’re lazy like me (see above), you’re fine with that.
- Audio short stories in French: Audiobook short stories in French may be overlooked, but don’t underestimate what a great addition they can be to your French repertoire. The plus side of short stories is that you can listen to an entire audio short story in one sitting, and there are usually several short stories included in a collection. this also makes repetition easier, as you’ll be able to listen to a whole short story a second time much faster than you’ll be able to listen to a whole book a second time.
- Free Audiobooks in French: Who doesn’t like free stuff? If you’re a bookworm like me, then a constant supply of French books that are easier on the wallet may be the perfect option for you. The upside is that many classic French novels can be found and read for free in audiobook format, but the downside is that many contemporary French audiobooks and translated audiobooks are often not offered for free.
audiobooks in original French
1. “chroniques des jours entiers, des nuits entières” (“chronicles of whole days and nights”)
where to access this audiobook: bibliboom
If you fancy a story in French that is a modern and unique alternative to the typical audiobook format, “chroniques” might be a good choice for you.
This is an artistic and theatrical social commentary that combines sound, dialogue and monologue. This audiobook is short and sweet (about an hour) and narrated by multiple actors, which means you’ll be exposed to a variety of accents.
2. “mrs. bovary”
where to access this audiobook: littérature audio
This is a French classic, and not the kind where you have to scroll through the number of pages (or hours) to the end. you know this story has to be good if it got banned for being too raunchy. Published in 1856, the story follows Charles, an officier de santé (health officer or doctor) and his wife, Emma de He, who becomes involved in adulterous affairs.
There are two versions of this audiobook available on book d’oreille, as indicated in the link above. I prefer the one by Alain Lawrence, because his speech is very accessible for the student of French.
This novel uses complex language, making it a good choice for more advanced learners of French who want to expand their vocabulary and be exposed to really interesting stylistic phrases unique to madame bovary (coined as “bovarysmes”), like “plate comme un trottoir de rue” (roughly, “dull as a sidewalk”).
audiobooks in French translation
3. “rebecca”
where to access this audiobook: audible (check availability)
This is a 1938 English classic that reads as easily as a modern thriller. This story has all the makings of a chilling Alfred Hitchcock movie, so it’s no wonder Hitchcock adapted it for the screen in 1940.
Features a widower, his new wife (who lives in the shadow of his late wife Rebecca), and a fanatical housekeeper. the narrator speaks at a calm pace and if you really like the story, you can also watch the movie.
“rebecca” is a book about subtleties. nothing is written (or spoken, as may be the case with audiobooks) without intention. this is not a particularly difficult read, but the French learner will benefit from really tuning in with a listening ear to the nuances of the story and how the language conveys the message by showing, not telling.
4. “les hommes qui n’aimaient pas les femmes” (“the girl with the dragon tattoo”)
See Also: The Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 | Time
where to access this audiobook: audiolib
Although this title literally translates to “men who didn’t like women”, this book is better known in the English world as “the girl with the dragon tattoo”.
This well-known crime series has been made into several movies, and for good reason: it’s a compelling story that follows a Swedish journalist, his colleagues, a young hacker, and his murderous misogynist father.
Listening to stories translated from languages other than English gives you a glimpse of an unfamiliar language and culture. It doesn’t hurt that the narrator, Emmanuel Dekoninck, is interesting and dramatic.
books from your childhood in French
5. “harry potter à l’école des sorciers” (“harry potter and the philosopher’s stone”)
where to access this audiobook: amazon (check availability)
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re already familiar with the adventures of Harry and his wizard friends at Hogwarts, which means you can focus on the language (including how French the narrator utters made-up words such as “muggle!”).
In fact, the strength of the “Harry Potter” series is that it is available in multiple languages and in multiple formats.
The first books were written for an elementary school audience, so this is a good choice for French learners who want to hear a story without complex language. you can practice developing your listening comprehension skills without getting lost or overwhelmed.
6. “les aventures d’alice au pays des merveilles” (“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”)
where to access this audiobook: littérature audio
It’s a pleasure to read about Alice’s Bizarre Adventures in Wonderland, but in French. You’ll find yourself drawing parallels between the very British language and the French translation. It’s a wonderful choice if you’re looking for a story that grabs your attention and delights your ears.
This version is read by a strong narrator who speaks slowly, which is always helpful for those new to French.
audio short stories in French
7. “la petite fille aux allumettes” (“the little match girl”)
where to access this audiobook: bibliboom
Although Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish writer, his stories have been read and enjoyed around the world and have been translated into many languages.
at bibliboom, you can access one of his best-known classics, “la petite fille aux allumettes”. This story is less than 10 minutes long, making it perfect for a French blast in no time. It is about a girl who tries to sell matches to passers-by on New Year’s Eve. As the night gets colder, she lights the matches to keep warm and have wondrous visions.
This story has clear audio in French, as well as great sound effects and music. There is also a text version of the story that can be downloaded from the website so students can read as they listen to the story.
8. “le petit chaperon rouge” (“little red riding hood”)
where to access this audiobook: fluentu
See Also: Classic Novels for Grades 5 & 6 – Intentional Homeschooling
Did you know that the history of le petit chaperon rouge dates back to the 17th century?
Although its real origins are unknown, it follows the story of a girl who travels through the forest to bring food to her sick grandmother. Along the way, she meets a big bad wolf who has a different meal in mind.
There have been many versions of the story over the centuries. This one, which appears on Fluentu, is aimed at children, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a child for your French to benefit. In fact, this retelling is perfect for beginning and pre-intermediate students who are just beginning to listen to stories and audiobooks in French.
Follow fluentu’s interactive French and English subtitles and click on any of the words you see for detailed dictionary explanations. you can add words to the flashcards and review them with personalized quizzes that include opportunities to write and speak the answers.
fluentu has many other types of videos to further your learning, including movie clips, animated TV shows and movies, entertainment commercials, vlogs, and more. you can download the ios/android app or just use the program in your browser.
free french audiobooks
If it’s free French audiobooks you’re looking for, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of places online where you can find them.
For starters, littérature audio (audio literature) claims to have over 8,000 French audiobooks for free download on its website. Many of the books are in the public domain, meaning they were written so long ago that the copyright has expired and they can be hosted and downloaded free of charge. you can also find some modern audiobooks there, as well as translations of popular audiobooks from other languages.
Although not as extensive, there are other websites where you can find free audiobooks in French. these include bibliboom and librivox, a website that uses volunteer native French speakers for its collection of 800 free audiobooks. there’s also audiocita that houses not only Roman novels, but also a variety of non-fiction books for voracious French readers.
Last but not least, free French audiobooks can be found on youtube! there are plenty of individual French audiobooks you can hopefully find if you search for the French book by title, and there are even some playlists like this one on watch to keep you going.
9. “le tour du monde en 80 jours” (“around the world in 80 days”)
where to access this audiobook: littérature audio
Jules Verne is one of the most prolific French adventure writers, and you can listen to this classic audio de littérature for free.
The story follows Phileas Fogg, a wealthy Brit who wagers half his fortune on a bet that he can circumnavigate the earth in 80 days. His journey takes him to Japan, India, and the United States of America by train and steam in this wondrous adventure through a 19th-century world.
This French audiobook is recorded by a native French speaker with a conventional standard French accent. That means this book is a great way to hear the French you’re likely to encounter in the French media, at school, and in French workplaces. It’s also a great way to learn words and expressions used in 19th-century French literature.
10. “le petit prince” (“the little prince”)
where to access this audiobook: youtube
le petit prince is a French classic loved by children and adults alike. It was originally written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and later translated into dozens of languages, and you can listen to it for free on YouTube.
This book is about a little prince who travels through outer space, visiting various planets and meeting many colorful characters along the way. While it sounds like a light-hearted children’s story, “Le Petit Prince” explores the themes of friendship, loneliness, and pain, and can get quite philosophical at times.
This audiobook is older and features the male voice of a grandfather. It also comes complete with sound effects and music. The best of all is that you can read the story with this audio book because the words of the story are part of the youtube video. this is a great benefit for French learners who want to look up vocabulary.
Now that you’ve chosen an approach and an audiobook to tune in to, go ahead and hurry up and lazily improve your French.
download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable pdf that you can take anywhere. click here for a copy. (download)
See Also: 10 Interesting Books Like Freakonomics – Books Like This One
