Whether you’re on your way to work or home eating dinner, you can work on your French by listening to some of the best French podcasts available. Understanding audio recordings can be hard since you don’t have facial expressions, body language, or text in front of you to use as context clues. So podcasts are a great challenge to help you get over this hurdle. Not to mention, there are all kinds of podcasts out there that are made specifically for French learners that use vocabulary suitable for different levels and slower speech. If you consistently listen to podcasts for a few weeks, you will notice a huge difference in your listening comprehension skills!

Last Updated 05/16/2023


the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalingua

The Best French Podcasts for Learners

Since our ears get used to certain people’s voices, you may want to listen to the same podcast over a period of time. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t dabble with others, since each podcast brings something different to the table.

We’ve assembled a list with a sampling of some of the best podcasts for French learners.

Easy French Podcasts for Beginners

Since French is one of the most-studied languages in the world, it’s no surprise that there is a plethora of free French podcasts, especially for people who are just starting their French studies. Here are some of our favorites. These all feature some English explanations to help ease you into your French podcast journey.

French Your Way logoFrench Your Way

Are you really intimidated by the idea of listening to a whole recording in French? You shouldn’t be! But if you are, that’s totally okay, and this podcast is the perfect stepping stone. The host, Jessica, is a native French instructor who speaks very good English. In each episode, she digs into a different topic of French grammar or vocabulary, explaining rules (and exceptions!) thoroughly. She also gives good examples, so you’ll get a little bit of French listening practice in, as well.

Note: This podcast is almost entirely in English. Keep reading to find all kinds of French language content!

Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaLearn French by Podcast

This is one of the best beginner French podcasts! They offer a lot of free lessons on their website and streaming services. Each one consists of a short conversation that covers a basic theme or topic. Afterward, the host discusses the main elements of the conversation and points out important words and phrases in English.

You’ll hear a broad range of vocabulary, with topics including Nelson Mandela, the World Cup, Twitter, music, and more. You can also download a free guide that explains some of the concepts covered in the podcast in greater detail.

WebsiteApple PodcastsSpotify

Improve your French listening skills

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaDo you want to improve your listening comprehension in French?
Good news, we have a course for that! MosaSeries French: L’Homme Sans Nom. Start your 15-day free trial today and try it risk-free!

MosaSeries is an original and captivating French story divided into short episodes, designed to help you improve your listening skills, broaden your vocabulary, and learn the most important aspects of French grammar.

Try MosaSeries today

CoffeeBreak French podcast logoCoffee Break French

The Coffee Break French podcast takes an informal approach to language learning, advertising itself as a relaxing way to make progress during short periods of the day.

Despite the laid-back approach, there is a lot of thought and organization that has gone into their content. They offer grammar and vocabulary-based podcasts at four different skill levels, as well as multiple more advanced series on culture and storytelling. The hosts make learning fun by casually discussing French in a relatable way. They play conversations that are real dialogues, spoken at relatively fast speeds.

At the end, the hysterical hosts dissect the hard parts. English speakers will definitely be laughing since what they say makes so much sense. For example, in one podcast, they talk about how the French verb “douter” means to doubt. Yet “se douter que” can mean to be sure of. If you’ve ever been confused by gender or other French structures, this is a great podcast to check out.

WebsiteApple PodcastsSpotify

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaDaily French Pod

Daily French Pod is an excellent French podcast for beginner learners. Every day, the host, Louis, talks about news and day-to-day life, introducing helpful vocabulary along the way. These episodes are bite-sized (usually less than 5 minutes), so they’re super easy to fit into your daily routine!

He speaks at a slightly slower pace than normal, which makes this podcast especially suitable for beginner and low-level intermediate learners. First, Louis reads a short text, and then goes into an explanation. He repeats and explains key vocabulary in French, sometimes providing English translations for tricky expressions, to help you capture the meaning of the passage.

If you like the host, check out his other podcasts: Louis French Lessons and Real-Life French, which is a great source of sample French dialogues.

Spotify | Apple Podcasts

 

Intermediate French Podcasts

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaLanguaTalk

LanguaTalk is a great resource for false beginner to intermediate-level French learners. Gaëlle covers a wide variety of topics, from current events in France and other parts of the French-speaking world, to French books and TV, to grammar topics. Every episode comes with a transcript that you can follow along with or reference as needed. There is also a vocabulary list available at the end that provides definitions for specialized terms.

WebsiteSpotifyApple Podcasts

Little Talk in Slow French logoLittle Talk in Slow French

Hosted by Nagisa Morimoto, a Franco-Japanese actress and musician, Little Talk in Slow French provides a very laid-back listening experience. Nagisa’s voice is smooth and deliberate, and very relaxing to listen to. Episodes often cover current events and culture, and they’re great to listen to with your full attention, or to have on in the background while you’re working on other things. You won’t understand as much, but even listening to spoken French on a regular basis is a good way to get your ears and your brain working together to recognize and reproduce native-sounding pronunciation!

Apple PodcastsSpotify

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaOne Thing in a French Day

The idea behind this intermediate French podcast is as simple as it is useful. It follows the life of Laetitia, a Parisian woman. In each episode, she discusses topics related to her daily life. She talks about her own experiences and sometimes introduces friends, family, or other people who she crosses paths with. The entire podcast is in French, and Laetitia, who has a terrific voice, speaks very clearly and at a normal pace.

The podcasts are rather short, making them easy to listen to and helpful for grasping new vocabulary, and getting used to French pronunciation. Laetitia regularly uploads new episodes, and there is an archive of over 2000 podcasts to enjoy! Unlike some others listed here, this is a 100% French podcast, offering a true immersion experience.

If you like Laetitia’s style, check out her other excellent slow French podcast, Cultivate Your French.

WebsiteApple PodcastsSpotify

French Voices podcast logoFrench Voices

This series is hosted by Jessica, who also creates the French Your Way podcast. In each episode, she interviews a guest from a different region of France or French-speaking country. They talk about life and the interesting things that they do. Guests include directors of nonprofits, birdwatchers, interpreters – even a security guard at the Louvre museum! These episodes offer really interesting perspectives, and are a great opportunity to practice listening to people talk candidly about their passions.

Each episode is introduced with a bit of context in English, and sometimes some vocabulary is translated in the audio. But for the most part, these conversations are intermediate-level. Many of the interviewees have accents, and some talk fairly quickly!

Website

 

Advanced French Podcasts

Podcast France logoPodcast France

For advanced learners, what’s better than listening to podcasts and recordings from actual native French speakers?

On Podcast France, “L’annuaire du podcast francophone,” you will find tons of podcasts originating from various French-speaking countries, which is helpful for learning how to understand different accents. They offer everything from movies, comics, and music to marketing and sports.

This site has an excellent directory of podcasts that will always give you something to listen to on your smartphone or mp3 player. Unlike the others on this list, the podcasts you’ll find here are not necessarily created for French language learners. So if you’re ready for a challenge, a whole new world of podcasts awaits!

Website

Radio France logo best French podcasts for learnersRadio France

If you’ve yet to tap into all that Radio France has to offer, I suggest you check out their site. They have some of the best French podcasts available. In addition to these, you can also listen to various radio channels. Since it’s radio, they speak quickly, which may be discouraging for beginners. Remember that you don’t have to understand every single word! You can put the podcasts on in the background while doing another task, just to expose yourself to the sounds of the language.

Podcast Directory

the-best-french-podcasts-to-learn-french-in-2023-mosalinguaFrance24

France24 is a great resource for those who want to keep up on world news in French. Being news, these broadcasts are full of advanced vocabulary. However, you will eventually learn how to talk about the economy, world affairs, markets, and other advanced topics. Luckily, a lot of technical, specialized terms in English are derived from French words, so you will be able to pick up vocabulary here and there without even needing to learn it!

All Shows

 

…And One More Bonus for Beginner and Intermediate Learners…

You could say that MosaSeries: L’Homme Sans Nom is in the same family as podcasts. And it was designed specifically with learners in mind. It’s an original audio series, designed to hook you in and keep you listening. Work on your listening skills, learn tons of new and useful vocab, and pick up important grammar and conjugation.

Learn more about MosaSeries: L’Homme Sans Nom

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Which French podcast is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!

 

Podcasts in Other Languages

Learning a different language? Check out our other selections of podcasts for learners: