Being the sixth most commonly spoken language in the world automatically makes French an important language, but compared to other languages, French has a unique standing in the world. Spoken in some of the richest regions of the world, it is considered a serious advantage in attaining a high paying job. It is also recognized as an important language for diplomacy, since regions that speak French are spread throughout the globe, from North America to Africa and even Oceania.
However, not every country has people that speak French (obviously), so if you were serious about learning this language, you’d need to travel to one that lives and breathes this language. Here are four cities that do exactly that.
Paris, France
No list naming cities that speak French would be complete without naming one of the most iconic of them all: Paris. Not only is it the largest city in the world with people that speak fluent French (they should, it’s in France after all!), but the beautiful city of Paris really needs no introduction, what with it is one of the most famous of all cities in the world and even a popular tourist attraction. Plus, thanks to the tourism industry, there’s bound to be someone who speaks your language who can teach you French in Paris.
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
A modern African jewel, Kinshasa is another city you could visit to learn French. It is the third largest city in Africa, with Cairo and Lagos securing the first and second spot. While it is common for the locals to speak a multitude of languages like the Congolese languages Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba or Swahili, the official language of Kinshasa is strictly French, with it being dominant in official meetings, press releases, and public media. If you’re from an African origin looking to expand your linguistic repertoire with French, Kinshasa is the place for you.
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Right below Kinshasa regarding size and population is the fourth largest city in Africa, Abidjan in Ivory Coast. While the traditional language of the region used to be Ebrie (also known as Cama, common throughout the rest of the Ivory Coast), it was replaced by French as the official language of the region shortly after the country won its independence. Now, Abidjan sits a bustling city, thriving with economic activity and tourism, and has often been a cultural crossroads. It’s worth checking out if you want to learn French.
Montreal, Canada
Often called the most European looking city out of Europe, Montreal is certainly one of the more famous cities to learn French. Despite being located in Canada (whose official language is English), French has been declared the official language of this particular city with more than half the people occupying it being fluent in it. Nevertheless, it is one of the best places to learn French, since over 59% people speak both French and English (the most commonly spoken language in the world), meaning it will be a lot easier to learn French here.
