Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-the-definite-article-with-names-of-languages

French Grammar - Use of the definite article with names of languages

The names of languages in English start with a capital letter and have no article. The names of languages in French start with a small letter, normally have a definite article and are masculine in gender:

• Ici les étudiants étudient le français, l'allemand et l'italien

Here students study French, German and Italian

• Le grec possède un alphabet tout à fait différent du nôtre

Greek has an alphabet which is quite different from our own

In the expressions parler français, parler allemand, etc., the name of the language functions more like an adverbial than a noun, so no article is used. But note the following contrast:

• Je parle français /Je parle souvent le français /Je parle bien le français

I speak French/I often speak French/I speak French well

When adverbs like souvent, bien are present, français becomes a noun again, requiring the definite article.