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French heritage: the French language in the world
This sheet explains the role of the French language in building national unity. It also presents the international influence of French and the notion of francophonie.
Key points of the sheet
- French is the 4th most spoken language in the world, with more than 396 million speakers. It is spoken on the 5 continents. It is the official language of more than 30 countries.
- French is the diplomatic language. It is used for work in the large international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union, the African Union or the International Olympic Committee.
- The francophonie brings together all the men and women who speak French. The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) coordinates the 93 member states and governments.
- La Francophonie values French in its cultural diversity. It promotes peace, democracy and human rights. It supports education, training and research. It encourages economic cooperation for sustainable development.
Words to know
- francophonie (French-speaking world)
- It is the community of French-speaking peoples, all the men and women who speak French.
- International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)
- It coordinates the 93 member states and governments.
- diplomatic language (langue diplomatique)
- French is the diplomatic language used for work in the large international organisations.
- speakers (locuteurs)
- French has more than 396 million speakers in the world.
Test yourself: 3 questions
On how many continents is French spoken?
In French, the language of the exam: Sur combien de continents parle-t-on français ?
The sheet says that French is spoken on the 5 continents.
How many member states and governments does the OIF coordinate?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien d’États et gouvernements membres l’OIF coordonne-t-elle ?
The International Organisation of La Francophonie coordinates the 93 member states and governments.
What is one mission of La Francophonie?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle est une mission de la Francophonie ?
One mission of La Francophonie is to promote peace, democracy and human rights.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
More in this topic (Culture)
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- French heritage: iconic sites and food of Île-de-France
Source
Sheet “Patrimoine français : la langue française dans le monde” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.