DELF A1 key terms

To say who you are when meeting someone: your name, age, job and town. At A1 this is a short prepared monologue at the start of the speaking test, usually five or six simple sentences.

The verb used to give your name, as in « je m'appelle Léa ». It is one of the first verbs A1 learners conjugate and it appears in almost every introduction task.

The first name a person is given, used by friends and family. On French forms it is asked for separately from the surname, so candidates must know which space to fill.

The surname shared with one's parents, written in capitals on most official documents. Candidates must recognise it on a form and write it clearly when giving personal details.

The country a person legally belongs to, expressed as an adjective such as française, marocain or chinoise. In introductions candidates state their own and ask the other person's.

To live in a place. Candidates use it to give their town or country, for example « j'habite à Lyon », and to understand where a person in a recording comes from.

The work a person does to earn money, such as professeur, serveur or étudiante. A1 candidates give their own job and pick out job words in short dialogues and notices.

A fixed expression used to open or close a message politely, such as « Bonjour » at the start or « Cordialement » at the end. Short A1 writing tasks expect at least one of these.

The French word for email. Candidates read a short one to find who wrote it, what it asks for, and which day, time or place it mentions.

A short written communication such as a note, an email or a text. In reading tasks candidates identify the sender, the receiver and the main point of the message.

A short public notice, for example a room for rent or a bicycle for sale. Candidates read small ads to find the price, the place and the contact details.

A document with empty spaces to fill in with personal information, such as an enrolment or hotel form. Candidates complete one using the details given in the task instructions.

A small square on a form that you mark with a cross to choose one option. Candidates must recognise the instruction « cochez la bonne case » to answer multiple-choice items.

To mark a box or an answer with a cross. Instructions such as « cochez la bonne réponse » appear in both the listening and the reading papers, so the verb must be recognised instantly.

A task type where candidates decide whether a statement matches a document or a recording. They tick « vrai » if it is correct and « faux » if it is not.

The instruction telling candidates what to do in an exercise, for example « lisez le texte et répondez aux questions ». Reading it carefully before starting prevents the most common mistakes.

The amount of money you must pay for something, usually given in euros in shops, menus and ads. Candidates listen for or read the price and match it to the right item.

The list of dishes and drinks served in a restaurant, usually with their prices. In A1 listening tasks candidates hear a conversation and choose what the customer orders.

The time of day, expressed as « il est huit heures » or « à quinze heures trente ». Candidates pick out times in announcements, timetables and telephone messages.

An appointment or agreed meeting, with a day, a time and a place, for example at the doctor's or with a friend. A1 recordings often ask candidates to note these details.

The day, month and year written on a document or given in a message. Candidates must read French dates such as « le 3 mai » to answer questions correctly.

One of the twelve parts of a year, from janvier to décembre. Knowing these words lets candidates understand dates in invitations, forms, timetables and opening hours.

One of the seven named days, from lundi to dimanche. These words appear in opening hours, timetables and invitations, and candidates match them to activities.

A word or figure for a quantity, such as deux, quinze or cent. Prices, times, ages and telephone numbers all depend on recognising numbers when heard or read.

How old a person is. Candidates say « j'ai vingt ans » and understand the question « quel âge avez-vous ? » when talking about themselves or their family.

To say the letters of a word one by one. In A1 listening tasks a name or a street is often spelled out, and candidates must write it down correctly.

A small card sent by post, with a picture on one side and a short message on the other. Writing one is a typical A1 task: greeting, a few sentences, then a closing.

A short message asking someone to come to an event, giving the date, the time and the place. Candidates write a simple invitation or a short reply accepting it.

The details of where someone lives or where a place is: street number, street name, postcode and town. It is needed on forms and written on envelopes.

An activity done for pleasure in free time, such as le cinéma, la lecture or le vélo. Candidates talk briefly about what they enjoy and understand other people's hobbies.

The verb used to say what you like, as in « j'aime la musique ». A1 candidates answer questions about their tastes and give a simple reason with « parce que ».

To ask something using a simple question form, such as « où est la gare ? » or « combien ça coûte ? ». This is a key skill in the spoken role-play.

A conversation between two or more people. In listening tasks candidates hear short dialogues and identify who is speaking, where they are and what they want.

A polite phrase added when asking for something in a shop, a café or on a train. Using it shows the basic courtesy expected in A1 spoken exchanges.

The standard word for thanking someone, usually answered by « de rien » or « je vous en prie ». Politeness formulas are expected in the speaking test and in short written messages.

To write the required information in the empty spaces of a document. The instruction « remplissez le formulaire » appears in writing tasks where candidates give personal details.

To go shopping for everyday food and household products. A1 recordings often take place in a shop and mention products, quantities and prices the customer asks for.