DELF A2 key terms

A short spoken message broadcast in a public place or on the radio, such as a train departure, a shop closing notice or a change of schedule. Listeners usually need to catch one or two key details.

The daily weather report on radio, television or a phone app. At A2 you are expected to understand simple phrases about temperature, rain, sun and wind for a town or region.

The times when a train, bus, shop, class or service operates. Questions often ask when something opens, closes or leaves, so you must recognise days, hours and the 24-hour clock.

A ticket for a train, bus, cinema or show. A2 tasks ask you to find the price, the date, the departure time or the seat number printed on it.

A conversation between two or more people, often recorded for a listening task. You need to identify who is speaking, where they are and what they want.

A structured conversation in which one person asks another a series of questions, for example a job interview or a radio interview. The register is usually polite and the questions follow a clear order.

The way a speaker pronounces words, which shows their region or origin. In listening tasks it may make a familiar word harder to recognise, so context and key sounds matter.

A short piece of information sent from one person to another, spoken or written. In listening tasks it usually contains a name, a time, a place and one action to take.

The words for numbers, used for prices, times, dates, phone numbers and quantities. French listening tests often include numbers spoken quickly, so practise hearing pairs such as soixante-dix and quatre-vingt-dix.

The short instruction at the top of an exercise that tells you what to do, for example 'Lisez le texte et répondez'. If you misread it, you may answer the wrong question.

A single task in an exam paper, made of a consigne and the questions that follow. Each exercise usually focuses on one document and one skill.

A set of questions in which each one offers several possible answers and only one is correct. You tick the box next to the answer you choose.

To put a mark in a small box on a form or answer sheet to show your choice. The instruction 'cochez la bonne réponse' appears in most multiple-choice exercises.

A type of question that asks you to decide whether a statement matches the document or not. You usually tick one box for true and one for false, sometimes adding a justification.

A short advertisement in a newspaper or on a website, for example to sell a bike, rent a flat or find a language partner. The text is brief and full of abbreviations.

A folded leaflet giving practical information about a museum, a town, a course or a service. Reading tasks ask for opening times, prices, addresses and what is on offer.

A printed or online page with blank spaces to be filled in with personal details such as name, address and date of birth. You must read the labels carefully before writing.

The short line at the top of a text, article or notice that announces its subject. Reading the title first helps you predict what the document is about.

A block of sentences in a text, separated from the next block by a line break or indentation. Each one usually develops one idea, which helps you locate information quickly.

An electronic message sent through the internet, with a subject line, a greeting, a body and a closing. It is a common document in reading tasks and a common task in writing.

A rough version of a text written before the final copy. At A2 you have time to plan ideas, check verb endings and spelling, then copy the corrected text onto the answer sheet.

A fixed phrase used to open or close a letter or email politely, such as 'Je vous prie d'agréer...' or 'Cordialement'. Choosing the right one depends on how formal the recipient is.

The person who receives a letter, email or parcel. In a writing task you must adapt your greetings and tone to this person, for example a friend or a landlord.

The person who sends a letter, email or parcel. On an envelope or at the top of a formal letter, their name and address are written so a reply can be sent.

A written message sent to a person, usually with a date, a greeting, a body and a closing formula. A2 tasks often ask for a short informal letter or a simple formal request.

To write the required information in the blank spaces of a form, for example your surname, address and signature. Check that you use the right script and that nothing is left empty.

The day, month and year a person was born, written on most official forms. In French the day comes first, then the month, then the year, for example 03/05/1998.

Your name written by hand in a personal style at the bottom of a document to show that you agree with it. Official forms and letters usually require one.

The French past tense used for finished actions, formed with avoir or être plus a past participle. A2 writing tasks often need it to describe what happened yesterday or last week.

A small card with a picture on one side and space for a short message, an address and a stamp on the other. Writing one practises greetings, weather, activities and closing words.

To give basic information about yourself, such as your name, age, nationality, job, where you live and your hobbies. It is the first task in most speaking tests.

The way sounds and words are spoken. At A2 you are not expected to sound native, but clear vowels, silent final letters and correct stress help the examiner understand you.

The rise and fall of the voice in a sentence. In French it carries meaning: a rising tone at the end usually turns a statement into a question.

A speaking task in which you and the examiner act out a situation, such as buying a ticket or asking for information. You must use the right register and complete the task.

Using 'vous' to address someone politely or to speak to several people. Use it with strangers, shopkeepers and officials; use 'tu' only with friends, family and children.

What someone thinks about a topic, expressed with phrases such as 'je pense que', 'à mon avis' or 'je trouve que'. Speaking tasks often ask you to give and briefly justify one.

A spoken or written request asking someone to come to an event or an activity. You need to make one, accept one or refuse one politely with a short reason.

To say what a person, place or object is like, using adjectives for appearance, size, colour and character. Speaking tasks often show a picture and ask you to describe it.

To tell someone about events that happened, usually in the past and in order. Use time markers like 'd'abord', 'ensuite' and 'enfin' to make the story easy to follow.

To greet someone or say goodbye with words such as 'bonjour', 'bonsoir', 'salut' or 'au revoir'. The choice depends on the time of day and on how formal the situation is.