Why Is French The Language Of Love?

Ever wonder why is French considered the language of love?

There’s something about the French language that makes it so universally loved. It could be the accent, the distinct rhythm in which each word is pronounced, or its reiteration as a love language.

The latter was probably contentious, but apart from the obvious beauty of this language, there is a long history of why French is often associated with love and romance. That, and several other reasons. Here are some of them.

Why Is French The Language Of Love

1. Google said so.

According to a Google Translate study, French is the language most commonly used to translate romantic phrases, ahead of other European languages.

The study looked at the most commonly translated phrases in French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian, and discovered that 34 of the 1,000 phrases in France were romantic in nature.

Je t’aime is the most requested translation after bonjour, possibly indicating that the French have more romances with foreigners than their counterparts. Other popular translations include belle, mon amour, magnifique, tu me manques, je t’adore, and je t’aime mon amour.

2. The French language sounds like music

The melodic rhythm of the French language is enough to melt hearts all over the world, which is why it is known as the language of love and romance.

Even non-romantic words like “Pamplemousse” which literally means ‘dragonfly,’ can cause a flutter in the heart.  That’s probably exaggerated, but if simple words can have such an impact, imagine what romantic French words can do.

3. The smooth pronunciation.

French is literal ear candy, that you would simply want to listen to it over and over again. The pronunciation of French contributes to the euphonic nature of the language.

One French pronunciation rule to remember is that one does not pronounce the consonant at the end of a word unless it is preceded by a vowel.

An example is when you say blanc (white), leave out the c and say blahn instead.

Overall, vowels and consonants are evenly distributed in French, allowing words to flow more naturally. The need to conjugate verbs in French, as in Spanish, makes it an ideal language for poetry and music.

In fact, the French are known for their lovely, flowery lyrics. French also draws on centuries of music, poetry, literature, and culture to add to the romance and allure of the language.

4. The French language is descriptive. 

There are several nuances in the French language that are used to characterize emotional and sensational phrases. This is despite the fact that there are fewer descriptive expressions in the French vocabulary than in English.

You must read French literature and poetry to truly appreciate the descriptive character of the language.

Dynamic, intimate, and filled with colorful imagery, the writing simply takes you places as you read the text. From Alexandre Dumas to Albert Camus, French literature is a great showcase of why it is the language of love.

5. There are hundreds of years of history behind it. 

One explanation for the French’ reputation as the love language revolves around the time in Medieval France when love became an idealized concept.

Marriage, which was seen more as an economic and logistical arrangement, became a separate term from love. Love was seen as often exchanged amongst people who were not married at the time.

In old French literature, knights will return from war with a yearning for women who were often married to others.

As a result, their love was chaste, noble, and spiritual, with a solemn purity that only love can have.

It was, however, realized in some instances. In that case, the woman will be regarded as a valued individual.  This situation was referred to as’ l’amour courtois’ or ‘courtly love.’

At the time, this was revolutionary since women were usually regarded as inferior, but they were held in high regard in these relationships.

Initial examples can be found in poetry from ‘Occitania,’ a cultural region that encompasses much of southern France, a small portion of Catalonia, Monaco, and a small portion of Italy.

The prestige of French as the language of love was developed as a result of this. Poetry and literature reflected a view of women as equals, highly valued, and honorable, as well as strict adherence to chivalry and nobility.

Occitan poetry found its form here, and it gradually spread to the rest of France and the rest of the world.

Today, while Occitania has become a historical concept, the French region of Occitanie still exists.

If you’re thinking about learning French in France and the romance of the language appeals to you, come to Montpellier, in Occitanie’s heartland.

You’ll be learning about the language of love in the birthplace of the concept. After a few weeks in this part of southern France, you will see for yourself that the language lives up to its reputation.

6. Even foreign historians love French.

French was once thought to be a highly prestigious language. Since reputation and aristocracy were assets that reflected history with a little poetry, Russian writers wrote in French at the end of the 18th century.

During this period, French was considered the common language of Russian society’s upper echelons.

The Russian bourgeoisie adopted French in the eighteenth century, and it was said to be the only suitable language for communication within this community.

7. There’s an incredibly diverse number of French accents. 

More than 29 countries around the world have French as the official language.

In the European Union, French is the second most commonly spoken first language.

France’s colonial experience has also aided in the dissemination of the language across the world, resulting in a wide range of charming and distinct accents and dialects.

8. Simply put, French is the universal language of love and reason.

Understanding French gives you access to different perspectives on the world. French is the only language taught in every nation on the planet, along with English.

France has the world’s largest network of cultural institutes, with nearly a million students enrolled in French language classes.

Learning French is enjoyable because it is a lovely, rich, melodious language that is often referred to as the language of love.

It’s also an analytical language that helps organize thoughts and improve logical thinking, which is a useful skill for discussions and negotiations.

Finally, French is the language of culture, travel, and international relations. The United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, the International Red Cross, and international courts all use it as a working language as well as an official language.