5 French series to progress without realizing it
Watching series in the original version is one of the most effective ways to improve your French. You get used to the rhythms, colloquial expressions and real accents. Here are five current series, with their recommended level and an example of a useful expression.
1. Lupin (Netflix) – Level B1
Inspired by the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, it follows Assane Diop in his revenge. The French is clear and articulate, ideal for starting.
- Expression: «Je vais te raconter une histoire.» (I'm going to tell you a story).
- Tip: turn on French subtitles to fix the spelling.
2. Dix pour cent (France 2 / Netflix) – Level B2
Comedy about an actors' agency. The dialogues are fast and full of humor, with a lot of slang from the entertainment world.
- Expression: «Ça marche, je te rappelle.» (Okay, I'll call you later).
- Tip: note down informal expressions and look them up later.
3. Le Bureau des Légendes (Canal+) – Level B2-C1
Spy thriller with technical and political vocabulary. Perfect for expanding advanced lexicon.
- Expression: «On est en train de perdre le contact.» (We're losing contact).
- Tip: pause and repeat long sentences to improve pronunciation.
4. Plan Cœur (Netflix) – Level B1
Light romantic comedy about dating in Paris. Everyday language and predictable situations that make comprehension easier.
- Expression: «Tu me plais beaucoup.» (I like you a lot).
- Tip: ideal for practicing the present and passé composé.
5. Family Business (Netflix) – Level B2
Comedy about a family that transforms their butcher shop into a cannabis coffee shop. Lots of humor and youth slang.
- Expression: «C’est chaud!» (It's complicated!).
- Tip: listen without subtitles a second time to measure your progress.
How to make the most of them
- First pass: Spanish subtitles to understand the plot.
- Second pass: French subtitles and note down 5 new expressions.
- Third pass: without subtitles, imitating the intonation out loud.
You don't need to understand 100%. With 10 minutes a day and these series, your ear and vocabulary will grow naturally. Bon visionnage!