French is the official language of France and 29 other countries, including Canada (Quebec), Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, and many African nations.

Approximately 100 million people speak French as their first language, while about 300 million people speak it as a second language.

French is the second most studied language worldwide and is an official language of international organizations like the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and the International Olympic Committee.

French is often referred to as the “language of diplomacy” and is the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world. It is also the second most widely learned language globally.

French is one of the five major Romance languages, which also include Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. Among these, French is considered to have the most divergent pronunciation from Latin.

French culture has had a significant impact on art, fashion, cuisine, and philosophy. French expressions such as “c’est la vie” (that’s life), “déjà vu,” and “joie de vivre” (joy of living) are widely recognized and used around the world.