The Dictionary of Francophones: A Free Tool to Explore the Diversity of the French Language

Last updated on 9 February 2025

Digital resources, teaching methods, new tools, the world of education is constantly evolving. If you are a teacher, a professor of letters, a FLE teacher, a documentalist, a passionate about the French language, here is an invaluable online resource that may interest you: The DDF, the Dictionary of Francophones.

A new dictionary to show the richness of the French language in the world.

The Dictionnaire des Francophones is not just a collection of words. This is a website that shows richness, diversity and“Evolution of French as spoken and lived all over the world. It reflects the many facets of the Francophonie.

Instead of focusing solely on ‘standard’ French as spoken in France, the Dictionnaire des Francophones en ligne incorporates the language variants of many French-speaking countries, such as Canada, Belgium, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and many others.

It takes into account the vocabulary used by Francophones around the world, stressing the importance of diversity and multiculturalism in French.

It is common to find country- or region-specific words and phrases. Ideal to enrich the knowledge of the language in an original way.

A journey through the Francophonie to discover new forms of expression and to appreciate the constant evolution of the French language.

A quick presentation of the Dictionary of Francophones (DDF)

The Dictionnaire des Francophones project was born from a simple but bold idea: to create a dictionary that reflects the richness and diversity of the French language as it is spoken in the world.

It is an initiative of the General Delegation to the French Language and the Languages of France, as well as many other partners. It is mainly worn and beautifully designed by the Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 within the Institut International de la Francophonie. The aim is to create a dictionary that brings together all the words and expressions of the French language, whether they are commonly used in France or in other French-speaking regions of the world.

The DDF currently comprises 2,576,058 words

The DDF is much more than just a dictionary, it is a real collaborative platform. Each word or expression is accompanied by detailed information on its origin, use, and even examples to understand its context of use. The platform is accessible to all, free of charge, and is constantly updated and enriched by user contributions.

For example, have you ever heard of the word "chicon"? If you are Belgian or from the North of France, no doubt. This is the term used in these regions to refer to what others call an ‘endive’. The DDF does not just give the definition of ‘chicon’, it also tells you where that word is used, and offers you examples of use.

Similarly, the word ‘shopping’, which refers to the action of shopping, is specific to Québec. The DDF allows you to discover these linguistic peculiarities, offering not only the meaning of words, but also their cultural and geographical context.

Finally, imagine that you come across the phrase ‘have a cat in your throat’. If you are non-French speaking, this expression may seem strange to say the least. Thanks to the DDF, students learning the French language will know that it is a French expression that means having trouble speaking, as if something is obstructing your throat.

How the Dictionary of Francophones Works

The Dictionnaire des Francophones is an easy-to-use online platform, even for people who are not familiar with digital tools.

1. To start, go to the DDF website at the following address: https://www.dictionnairedesfrancophones.org/.
2. Once on the homepage, you will see a search bar at the top. Simply enter the word or phrase you want to search for. The search system is smart enough to understand even rough queries or misspellings.
3. After entering your search, click on the ‘Search’ button. You will then be directed to a page with the results corresponding to your query.
4. In the list of results, each entry contains a definition, examples of use, the origin of the word or expression, and other relevant information.
5. You can also contribute to the DDF by proposing new words or phrases. To do so, click on the option ‘Propose a word’ on the homepage, fill in the form with the requested information, and submit your proposal. A team of experts checks all proposals before adding them to the database.

The French-speaking dictionary would benefit from offering additional forms of navigation to allow everyone to immerse themselves in the dictionary. We would like to see entries or headings in the style: words of the day, recently added words, or the most consulted words and expressions.

Participate in the collective enrichment of the dictionary

The DDF is a collective work in constant evolution, fed by contributions from all over the world. This free and collaborative aspect is one of the riches of the Dictionnaire des Francophones.

To participate, simply follow these few simple steps:

1. Go to the DDF website and click on the ‘Propose a word’ option on the homepage.
2. You will be redirected to a submission form. Here you will need to enter the word or phrase you propose, its definition, examples of use, and any other relevant information you want to share.
3. Once you have filled in the form, click on ‘Submit’. Your proposal will be uploaded and then re-read and moderated in the manner of Wikipedia by a team of delexicographers who will check the accuracy and relevance of your submission.
4. If your proposal is approved, it will be added to the DDF database and will become accessible to all users of the site.

Each contribution is important, whether it comes from a country where French is the official language, a French-speaking region or a non-native speaker who brings his or her own unique perspective on the language.

A free French dictionary available everywhere on all platforms

Whether you are a teacher looking for examples of use for your courses, a writer looking for a precise definition of a word or simply curious about the French language, DDF is a must-have tool. A beautiful reference like the Academy’s dictionary French or the DES of which we have already spoken.

The DDF is free and free. It consults on computer but also on smartphone and tablets.

The DDF breaks geographical and temporal boundaries to offer everyone an immersion in the richness and diversity of the French language. To discover.