Vocabulary: services, festivals and communities

The bank, the post office and lost property, then festivals, customs and life in a community.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Services

J'ai perdu mon sac. = I have lost my bag. On m'a volé mon portable. = My phone has been stolen.
FrenchEnglish
la banquebank
le bureau de changebureau de change
la postepost office
le timbrestamp
la boîte aux lettrespostbox
le colisparcel
envoyerto send
le bureau des objets trouvéslost property office
perdreto lose
le voleurthief
le formulaireform
remplirto fill in
le coiffeurhairdresser
réparerto repair
le pompierfirefighter

Festivals and celebrations

La fête de la Musique takes place every year on 21 June. Le 14 juillet is the French national holiday.
FrenchEnglish
la fêtefestival, party
fêterto celebrate
NoëlChristmas
PâquesEaster
le jour de l'AnNew Year's Day
la Saint-ValentinValentine's Day
la fête des MèresMother's Day
le cadeaupresent
la bougiecandle
les feux d'artifice (m)fireworks
la carte de vœuxgreetings card
meilleurs vœuxbest wishes
le jour fériépublic holiday
le défiléparade

Communities and customs

Religion words on the list are general: la religion, religieux, la foi (H, faith).
FrenchEnglish
la communautécommunity
la traditiontradition
traditionnel(le)traditional
la coutumecustom
l'église (f)church
la mosquéemosque
la synagoguesynagogue
le templetemple
partagerto share
le repasmeal
l'association (f)association, club
le / la bénévolevolunteer
aiderto help
Worked example

Translate: On the fourteenth of July we watch the fireworks with our neighbours.

  1. on the fourteenth of July = le 14 juillet (no 'on')
  2. we watch = nous regardons / on regarde
  3. the fireworks = les feux d'artifice

Answer: Le 14 juillet, nous regardons les feux d'artifice avec nos voisins.

Key idea

La banque, la poste, le timbre, le colis, envoyer, le bureau des objets trouvés, perdre, le voleur, remplir un formulaire. La fête, fêter, Noël, Pâques, le jour de l'An, les feux d'artifice, le jour férié. La communauté, la tradition, l'église, la mosquée, partager, le bénévole.

Key words
la banque
bank
la poste
post office
le bureau des objets trouvés
lost property office
fêter
to celebrate
partager
to share

All GCSE and International GCSE French key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does le formulaire mean?

    1. repair
    2. lost property office
    3. form
    4. bank
    Show the answer

    Answer: form

    Le formulaire = form.

  2. Which is the French for "hairdresser"?

    1. le voleur
    2. la banque
    3. le coiffeur
    4. le timbre
    Show the answer

    Answer: le coiffeur

    Hairdresser = le coiffeur.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE French lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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