Sources and Updates of the French Vocabulary

Abstract

Phonetics, vocabulary, and grammar are the three main components of a language, and among them, vocabulary is the most rapidly changing element compared to phonetics and grammar. Based on the core content of this semester’s French vocabulary course, this paper summarizes the origins of French vocabulary and its main structures, and presents the updates and issues related to contemporary French vocabulary. It analyzes and outlines the causes, effects, and patterns of these changes, with the aim of helping learners better understand how French vocabulary has evolved and of clarifying the importance of mastering the new features of the French lexicon.