Tú, vous, Sie: when to use the formal 'you'
Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German all distinguish a formal and informal "you". When to use which, how to switch, and what changes from country to country.
Articles
Notes on learning languages through reading, the words and phrases that matter, and using them when you travel.
Greetings in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and Germany: what to say and do
Handshake, cheek kiss or a simple hello? How people commonly greet each other in five languages and six countries, and the phrases that go with it.
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French: how similar are they really?
The Romance languages share Latin roots, lots of vocabulary and similar grammar. Where they overlap, where they don't, and whether learning one helps with the others.
Why French spelling doesn't match the sound (and how to read it aloud)
Silent final letters, liaison and nasal vowels make French look harder to pronounce than it is. The patterns that let you read French aloud with confidence.
German pronunciation for English speakers: the sounds that matter
Ü and ö, the two ch sounds, w as v, final consonants that harden. The German sounds English speakers find tricky, and how to practise each one.
Surprising facts about Europe's languages
A language older than its neighbours, nouns that always take capitals, an academy that guards French, and more facts about the languages of Europe.