Countries That Speak French

1. The European “Core”

• France: (Includes Corsica).
• Monaco: Practically 100% Francophone.
• Switzerland (Western part/Romandy): Cities like Geneva, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel are entirely French-speaking.
• Belgium (Wallonia & Brussels): In the south (Wallonia) and the capital (Brussels), French is the primary daily language.
• Luxembourg: While they speak Luxembourgish and German, French is the main language for administration, shops, and restaurants.

2. The North American Stronghold

• Quebec, Canada: This is a “hard unlock.” In cities like Montreal and Quebec City, French is the primary language of law, work, and life.
• New Brunswick, Canada: The only officially bilingual province; you’ll find heavy French usage in the north and east (the Acadian regions).
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon: A tiny French territory right off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It is 100% culturally French.

3. The “Lingua Franca” Powerhouse (Africa)

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: Kinshasa is the largest French-speaking city in the world (surpassing Paris).
• Gabon & Ivory Coast: These have some of the highest fluencies; in cities like Abidjan and Libreville, French is the primary language used on the street.
• Senegal: French is the official language and the main way people from different ethnic groups communicate in Dakar.
• The Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia): While Arabic is the first language, French is the “prestige” and functional language for business, medicine, and higher education. If you speak French, you can navigate these countries perfectly.

4. The “Tropical” Unlocks (Overseas France)

• The Caribbean: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy.
• South America: French Guiana (bordering Brazil—where your Portuguese “stumbling” might actually help!).
• The Indian Ocean: Réunion Island and Mayotte.
• The Pacific: New Caledonia, French Polynesia (Tahiti), and Wallis and Futuna.

Quick Comparison: Spanish vs. French “Unlocks”