What Makes Visual Dictionaries So Useful

With vocabulary being so important and all, you need as many methods as possible to get the full spectrum of nouns, adjectives and verbs. Visual dictionaries are easy to mix into your vocabulary study routine because they’re browsable, which makes them good for casual learners and dedicated students alike. As long as you still have vocabulary gaps, French visual dictionaries are right for you.

More importantly, trying to take the whole translation aspect out of language learning can be extremely beneficial. If you see the word “dog,” your thought process may go something like “The French word for dog is un chien.” But if you look at a picture of a dog, you can cut out the middle man. Try learning by associating the French word with the image, and go straight to “That’s un chien.” 

Ideally, after studying for a while with a French visual dictionary, you should be able to flip through it and have some of the French vocabulary words pop right into your head, leaving English out of the equation altogether.

So here they are—six French visual dictionaries for your viewing pleasure!

The 6 Coolest French Visual Dictionaries for Brushing Up on Your Vocab

DK’s “French-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary”

Who it’s best for: Beginners who are getting a feel for things or intermediate learners trying to fill in gaps.

What makes it special: You may be familiar with DK’s non-fiction books on subjects ranging from music to travel to literally everything in between. With their numerous years of experience making educational reading material packed with sweet graphics, this visual dictionary is a staple.

The book is presented in categories, many of which are places like houses, newsstands and offices. This makes it one of the best choices to learn practical vocabulary for everyday situations.

Best thing about it: Easy to browse, great pictures.

“Barron’s Visual Dictionary: French”

Who it’s best for: Learners who need a portable resource.

What makes it special: He’s a little guy, making it easy for you to slip this visual dictionary under your arm alongside a baguette. Pocket-sized dictionaries aren’t for everyone, but if you’re traveling or running out of shelf room, this is one of the best options for you.

Barron’s is yet another trusted source here—a go-to if you happen to be studying for the French AP exam. This thing manages to pack 15,000 words and 3,000 images into a book the size of your hand. Luckily, they make it easy to flip through with their color-coded categories.

Best thing about it: So many words, so little room.

Innovative Language Learning’s Visual Dictionary App

Who it’s best for: App-crazed language explorers.

What makes it special: Shhh, don’t tell, but this is one of my favorites. The nice thing about apps versus paper dictionaries is that they often take things to the next level. I’m all for a good old paper dictionary for reference, but this app is a pretty fun way to utilize a French visual dictionary.

There’s a free version for you to try and test the waters with, and you can update to the full version within the app. You can explore vocabulary either through categories or a map, and you even have the option to listen to the words to help build your listening skills.

Best thing about it: It looks like a video game from the ’90s, and you can learn without lugging around a reference book.

“Oxford Children’s French-English Visual Dictionary”

Who it’s best for: Children and learners new to the French game.

What makes it special: We’ve gotta give a shout-out to the kiddos. Whether you’re learning French with your kid, are a French teacher or just an adult who has no previous French knowledge, this visual dictionary is a great resource. You can even download these worksheets to help tie it all together.

Geared toward ages 8 and up (that includes adults!), this book presents over 1,500 illustrations, all divided into topics. Each topic introduces the theme in both French and English—a little reading practice to get your feet wet. Just remember that whether you’re using this dictionary for a third-grader or yourself, using children’s materials when you’re a beginner is a great way to ease into a language and release your inner kid!

Best thing about it: Who doesn’t love fun worksheets?

Le Dictionnaire visuel scolaire

Who it’s best for: Intermediate and advanced learners who are determined to improve their vocabulary.

What makes it special: This online visual dictionary goes deep, real deep. For example, you can learn anything from the name of the planets in French to the different parts of a door. You heard me. A door. Just to name a few features, there are fill-in-the-blank games, 17 categories to browse through, plus an unbelievable amount of sub-categories and sub-sub-categories.

You have an option to hear vocabulary words spoken, making this an invaluable tool for learners who feel they’ve covered their basics and want the full treatment. There’s a 30-day free trial if you want to check it out, but trust me on this before you dive in: It’s kind of addictive.

Best thing about it: You can learn the French words for things you didn’t know how to say in English.

“The Firefly Five Language Visual Dictionary” and others

Who it’s best for: French learners who have more than just French on their language learning plate.

What makes it special: There are a few Firefly Visual dictionaries you can use to learn French. There’s the standard French-English version, which is pretty awesome. It includes 28,000 terms and 600 subjects, which is more than enough to wrap your head around. There’s also a mini version (for you pocket-sized lovers). Both include a well-organized index to easily find words in both French and English.

But what makes these Firefly Visual dictionaries so great is they have a five-language version. It includes French, German, Italian, Spanish and English with the illustrations. It has diverse categories, 35,000 terms and quintilingual (not technically a real word) status.

This may seem intimidating, but it’s a good way to pick up a few words from other languages while you work on your French, or a good way to keep your French in mind as you start learning Spanish or Italian. Learning a third language with reference to French (if you’re proficient) is a great way to keep the language learning going!

Best thing about it: You can tell your friends that you’re on your way to being trilingual.

How to Get the Most Out of a Visual Dictionary

There are a few ways you can approach studying vocabulary from a resource like this.

You can go the flashcard route if your drawing skills are quick and decent, or you can just quiz yourself by covering up the translations on the page. Many online versions and apps will even have their own quizzes and activities to go along with the vocabulary.

You could also supplement the visual dictionary with language learning programs to reinforce the vocabulary you learn. These programs can help you apply words into sentences and phrases. Besides flashcard or quiz capabilities, they can also have multimedia features (including visual tools) to make sure you’re still absorbing vocabulary in ways besides plain text format.

We’ve debunked the myth that all dictionaries are boring, so now it’s up to you to give visual dictionaries a whirl.

Whether you pick one up as a consistent study tool or a way to procrastinate your real French homework, they’re fun, easy on the eyes and a million times more useful for building vocabulary than a plain old reference dictionary.