C2 French Vocabulary List, Proficient CEFR Words

Near-native French precision. Subtle connotation, literary register, and idiomatic fluency.

Years of immersion. DALF C2.

About C2

C2 French is the level of educated native speakers. The active vocabulary is 16,000+ words across registers, with full mastery of literary tenses (passé simple, passé antérieur), the subjonctif imparfait (rare but recognized), and the idioms that mark a true speaker. Awareness of regional varieties (Belgian, Quebec, African French) is part of competence.

Who this list is for

If you can read Proust without flinching, write a publishable essay, and code-switch between literary and street French, you're around C2. DALF C2 is the highest French certification, valid for life and recognized internationally.

How to study

At C2 the work is maintenance and refinement. Read across centuries: 19th-century novels (Hugo, Balzac), 20th-century essays (Camus, Sartre), contemporary journalism, and technical writing. Pay attention to what feels off in your writing, usually because of a subtle register or collocation gap. Use spaced repetition for rare idioms and literary vocabulary.

The list (376 words)

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