Bonjour! French is a language that is spoken by lots of people all around the world. But did you know that there are different ways of speaking French? These different ways are called "varieties" of French.
Think of it like when you go to different places in the world and hear people speaking English but they might sound a bit different. For example, some people might have an American accent, while others might have an Australian accent. In French, there are different accents too, but they are often referred to as "varieties" because they not only differ in the way they sound, but also in their vocabulary and grammar.
One variety of French is called "Metropolitan French." This is the type of French that is spoken in France, the country where French originally came from. It's the most widely known and recognized variety of French around the world.
But there are also other varieties of French, like Canadian French, Haitian French, and Swiss French, just to name a few. These varieties can sound a bit different from Metropolitan French, and they also have their own unique words and phrases that might not be used in other varieties.
For example, in Canadian French, they might use the word "tuque" instead of "bonnet" to refer to a winter hat. And in Swiss French, they might use the word "galette" instead of "crêpe" to refer to a thin pancake.
Each variety of French is special in its own way, and they all contribute to the rich tapestry of French language and culture. So whether you're speaking Metropolitan French or another variety, the most important thing is to enjoy the beautiful language of French and have fun while learning!