Learning French is a rewarding endeavor, and reaching a B2 level is a significant milestone. At this stage, you should be able to understand the main ideas of complex texts, interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, and produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects. To help you on your journey, it’s essential to expand your vocabulary with words and phrases that are commonly used in B2 level conversations, writings, and comprehension tasks. Below is a comprehensive list of French words and expressions that are important to know at the B2 level.

General Vocabulary

1. **Abordable** – affordable
2. **Agréable** – pleasant
3. **Améliorer** – to improve
4. **Apporter** – to bring
5. **Attirer** – to attract
6. **Avertir** – to warn
7. **Avouer** – to admit
8. **Bénéfice** – benefit, profit
9. **Bien que** – although
10. **Bilan** – assessment, balance sheet
11. **Bref** – in short
12. **Capable** – capable
13. **Chaleureux** – warm, friendly
14. **Chômage** – unemployment
15. **Climatisation** – air conditioning

Expressions and Phrases

1. **À condition que** – provided that
2. **À l’aise** – at ease
3. **À moins que** – unless
4. **Au fur et à mesure** – gradually
5. **Autrement dit** – in other words
6. **Ça m’est égal** – I don’t mind
7. **D’ailleurs** – besides, furthermore
8. **En tant que** – as (in the capacity of)
9. **En ce qui concerne** – as far as … is concerned
10. **Faire face à** – to face, to confront
11. **Il vaut mieux** – it is better to
12. **Jusqu’à ce que** – until
13. **Malgré** – despite
14. **Par conséquent** – therefore
15. **Quant à** – as for

Advanced Adjectives and Adverbs

1. **Adroit** – skillful
2. **Affreux** – awful
3. **Assidu** – diligent
4. **Bizarre** – odd, strange
5. **Compatissant** – compassionate
6. **Confus** – confused
7. **Déçu** – disappointed
8. **Éblouissant** – dazzling
9. **Économe** – thrifty
10. **Égoïste** – selfish
11. **Ému** – moved, touched
12. **Éphémère** – short-lived
13. **Exigeant** – demanding
14. **Fidèle** – faithful
15. **Habile** – clever

Nouns

1. **L’actualité** – current events
2. **L’amitié** – friendship
3. **L’avantage** – advantage
4. **Le comportement** – behavior
5. **La connaissance** – knowledge
6. **Le défi** – challenge
7. **Le développement** – development
8. **L’efficacité** – efficiency
9. **L’employeur** – employer
10. **L’enquête** – survey, investigation
11. **L’entretien** – interview, maintenance
12. **L’environnement** – environment
13. **L’espoir** – hope
14. **L’exigence** – requirement
15. **L’habileté** – skill

Important Verbs

1. **Accueillir** – to welcome
2. **Apercevoir** – to perceive
3. **Appartenir** – to belong to
4. **Contester** – to contest
5. **Décevoir** – to disappoint
6. **Éviter** – to avoid
7. **Fournir** – to provide
8. **Gérer** – to manage
9. **Mener** – to lead
10. **Parvenir** – to achieve, to reach
11. **Prévoir** – to foresee
12. **Réagir** – to react
13. **Remarquer** – to notice
14. **Ressentir** – to feel
15. **Soutenir** – to support

Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases whose meanings are not predictable from the usual meanings of their constituent elements. Here are some important ones to know at the B2 level:

1. **Avoir le cafard** – to be down in the dumps
2. **C’est la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase** – that’s the last straw
3. **Donner un coup de main** – to give a hand
4. **Être au courant** – to be informed
5. **Faire d’une pierre deux coups** – to kill two birds with one stone
6. **Mettre la main à la pâte** – to pitch in
7. **Ne pas être dans son assiette** – to be under the weather
8. **Prendre son courage à deux mains** – to pluck up courage
9. **Raconter des salades** – to tell lies
10. **Se creuser la tête** – to rack one’s brains

Commonly Used Phrases in Conversation

1. **Comment ça se fait que…** – How come…
2. **Je suis d’accord avec toi** – I agree with you
3. **Je ne suis pas sûr(e) que…** – I’m not sure that…
4. **Je pense que…** – I think that…
5. **Qu’est-ce que tu en penses?** – What do you think about it?
6. **Si j’étais toi, je…** – If I were you, I would…
7. **Tu as raison** – You are right
8. **Tu veux dire que…** – You mean that…
9. **Ça dépend de…** – It depends on…
10. **Je suis de ton avis** – I share your opinion

Specialized Vocabulary

Depending on your interests or profession, you might need specialized vocabulary. Here are some examples for different fields:

Business and Economics

1. **L’actionnaire** – shareholder
2. **Le bénéfice** – profit
3. **La concurrence** – competition
4. **Le marché** – market
5. **La rentabilité** – profitability
6. **L’investissement** – investment
7. **Les ressources** – resources
8. **La stratégie** – strategy
9. **Le taux d’intérêt** – interest rate
10. **Le chiffre d’affaires** – turnover

Health and Medicine

1. **L’ordonnance** – prescription
2. **Le médicament** – medication
3. **La guérison** – recovery
4. **L’infection** – infection
5. **Le symptôme** – symptom
6. **La prévention** – prevention
7. **Le traitement** – treatment
8. **La consultation** – consultation
9. **L’intervention chirurgicale** – surgical operation
10. **La rééducation** – rehabilitation

Technology

1. **L’algorithme** – algorithm
2. **Le logiciel** – software
3. **Le matériel** – hardware
4. **La mise à jour** – update
5. **Le réseau** – network
6. **La sécurité** – security
7. **L’utilisateur** – user
8. **Le virus** – virus
9. **L’application** – application
10. **Le serveur** – server

Linking Words and Conjunctions

To create coherent and cohesive texts, it’s important to use linking words and conjunctions effectively. Here are some that are essential at the B2 level:

1. **Cependant** – however
2. **Donc** – therefore
3. **En revanche** – on the other hand
4. **Ensuite** – then, next
5. **Étant donné que** – given that
6. **Néanmoins** – nevertheless
7. **Par ailleurs** – moreover
8. **Par contre** – on the contrary
9. **Puisque** – since
10. **Quoique** – although

Practice and Usage

To incorporate these words into your active vocabulary, try the following strategies:

1. **Flashcards**: Create flashcards for each new word or phrase. On one side, write the French word, and on the other, its English translation. Review these regularly.
2. **Contextual Learning**: Try to use new words in sentences. This helps to understand their meanings and nuances better.
3. **Reading and Listening**: Engage with French media, such as newspapers, books, podcasts, and movies. Highlight or note down new vocabulary and try to understand it in context.
4. **Writing Practice**: Write essays, journal entries, or short stories using the new vocabulary. This reinforces your learning and helps with retention.
5. **Speaking Practice**: Engage in conversations with native speakers or fellow learners. Use the new vocabulary actively to make it a part of your spoken language.

Conclusion

Achieving a B2 level in French opens up many opportunities for communication and comprehension in more complex scenarios. By familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary listed above, you’ll be better equipped to handle various topics and situations. Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and consistency is key. Keep practicing, stay motivated, and enjoy the journey of mastering French!

Bon courage et bonne chance!