Alliance Française de San Francisco

Alliance Française de San Francisco French language school and francophone cultural center in San Francisco, since 1889.

Our mission is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the French language and Francophone cultures, and to encourage friendship and collaboration with the French-speaking world. The Alliance Française of San Francisco is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of California. The Alliance is known as the best institution in Northern California for providing high quality French courses in a friendly, and relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere. Over the years we've expanded our curriculum by adding and adapting courses to meet our students' needs and interests. Thus we go beyond mere language instruction, by covering the cultural, social, business, and professional aspects of French.

🇫🇷 What does “ras-le-bol” mean?“Ras-le-bol” is a French expression that means “I’ve had enough,” “I’m fed up,” or “I’m s...
09/23/2026

🇫🇷 What does “ras-le-bol” mean?
“Ras-le-bol” is a French expression that means “I’ve had enough,” “I’m fed up,” or “I’m sick and tired of it.”

Literally, it refers to a container being full to the brim — and the idea is that you’ve reached your limit. 😤

👉 “J’en ai ras-le-bol !”
= “I’ve had enough!”

It’s informal, expressive, and very French. 🇫🇷

🎻🌸 DIALOGUE IN NOTES & FRAGRANCETuesday, November 3, 2026 | 6–7 PM📍 Alliance Française of San Francisco1345 Bush Street,...
09/22/2026

🎻🌸 DIALOGUE IN NOTES & FRAGRANCE

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | 6–7 PM
📍 Alliance Française of San Francisco
1345 Bush Street, San Francisco

Join us for a unique sensory evening with Yoko Lévy-Kobayashi, violinist and trained perfumer, presented in partnership with Villa Albertine Villa Albertine San Francisco

Experience the unexpected dialogue between music and fragrance through live violin, scent exploration, storytelling, and conversation. ✨

🇫🇷 Event in French — A2 level recommended
🎟️ $10 General | $5 AF Members

Come discover the poetic connection between sound, scent, memory, and emotion.

🇫🇷 RENCONTRE EXCEPTIONNELLE À L’ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO📅 Lundi 26 octobre 2026 à 14h30📍 Alliance Française d...
09/22/2026

🇫🇷 RENCONTRE EXCEPTIONNELLE À L’ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO

📅 Lundi 26 octobre 2026 à 14h30
📍 Alliance Française de San Francisco

Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une rencontre avec Yves Bigot, président de la Fondation des Alliances Françaises, pour un échange autour de son parcours exceptionnel dans les univers des médias, de la musique et de la culture.

🎙️ De ses débuts comme journaliste en 1973 à ses nombreuses responsabilités dans la presse, la radio et la télévision, jusqu’à la direction de TV5MONDE et à la présidence de la Fondation des Alliances Françaises, Yves Bigot reviendra sur les grandes étapes de sa carrière, les rencontres qui l’ont marqué et les expériences qui ont façonné son regard sur :

🇫🇷 la langue française et son rayonnement dans le monde
🎬 la culture et les médias
🌎 le rôle et l’avenir des Alliances Françaises

Une occasion privilégiée de rencontrer, écouter et échanger avec une personnalité qui a consacré plus de cinquante ans à la culture et aux médias francophones.

🇫🇷 L’expression du jour : « J’ai la flemme » 😴Tu veux dire que tu n’as pas envie de faire quelque chose, souvent parce q...
09/22/2026

🇫🇷 L’expression du jour : « J’ai la flemme » 😴

Tu veux dire que tu n’as pas envie de faire quelque chose, souvent parce que tu es fatigué(e), démotivé(e) ou simplement… pas d’humeur à bouger ?

👉 « J’ai la flemme ! »

Exemples :
🛋️ Je devrais faire du sport, mais j’ai la flemme.
🍳 J’ai la flemme de cuisiner, on commande ?
📚 J’ai un devoir à faire, mais j’ai trop la flemme !

💡 « Avoir la flemme » est une expression très courante et familière en français.

Alors, aujourd’hui… tu as la flemme de faire quoi ? 😄

🇫🇷

A big thank you to Maxime Buathier for a fantastic and very dynamic workshop this morning! 🙌Missed it? No worries, you’l...
09/18/2026

A big thank you to Maxime Buathier for a fantastic and very dynamic workshop this morning! 🙌
Missed it? No worries, you’ll have another chance to join us on October 8! 📅

Come ready to learn, connect, and get energized. We hope to see you there! With Maxime (comme le garçon)

🇫🇷 Café littéraire · Les Mots Marcheurs🇬🇧 Literary Café · Les Mots MarcheursWhat if, together, we opened a suitcase that...
09/18/2026

🇫🇷 Café littéraire · Les Mots Marcheurs
🇬🇧 Literary Café · Les Mots Marcheurs

What if, together, we opened a suitcase that has never been unpacked?

On October 23 at 10 a.m., join the Alliance Française of San Francisco for a special morning with Franco-Congolese writer and playwright Guy Alexandre Sounda, devoted to words, memory, and the stories we carry with us.

Through Les Mots Marcheurs, literature becomes a space where languages, cultures, and experiences of exile meet.

The morning will feature:

💬 A conversation with the author
✍️ A writing workshop inspired by The Suitcase I Never Unpacked
🎶 A musical reading of Les Soliloques de l’ombre

An invitation to pause, listen, write, and discover what our journeys — real or inward — have left within us.

📅 October 23 · 10–11:30 a.m.
📍 Alliance Française of San Francisco
1345 Bush Street, San Francisco

Come with your story, your curiosity, and perhaps a few words to place inside this suitcase.

🇫🇷 French expression of the day: “Ça ne me parle pas”Literally, it means “That doesn’t speak to me.”But in French, we us...
09/17/2026

🇫🇷 French expression of the day: “Ça ne me parle pas”
Literally, it means “That doesn’t speak to me.”
But in French, we use it to say:

👉 “That doesn’t resonate with me.”
👉 “I’m not really into it.”
👉 “That doesn’t mean much to me.”

For example:

💬 Le nouveau film ? Bof… ça ne me parle pas vraiment.
🎬 “The new movie? Meh… it doesn’t really resonate with me.”

It’s a very natural way to express that something doesn’t connect with you personally—whether it’s an idea, a style, a subject, or even a piece of art.

✨ Ça me parle = It resonates with me.
🙅‍♀️ Ça ne me parle pas = It doesn’t resonate with me.

Have you heard this expression before? 🇫🇷

🇫🇷 FREE WORKSHOP | S’installer à San Francisco en famille 🇺🇸Vous préparez votre expatriation ou venez d’arriver à San Fr...
09/17/2026

🇫🇷 FREE WORKSHOP | S’installer à San Francisco en famille 🇺🇸

Vous préparez votre expatriation ou venez d’arriver à San Francisco ? 🏡
Venez rencontrer d’autres Français·es et découvrir des conseils pratiques pour faciliter votre installation dans la Bay Area !

📅 Jeudi 8 octobre
🕥 10h30 – 12h00
📍 1345 Bush Street, SF
💬 Atelier en français

Avec Maxime Buathier Maxime (comme le garçon), expatriée française et maman, qui partagera son expérience et ses conseils.

Que vous soyez en préparation ou déjà installé·e, vous êtes les bienvenus ! ❤️

🇺🇸 FREE WORKSHOP — Moving to San Francisco as a Family

Join us for a friendly workshop in French with practical tips on housing, schools, childcare, driving, groceries and settling into life in the Bay Area.

See you there! 🇫🇷🇺🇸 Link in bio afsf.com

🇫🇷 French expression of the day: “Tu t’en sors ?”Ever heard a French person say “Tu t’en sors ?” and wondered what it me...
09/13/2026

🇫🇷 French expression of the day: “Tu t’en sors ?”
Ever heard a French person say “Tu t’en sors ?” and wondered what it means? 👀

Literally, s’en sortir means “to get out of it”, but in everyday French, “Tu t’en sors ?” usually means:

👉 “Are you managing?”
👉 “Are you doing okay?”
👉 “Are you getting by?”

For example:
📚 Tu as beaucoup de travail. Tu t’en sors ?
= “You have a lot of work. Are you managing?”
A very useful expression for everyday French! 🇫🇷✨

Get ready to dance, eat, and toast to Europe in San Francisco! 💃🍷🎶On Saturday, Sept 19, Alliance Française de San Franci...
09/09/2026

Get ready to dance, eat, and toast to Europe in San Francisco! 💃🍷🎶

On Saturday, Sept 19, Alliance Française de San Francisco will be in Peacock Meadow for Europe in the Park, a FREE afternoon of food trucks, beer garden, live music, and culture from across the EU.

Come say hi!

📍 Golden Gate Park | 1:00–6:00 PM

Address

1345 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA
94109

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm
Thursday 9:30am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+14157757755

Website

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