Countries where French is an official language:
* France: This is the largest country where French is spoken, both in mainland France and its overseas territories.
* Belgium: In the Wallonia and Brussels-Capital regions, French is an official language alongside Dutch and German.
* Switzerland: French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland, spoken primarily in the western part of the country.
* Luxembourg: French is one of the three official languages, along with Luxembourgish and German.
* Monaco: French is the official language of this small principality.
* Andorra: While Catalan is the official language, French is widely spoken and used in administration and education.
Countries where French is a minority language:
* Italy: French is spoken in the Aosta Valley region.
* Spain: In the Basque Country and Catalonia, there are communities where French is spoken.
* Germany: In the Alsace and Lorraine regions, there are French-speaking communities.
* United Kingdom: In the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), French is an official language.
Other considerations:
* Historical influence: French was the language of diplomacy and high society in Europe for centuries, and traces of this influence can be found in many countries. This can include loanwords, place names, or even the prevalence of French as a second language among certain groups.
* Regional variations: It's important to remember that there are regional variations in French across Europe. For example, the French spoken in Quebec (Canada) is different from the French spoken in France.
So, while French is primarily spoken in countries like France, Belgium, and Switzerland, it has a long and rich history in many other parts of Europe, making it a truly international language.