French Antonyms Worksheet: Opposites, Prefixes and Crosswords
From gentil and méchant to malhonnête and infatigable: this worksheet teaches French learners how to recognise and build antonyms, with matching tasks, prefix work and crosswords to recycle the vocabulary.
Two versions are available: the older one is free as a PDF for visitors, and the extended version 2, with a third exercise, two crosswords and detailed correction notes, is reserved for Premium members, with editable DOCX files.
Version 2: three exercises plus two crosswords, with a detailed answer key
What students practise
Students start by picking the opposite from a word bank: beau and laid, décoller and atterrir, remplir and vider… Then they build antonyms with prefixes, honnête becoming malhonnête, mobile becoming immobile, lisible becoming illisible. Version 2 adds a deduction task: find the adjective hidden in a short description, like avare leading to généreux.
The answer key goes beyond a simple correction: it explains register and real usage, for example moche in familiar speech for laid, the difference between nerveux and énervé, or why French says revenus modestes and never revenus inconfortables. Two crosswords, one star and two stars, turn the same vocabulary into a game.
Complete each sentence with the opposite word from the list.
Add the right prefix: mal-, in-, im-, dé- or il-.
Version 2: find the adjective from the information given.
Solve the crosswords using opposite-word clues.
Key opposite pairs from the worksheet
A first taste of the vocabulary covered, from everyday adjectives to prefix-built antonyms:
The extended version 2 (Premium)
Version 2 adds a third exercise (deduce the adjective from the information), two crosswords with difficulty stars, and a richer correction with register and usage notes.
Preview of version 2 – Premium PDF and DOCX
The older version
The first edition of the worksheet: two exercises (matching from the list, and prefix antonyms), one crossword and the answer key with usage notes. A complete one-session activity on opposites.
Preview of the older version – free PDF, premium DOCX
Recommended level
Also available in the following French workbooks:
J’apprends le français!
Learning French Exercises for A2 to B1 Level
Choose the version that best suits your needs.
Prefer a digital version you can download instantly?
View the PDF version with answer keyFrequently asked questions
What level is this worksheet for?
Mainly A2-B1: the matching task suits A2 learners, while prefix antonyms and the deduction exercise stretch towards B1.
What is the difference between the two versions?
The older version has two exercises and one crossword. Version 2 adds a third exercise, two crosswords with difficulty stars and detailed correction notes about register and usage.
What is free and what is premium?
The older version is free as a PDF for visitors. Its DOCX, the version 2 PDF and the version 2 DOCX are reserved for Premium members, who also keep access to the older PDF.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, both versions include the correction. Version 2 goes further with usage notes: moche in familiar speech, nerveux versus énervé, why revenus modestes and not revenus inconfortables, and more.
How can I extend the activity orally?
In pairs, students ask each other for opposites: Quel est le contraire de lent ? They can also build chains of prefix antonyms against the clock.
