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Which country shares the longest border with France?
I think most people would say Spain. Spain is right next to France in Europe. Or perhaps you might have said Belgium, Switzerland, or Italy.
But the answer is actually Brazil. Yes, Brazil. France and Brazil share a border of more than 700 kilometres. The reason is French Guiana, a territory on the northeastern coast of South America which is officially part of France.
French Guiana isn't the only surprising part of France. France has territories and departments in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and South America. People living in many of these places are French citizens. They can vote in French elections, use the euro, and in some cases are part of the European Union.
How did France end up with territory on several different continents? Why are these places still part of France, while many former British colonies became independent countries? And do the people living in these territories want to be French?
In this episode, we're going to explore Overseas France and learn some new English vocabulary along the way!
Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/24/402-france-is-bigger-than-you-think-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
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I think most people would say Spain. Spain is right next to France in Europe. Or perhaps you might have said Belgium, Switzerland, or Italy.
But the answer is actually Brazil. Yes, Brazil. France and Brazil share a border of more than 700 kilometres. The reason is French Guiana, a territory on the northeastern coast of South America which is officially part of France.
French Guiana isn't the only surprising part of France. France has territories and departments in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and South America. People living in many of these places are French citizens. They can vote in French elections, use the euro, and in some cases are part of the European Union.
How did France end up with territory on several different continents? Why are these places still part of France, while many former British colonies became independent countries? And do the people living in these territories want to be French?
In this episode, we're going to explore Overseas France and learn some new English vocabulary along the way!
Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/24/402-france-is-bigger-than-you-think-english-vocabulary-lesson/
AD Free Episode - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast
INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)
$10 Free Credits on iTalki (Affiliate Link) - https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af17506448
My Editing Software (50 % Discount Affiliate Link) - https://descript.cello.so/BgOK9XOfQdD
Borough by Blue Dot Sessions
Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices