The French way, it seems, needn't be French! (5)
I believe the answer is:
leave
'it seems needn't be french' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'the french way' is the wordplay.
'the french' becomes 'le' ('the' in French).
'way' becomes 'ave' (abbreviation for avenue, a type of 'way').
'le'+'ave'='LEAVE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for leave that I've seen before include "Depart - on office holidays?" , "Don't take - time off" , "Deposit" , "Don't touch" , "Depart on work holiday?" .)