The absolute strengths of 93 lines belonging to the nu2 and nu5 bands of methyl fluoride were measured in the range of 1416-1503 cm-1 using a tunable diode-laser (TDL) spectrometer. These experimental line intensities were obtained from the equivalent width method. The intensities were analyzed within a dyad system, required to account properly for the strong Coriolis coupling between nu2 and nu5. The fit to the experimental data led to the determination of the dipole moment derivatives partial differentialµ/ partial differentialq2 and partial differentialµ/ partial differentialq5, as well as the first-order Herman-Wallis correction in K to partial differentialµ/ partial differentialq5. The intensities were reproduced with an overall standard deviation of 1.44%, to be compared with a mean experimental uncertainty equal to 1.58%. The values derived for the vibrational band strengths of nu2 and nu5 are 2.124 (18) cm-2.atm-1 and 36.96 cm-2.atm-1 at 296 K, respectively. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.