Consonants
1 FINAL CONSONANTS are not sounded in French unless they are followed by a vowel (called a liaison) or are one of the following: c r f l q. The latter are often (but not always) sounded, and you need to check the pronunciation each time you meet a new word:Note that the r in the infinitive of -er verbs is not sounded: parler regarder
There are exceptions that need to be learnt as new words are encountered (e.g. mars, jadIs - final consonants sounded)
CONSONANT CLUSTERS follow the same rules as above:Final consonants will be sounded when making a liaison with a following word beginning with a vowel but previous ones will not:
2 CONSONANT SOUNDS TO NOTE
CH = 'sh'QU = 'k'J/G+e/i = 'zh' as in 'measure'H is not soundedR is rolled at the back of the throatGN = 'ny' like the sound in the middle of 'onion'
3 SOFT AND HARD 'C' - THE CEDILLA (Ç)
In French, as in English, 'c' before the vowels 'i' and 'e' is softened and pronounced as an 's'.
Before 'a', 'o' and 'u' it has a hard 'k' sound:When a soft 'c' is needed before a hardening vowel, the cedilla mark (ç) is used.
4 SOFT AND HARD 'G' - THE SOFTENING 'E' . HOW TO HARDEN OR SOFTEN G.
In French, as in English, 'g' before the vowels 'i' and 'e' is softened and pronounced as a 'j' (see above)
Before 'a', 'o' and 'u' it has a hard 'g' sound:If a hard 'g' is needed before a 'softening' vowel, the letter 'u' is inserted:If a soft 'g' is needed before a 'hardening' vowel, an 'e' is inserted:
5 THE LETTER 'S'
As in English, the letter 's' has two sounds. The unvoiced 'ss' (sucre, passion, persil) or the 'z' sound when it appears between two vowels (rose, faisons, musée).
The sound 's' is also made by softened 'c' (see above) and by 'ti' in words containing '-tion': nationalité stationnement consolation
There are exceptions that need to be learnt as new words are encountered (e.g. mars, jadIs - final consonants sounded)
CONSONANT CLUSTERS follow the same rules as above:Final consonants will be sounded when making a liaison with a following word beginning with a vowel but previous ones will not:
- c'est ‿ un stylo (t pronounced, s silent)
2 CONSONANT SOUNDS TO NOTE
CH = 'sh'QU = 'k'J/G+e/i = 'zh' as in 'measure'H is not soundedR is rolled at the back of the throatGN = 'ny' like the sound in the middle of 'onion'
- montagne brugnon campagne
3 SOFT AND HARD 'C' - THE CEDILLA (Ç)
In French, as in English, 'c' before the vowels 'i' and 'e' is softened and pronounced as an 's'.
Before 'a', 'o' and 'u' it has a hard 'k' sound:When a soft 'c' is needed before a hardening vowel, the cedilla mark (ç) is used.
4 SOFT AND HARD 'G' - THE SOFTENING 'E' . HOW TO HARDEN OR SOFTEN G.
In French, as in English, 'g' before the vowels 'i' and 'e' is softened and pronounced as a 'j' (see above)
Before 'a', 'o' and 'u' it has a hard 'g' sound:If a hard 'g' is needed before a 'softening' vowel, the letter 'u' is inserted:If a soft 'g' is needed before a 'hardening' vowel, an 'e' is inserted:
5 THE LETTER 'S'
As in English, the letter 's' has two sounds. The unvoiced 'ss' (sucre, passion, persil) or the 'z' sound when it appears between two vowels (rose, faisons, musée).
The sound 's' is also made by softened 'c' (see above) and by 'ti' in words containing '-tion': nationalité stationnement consolation
Vowels
There are five vowels in written French: a, e, i/y, o, u, and these sounds can have a number of different spellings. The vowels have long and short sounds, but fewer than their English equivalents, and their sounds are pure - unlike English where many of the long sounds are diphthongs (eg A = e+ee; I = ah + ee). The English approximations are given below as a guide only. It is worthwhile getting used to the phonetic symbols used in dictionaries in order to check the precise pronunciation of new words.
i/y (=ee)
For English speakers, the two most difficult vowel sounds are 'ou' and 'u'. For the first, the lips should be well rounded but not pushed forward; for the second, the speaker should say 'ee', and while continuing to say it, round the lips. Click below to listen to the pronunciation on Quizlet flashcards.
i/y (=ee)
- il vie lyre
- blé dé clef parlez chanter
- père mène lait merci gêne jouet cachet lait mais
- plat patte
- bas pâtes tasse
- mort donner bottes
- mot gauche eau dôme
- genou fou pour moule
- rue vêtu sur
- peu feu deux
- peur meuble
- toi roi loin
For English speakers, the two most difficult vowel sounds are 'ou' and 'u'. For the first, the lips should be well rounded but not pushed forward; for the second, the speaker should say 'ee', and while continuing to say it, round the lips. Click below to listen to the pronunciation on Quizlet flashcards.
Nasal sounds
All four nasal sounds are contained in the phrase un bon vin blanc, but each sound has more than one spelling.
- an am en em (antiquité ramper ensuite emporter)
- on om (ronce rompu)
- in im ain aim ein eim en after i (pin important pain daim peindre Reims rien)
- un um (Verdun parfum)
Letter string -il -ill
Fille, billet
If you isolate the highlighted letters in the English words three years, you have a good approximation of the sound -ill when it follows a consonant (or qu) in French:
- fille bille béquille famille sillon piller ( NB common exception group where the ll is pronounced as l: mille ville village tranquille)
Where other vowels precede the ill, the key is to pronounce those vowels and add 'y'
-ouille
≈ English two years. It does not rhyme with fille.
- trouille grenouille fouille patrouille mouillé fouiller
≈ English are you
- rail bétail maille paille bataille faille
≈ English hey
- vermeil bouteille treille abeille Marseille
≈ English her yacht
- feuille œil Montreuil dueil cueillir millefeuille