French pronunciation and phonetics
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In French, unlike other languages, we don't take in account all the accent in our alphabet.
For alphabetical classification, the accents are under their normal letters ("é" counted as "e" or "æ" and "œ" ligatures are the equivalents of "ae" and "oe".)
The accents are arranged in this order: acute, grave, circumflex and umlaut.
The vowels are 6 letters and the consonants are 20 letters: Here's is an overview of their pronunciation and phonetics in the alphabetical order
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Order | Letter | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
1 | A / a | /ɑ/ |
5 | E / e | /ə/ |
9 | I / i | /i/ |
15 | O / o | /o/ |
21 | U / u | /y/ |
25 | Y / y | /igʁɛk/ |
Order | Letter | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
2 | B / b | /be/ |
3 | C / c | /se/ |
4 | D / d | /de/ |
6 | F / f | /ɛf/ |
7 | G / g | /ʒe/ |
8 | H / h | /aʃ/ |
10 | J / j | /ʒi/ |
11 | K / k | /kɑ/ |
12 | L / l | /ɛl/ |
13 | M / m | /ɛm/ |
14 | N / n | /ɛn/ |
16 | P / p | /pe/ |
17 | Q / q | /ky/ |
18 | R / r | /ɛʁ/ |
19 | S / s | /ɛs/ |
20 | T / t | /te/ |
22 | V / v | /ve/ |
23 | W / w | /dublə ve/ |
24 | X / x | /iks/ |
26 | Z / z | /zɛd/ |
The French alphabet has many diphthongs. Diphthongs are vowels that were created by the combination of two vowel sounds with the same syllable but can also be a combination of a vowel and a consonant. They are very commonly used.
Among them you can find:
Diphthongs | Pronunciation | Examples |
---|---|---|
ch | /ʃ/, /k/ | chocolat, archéologue |
ph | /f/ | photo |
ss | /s/ between two voyels | chasse |
gu | /g/ | guépard, guenon |
ou | /u/ | ou |
ge | /ʒ/ | pigeon |
oi | /wa/ | loi |
eau | /o/ | eau, fardeau |
ai, aî, ei | /ɛ/ | maître, |
em, en | /ɑ̃/ | enveloppe, emballage |
ein, im, in, în | /ɛ̃/ | rein, imconcevable, incroyable, vînmes |
aim, ain | /ɛ̃/ | faim, main |
am, an | /ɑ̃/ | chambre, chanter |
ay | /ɛ.i/ in front of consonants /ɛj/ in front of vowels | ayant, pays |
eu | /ø/ | jeune |
gn | /ɲ/ | gagner |
We already know what are the French vowels sound like. They may be not accented, accented or even combined with other vowels. Here is a table with pronunciations for unaccented vowels alone:
Vowels | Pronunciation | Examples |
---|---|---|
a | /a/ | chat, sac, bagage, matin |
e | /ə/ | genou, cheval, retard |
er, et | /e/ | manger, acheter, et |
i, y | /i/ | lit, physique |
o | /o/ | homme, vélo |
u | /y/ | jus, tissu |
French grammar can take 3 kind of accents: grave, acute, circumflex and they usually change the pronunciation of the words. But the only vowel for which these three accents have a noticeable effect on its pronunciation is the e.
Accent | Pronunciation | Examples |
---|---|---|
é | /e/ | enchanté, énormement, étonné |
è | /ɛ/ | très, problème, frère |
ê | /ɛ/ (more open) | être, fête, même |
Vowels can also merge to form vowel combinations. There are only a few possible combinations in French but also as soon as a vowel precedes an n or an m in the same syllable, this vowel becomes nasal.
We already studied some of them in the list of diphthongs above but check under for more pronunciations:
Vowels | Pronunciation | Examples |
---|---|---|
au | /o/ | journaux, |
œu | /œ/ | sœur, œuf |
ui/oui | /ɥ/ | nuit, suis, puits |
on | /õ/ | maison, bouton, marron |
un | /œ̃/ | lundi, quelqu'un |
In general, all consonants at the end of a word are silent and not spoken.
The consonant H is silent when used in a word and has no pronunciation
The consonant Y is pronounced /i/ when used as a vowel in a word and /j/ when used as a semi-vowel in a word
When two vowels are separated by "ll" the pronunciation is /j/.
The pronunciation of a word in French varies depending on the words that precede or follow it. The pronunciation of consonants that are normally not pronounced before a following vowel is called linking (French: la liaison). Liaison links the two words
The result of liaison is a regular alternation of consonant and a vowel sound.
The cedilla is a graphic sign that is placed under the c to indicate that it must pronounce /s/.
It is necessary before a, o, u and without the cedilla in front, it is pronounced /k/.
It is useless to put a cedilla before an e or i:
Vowels | Examples | Translations |
---|---|---|
a | Remplaçant | (A substitute) |
o | Maçon | (A builder) |
u | Déçu | (Disappointed) |
e | Cependant | (However) |
i | Merci | (Thank you) |
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Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
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After one lesson, I knew that Natalia would be a great fit for me. She made the conversation fun and stimulating. Natalia was very patient with me. Yet, she also encouraged me to speak french in a way that I had not spoken before. By the end of the lesson, my french stream of conscious was more fluid than it had ever been. I know that each lesson will be the highlight of my week.
Natalia L.Sarah is an excellent student, she is so motivated! She is learning French very fast and each class I see how she is able to speak and understand so much more. I am sure she will be speaking fluently soon!
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I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
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I can’t recommend Nancy highly enough. She’s a great teacher. Very patient, flexible and personable.
Nancy C.thanks for this Anne-Sophie. It is great to have you as a student.
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Dear future student,
My name is Mélanie, I am 40 years old, I am Belgian and I live near Brussels in Belgium.
I have 7 years of experience in teaching French as a foreign language. I have a degree in Modern Languages and Literature. I have an agrégation in higher secondary education. French is my mother tongue. Additionally I have a C2 level in Spanish.
I have taught adults (beginner - advanced) in various training institutions (CLL, CVO Semper, ...). I have taught both large and small groups. I can therefore adapt my teaching methods according to the number of people.
As far as my teaching methods are concerned, I create communicative exercises.
I always try to get the student to express themselves as much as possible. In case of groups, I create individual exercises, in groups of two or four.
I give homework in which the students have to write a short text related to a grammatical concept they have seen. I also give additional grammatical exercises.
I also test my students' knowledge. For example, during the course, I listen to my students and comment on their oral productions. I also do small listening comprehensions and reading comprehensions.
I can also explain certain grammatical points or translate certain words into the student's language if it is needed, but generally I always try to teach in the target language.
If my student is looking for a job, I can also help him/her to write his/her CV and cover letter and also prepare his/her interview.
If my student works in a company, I can also prepare exercises specific to the company's field. I have given courses to warehouse workers for Delhaize, to plumbers, to students in Tourism.
I also taught asylum seekers.
As far as teaching material is concerned, I use a lot of material from Zexperts fle https://leszexpertsfle.com/toutes-les-ressources-fle/ which I adapt to the objectives of the lesson. I also look for exercises in FLE manuals such as Totem, Edito, Alter Ego, Expression orale... Naturally, I adapt the exercises according to the needs of the student. I also look for songs in YouTube.
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I have had about 10 lessons in French from Mélanie. We treated a lot of different subjects such as grammar, talking and listening exercises. Mélanie is a very good and patient teacher and I learned a lot in these lessons on how to communicate in French.
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Carlos is an excellent, professional and experienced Spanish teacher. His method is made up of theory and exercises, he uses school documents and is prepared for all levels of Spanish. Highly recommended.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Stefania is an experienced Italian teacher and native speaker. She designs her classes in a flexible and dynamic way and takes a communicative approach. She provided self-made teaching material and focusses on speaking, always considering her student's level and individual needs.
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Hi!
My name is Krisztina! I’m a teacher of German and French with the corresponding qualifications. I've grown up in a bilingual family (Hungarian-German), so I speak both languages as a native language. I’ve been teaching for six years, so I’m able to estimate your needs, and to meet them. In my lessons, I recreat real life situations, so that you will be able to adapt yourselves to different circumstances. I’m a patient, positive and creative person, who is looking forward to see you in her lessons. So don’t hesitate to book a lesson with me.
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I am very satisfied with my new teacher. Looks like I'm going to get French soon! Looking forward to each lesson. Krisztina knows many languages, which allows her to understand pronunciation difficulties and to remain patient. Hope to pass C1 one day!
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Hello everyone!
My name is Wanda, I'm 27 and I'm French.
I have a Master's Degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language from the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, as well as 3 years of teaching experience (face-to-face, remote courses, or group classes).
I can teach you everything from grammar to culture, but I am particularly able to help you get a better pronunciation! Indeed, I also have a Master's Degree in Linguistics, for which I wrote a thesis about the pronunciation of people learning French as a foreign language =)
Regarding pronunciation, I'll help you without any judgment and only if you express the need to improve!
I studied one year in Japan (Osaka) where I gave French classes at the University of Kansai. During this time, I met a lot of people from various background and I became very open-minded and comfortable with different cultures.
What I like the most in teaching French is getting to meet and know people from different cultures =)
So, I'll be waiting for you! =)
See you soon,
Wanda
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Wanda is a fantastic teacher, she's always up to solve problems and doubts. She teaches from grammar to speaking, with a good emphasis on pronunciation and phonetics which are essential in French!
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Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
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Christin is a committed and professional German teacher with experience in teaching German face-to-face. Her teaching methods include setting learning goals with her students and giving continuous feedback. Her activities are guided by a communicative approach and she tries to teach her students german vocabulary for everyday life.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
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We are an Italian family residing in France for 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the children two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with the choice. Nous sommes une famille italienne résidant en France depuis janvier, nous avons deux enfants de 10 ans qui viennent de commencer la CM1. Nous avons demandé à Natalia de leur donner deux leçons par semaine pour accélérer leur apprentissage. Nous sommes super contents de Natalia. We are an Italian family living in France since 3 months, we have two 10 year old children who have just started attending CM1. We asked Natalia to give the kids two lessons a week to speed up their learning. We are super happy with this choice.
Natalia L.Fabrizio's children are learning French very fast, I have the impression that these lessons online have been helpful for them and I am sure they will master the language easily. They are very interested in learning.
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Mathieu is a very knowledgeable teacher and has a very good teaching method, recommended for both teenagers and adults. Highly recommended for beginners and those who already have a basic knowledge of French. He uses university textbooks, which are very specific and well written. He customizes the lessons according to the student, he is young but expert at the same time. In addition, he speaks very good Italian. Highly recommended.
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Hello everyone,
I am a native German speaker who has lived in Bologna for 20 years. Languages are my passion, in addition to German I speak and write Italian and English fluently, and I have some knowledge of French. I've got a legal background, where mastery of the German language is very important. After I moved to Italy I started working as a teacher for a private school, then as an export manager and legal assistant, but I always continued to teach in the evenings. Since 2014, I have been freelancing and devoting myself entirely to teaching and translating. I work for a foundation, in a tutoring centre, I teach in companies and to private people.
I believe I am able to establish a good relationsship with the students and I am flexible in adapting the lesson to the student's needs, or gaps!
I usually use course books with a homework part, but during the lesson I integrate with online material, tests, conversation, material that the student brings me from school or from his workplace.
Come and have a lesson with me and you won't regret it!
See you soon!
Dirk
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Dirk is a likable teacher with 20 years of experience in teaching German. He cares a lot about the individual needs of each of his students and tries to motivate them as best as possible with interesting teaching material. The focus is especially on communication, which is trained through grammar, vocabulary and listening comprehension exercises. I would highly recommend Dirk as a German teacher.
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Dirk F.Thanks a lot, Alina!
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Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
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Very helpfull teacher with excellent tips on how to improve your french. The informal style has a lot of merit and can help you aquire the language in a natural, unstructured and unforced fashion. Recommended for anyone who prefers a learn by doing approach.
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My name is Curtis Davies, I'm a native English speaker and professional language coach from Canada. I'm also the host of "The Real English Conversations Podcast". I’ve helped thousands of students improve their English skills since 2013, specifically with confidence, speaking fluency, and pronunciation to feel 100% comfortable communicating in English in any situation.
You can be sure that our lessons will be focused on the areas that you are most concerned about improving as we discuss interesting topics that you will enjoy talking about. Together, we can create a customized study plan that surely will help you reach your goals and finally feel good about your English communication.
I'm A personal trainer for English communication in Real-World situations. My lessons focus on helping you to improve your speaking fluency, pronunciation, confidence and to be prepared for everyday social interactions, casual conversations, communicating better in English at work, and even preparing you for an important interview or presentation.
What To Expect: Professional Help NOT just Conversation Practice
I'm a specialist that cares about YOU achieving your goals I will evaluate you first, then we work together as a team to create a FUN learning strategy or plan so 100% of your classes are exciting BUT focused on where you need the most practice and attention
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Curtis is a Canadian teacher with years of experience in teaching English. He is a real motivator and with him, you will improve lesson by lesson and reach your goals. His teaching techniques and strategies are based on his years of coaching and experience. If you want an English motivator, Curtis is the ideal teacher for you.
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Lidia is an experienced and professional teacher for Italian. With her nicely self-designed teaching material, she covers all the linguistic competencies such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. Also, she includes modern teaching techniques such as games and proposes interesting movies to watch.
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Very social and helpful teacher with an excellent grasp on how to improve your french in a structured fashion. The informal style is very pleasant and will help you acquire the language in a natural, unforced fashion. The teaching materials and tools used are geared to your level and are a great help in smoothing out the learning curve. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a learn by doing approach with the help of proven teaching tools and documents.
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1 French accents (a, e, o, u, i) | French pronunciation from A to Z! |