French accents (a, e, o, u, i)
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For English speakers, French pronunciation might be a little bit different and hard. There are quite a lot of similarities between these two languages.
In this lesson you will find a detailed explanation of pronunciation of the vowels with accents and the pronunciation. Once you have mastered these rules you won't have problems neither with spelling nor with pronunciation.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.Pronunciation of French vowels
- 2.The Vowel E
- 2.1.The acute E
- 2.2.The grave E
- 2.3.The umlet E
- 2.4.The circumflex E
- 3.The Vowel A
- 3.1.The grave A
- 3.2.The circumflex A
- 4.The Vowel U
- 4.1.the grave U
- 4.2.The circumflex U
- 4.3.The umlet U
- 5.The Vowel O
- 5.1.The circumflex o
- 6.The Vowel I
- 6.1.The circumflex I
- 6.2.The umlet I
- 7.Exercises
- 7.1.Exercise on special characters of French Alphabet
- 7.2.Matching vowels and consonants
- 7.3.French vowels exercise
1) Pronunciation of French vowels
The French alphabet contains the same vowels as the English alphabet (A, E, I, O, U, Y) except the y, but the sounds of each of these vowels is different than their English counterparts.
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The Vowel E
The French letter E has many different sounds as a closed syllable and as an open syllable, it's not wrong if you don't know how to distinguish these two syllables until you don't do pronunciation errors.
In the alphabet the e is generally pronounced [ə].
Moreover, this letter can take all three accents of the French language: the acute, the grave, the circumflex but also can take the umlet.
The acute E
The acute e (French: l'accent aigu) is written é and is usually the sound [e].
The acute follows some rules: we find a -e with an acute accent when
- this vowel is the first letter or vowel of a word except the words en -ère and -ès that take a grave accent.
- this vowel is the last letter of a word including if the word ends with a plural with -s or a -e mute
- No accent on the vowel -e if it is followed by a final consonant d, f, r or if the letter z ends the word
- It marks the sound with the prefixes dé-, mé-, pré-
- at the end of the word on the past participles of verbs -er to the infinitive and être
| é | Examples |
|---|---|
| First letter of a word | éditeur, électronicien, méchanicien, épreuve |
| Last letter of a word | clé, abonnés, lycée, liberté |
| Final consonant | clef, pied, chanter, nez |
| Prefixes | préféré, député, mélange, désigné |
| Past participle | chanté, parlé, donné, tué, été |
Never put an acute accent on a -e preceding an -x:
- Perplexe (puzzled)
- Sexe (Sex)
Never put an acute accent on a -e preceding a double consonant
- Trompette (Trumpet)
- Buvette (Pump room)
- étiquette (Tag)
The grave E
The grave e (French: l'accent grave) is written è and pronounced [ɛ]. The general rule is to put a grave accent on the e when it is preceded by another letter and also followed by a syllable which includes a silent e. In the opposite case we put an acute accent.
We find a grave e:
- at the end of the word, when this singular word ends with s
- on the letter e placed in front of a group of consonants if the second is l or r
Examples:
| è | Examples |
|---|---|
| singular words ending with s | succès, accès, congrès, excès, exprès, près, progrès |
| in front of group | trèfle, fièvre, lèpre |
the e in one syllable words is pronounced as [ə]; je, me, ce, que, and it also occurs in the first syllable of the word 'Monsieur' and the form of the verb faire: nous faisons [nu fəzõ]
The acute accent on the e indicates a closed sound while the grave accent e indicates an open sound.
The umlet E
The umlet E (French: le e tréma) is written ë and is prounounced [e]. Its usage is very rare and express that the precedent vowel needs to be pronounced separately.
Examples:
- Canoë (Canoe)
- Ambiguë (Ambiguous)
- Exiguë (Exiguous)
The circumflex E
The circumflex accent on the e indicate the disappearance of a letter, usually 's'
Examples:
- Fête (Party)
- Prêt (Loan)
- Forêt (Forest)
- Fenêtre (Window)
The e mute, as a rule, is a e who does not pronounce, we find after a vowel.
- Lycée (High school)
- Bougie (Candle)
- Pluie (Rain)
- Vie (Life)
- Année (Year)
- Joie (Joy)
The Vowel A
In the alphabet the a is generally pronounced [a].
Moreover, this letter can take these accents of the French language: the grave and the circumflex.
The grave A
The grave a is written à and is pronounced [a].
We place a grave accent on:
- à as a preposition and là as an adverb of place to differentiate them from a of the verb "avoir" and la the pronoun or article.
- the adverb çà to differentiate from ça the demonstrative pronoun
- delà, deçà, déjà, voilà
Examples:
- Je vais à Paris. (I am going to Paris)
- Tu seras là quand je reviendrais. (You will be here when I 'll come back)
- Au-delà de mes espérances. (Beyond my expectations)
- Voilà mon amie. (Here is my friend)
The circumflex A
The circumflex a is written â and is written [a]. It used on the a of the suffix -tre marking a depreciation, on words that lost the s.
It indicates a sound more accentuated.
Examples:
- Gâteau (Cake)
- Bellâtre (Fop)
- Grisâtre (Greyish)
- Château (Castle)
There is a circumflex accent in the 1st and 2nd plural persons of the Literary past tense and the 3rd singular person of the imperfect subjunctive of the verbs in -ar.
The Vowel U
In the alphabet the u is generally pronounced [y].
Moreover, this letter can take these accents of the French language: the grave, the circumflex and the umlet.
the grave U
The grave u is written ù and is pronounced like the letter u. This accent is used only with où which can be relative or interrogative pronoun to differentiate it from ou which is a coordinating conjunction used to mark the choice.
Example:
- Où vas tu si tard ? (Where are you going this late ?)
- Alors tu prends le noir ou le blanc ? (So, are you taking the black or white ?)
The circumflex U
the circomflex u is written û and is pronounced like the letter u. It uses a lot of nouns to diiferentate homonyms and make a different sound.
You can also find a circumflex û in adjectives.
Examples:
- Croûte (Crust)
- Mûr (Mature)
- Jeûner (To fast)
- Sûr (Certain)
There is a circumflex accent in the past participle of verbs ending in -oir, -ître.
The umlet U
The umlet u is written ü and is pronounced like the letter u. It has a very rare usage and it is used to underline the fact that the letters has to be pronounced separately.
- Carphanaüm
The Vowel O
The alphabet letter is always pronounced [o].
Moreover, this letter can take the circumflex accent.
The circumflex o
This accent is written ô and is pronounced like the letter o. It uses especially the possessive pronouns in the 1st and 2nd plural persons.
You can also find it in some nouns to make the sound more accentuated. Generally, it is used to make the s disappear.
Examples:
- Le nôtre (Ours)
- Le vôtre (Yours)
- Une côte (A coast)
- Icône (Icon)
- Hôpital (Hospital)
The Vowel I
The letter i is pronounced as [i] so as the letter y . This sound is similiar to the vowel of English be
Moreover, this letter can take the circumflex accent and the umlet I.
The circumflex I
The circumflex i is written î and is pronounced like the letter i. It uses some nouns to accentuate the sound.
We can also find it on the i of the verbs in aître or oître as well as the verb plaire (to please) when the i is followed by t.
Examples:
- Il connaît cet enfant. (He recognizes the child)
- Il croît à ses histoires. (He believes these stories)
- Il me plaît beaucoup. (I do like him)
Generally it has the same usage as the vowels a, e, o, u
- Belître (Rascal)
- Huître (Oyster)
- Epître (Epistle)
- Gîte (Covert)
The umlet I
The umlet I is written ï and is pronounced like the letter I. It prohibits to pronounce two letters in one sound but separate them into two sounds. There are many French words that use the ï
Haïr (to hate) is the only French verbs that keeps the umlet in all tenses and personal pronouns except in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd singular pronouns of the present tense and 2nd singular person of the present imperative.
Examples:
- Je hais ce cadeau. (I hate this gift)
- Egoïsme (Selfish)
- Naïf (Naive)
- Maïs (Corn)
Exercises
- Exercise on special characters of French Alphabet
- Matching vowels and consonants
- French vowels exercise
Exercise on special characters of French Alphabet
Solution
How is pronounced C with cedille mark (ç) in la façade?
s
How is pronouced the letter L in oeil?
j
What group of final consonants is often pronounced?
c, r, f, l
On which vowel can appear accent aigu?
on both a and e
How the letters OI are pronounced?
wa
Which letter combination has two ways of pronunciation?
ch
Which consonant is silent in French?
h
Matching vowels and consonants
French vowels exercise
Solution
o
beau
[ɛ̃]
vin
[ã]
dent
[õ]
mon
[u]
toujours
[y]
rue
[ø]
adieu
[e]
nez
[ə]
ce
[ɛ]
forêt
Exercises
- Exercise on special characters of French Alphabet
- Matching vowels and consonants
- French vowels exercise
Exercise on special characters of French Alphabet
Solution
How is pronounced C with cedille mark (ç) in la façade?
s
How is pronouced the letter L in oeil?
j
What group of final consonants is often pronounced?
c, r, f, l
On which vowel can appear accent aigu?
on both a and e
How the letters OI are pronounced?
wa
Which letter combination has two ways of pronunciation?
ch
Which consonant is silent in French?
h
Matching vowels and consonants
French vowels exercise
Solution
o
beau
[ɛ̃]
vin
[ã]
dent
[õ]
mon
[u]
toujours
[y]
rue
[ø]
adieu
[e]
nez
[ə]
ce
[ɛ]
forêt
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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.
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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.
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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.
N. D.
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!
Krisztina L.
Italian second language teacher
G. P.
Alessandra is a teacher of Italian, history and geography. She teaches in Milan as a substitute teacher. She participated in the Dante Alighieri teaching course in Milan and has Ditals level 1 certification. Her teaching method is based on the level of the student. Her motto is: teaching in a creative way. She uses the Dieci Alma edition to teach.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Alessandra B.
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!
S. B.
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.
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!
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!
L. T.
Very modern. At the same time, we process texts via a file. The lessons were adapted to my needs and are very effective and recommendable!
We worked with Lida to perfect her French. She is at a very advanced level and we study specific vocabulary for her work. She is a very dedicated student and I see her speaking French better and better. Lida, keep up the good work!