French Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers
This comprehensive guide is tailored specifically for English-speaking learners aiming to gain proficiency in French pronunciation. It delves into the intricacies of French vowels, consonants, and distinctive pronunciation nuances, offering valuable insights and practice exercises.
Start the course in 50 lessons.
The French Vowels: A Guide for English Speakers
Simple Vowels
| Vowel | Description | French Example | English Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | Like “ah” in “father” | chat | cat | shah |
| sac | bag | sack | ||
| là | there | lah | ||
| e | Often silent at the end; like “uh” in “sofa” at the start/middle | le | the | luh |
| in the start/middle | merci | thank you | mair-see | |
| femme | woman | fahm | ||
| i | Like “ee” in “see” | si | if | see |
| livre | book | leevr | ||
| midi | noon | mee-dee | ||
| o | Like “o” in “no” | eau | water | oh |
| moto | motorcycle | moh-toh | ||
| zoo | zoo | zoh | ||
| u | Unique in French; form an “o” shape with your lips and try saying “ee” | lune | moon | loon |
| du | some | doo | ||
| mur | wall | moor |
Compound Vowels
| Vowel Combination | Description | French Example | English Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ai/ei | Like “ay” in “say” | j’ai | I have | zhay |
| peinture | painting | pan-tewr | ||
| reine | queen | ren | ||
| ou | Like “oo” in “food” | vous | you | voo |
| clou | nail | kloo | ||
| fou | crazy | foo | ||
| eu/oeu | Unique in French; “eu” as in “peur” [puhr], “oeu” as in “sœur” [sur] | peur | fear | puhr |
| feu | fire | fuh | ||
| sœur | sister | sur |
Nasal Vowels
| Vowel Combination | Description | French Example | English Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| an/en/am/em | Like “ah” in “father” but nasal | enfant | child | ahn-fahn |
| temps | time | tahn | ||
| champ | field | shahn | ||
| in/im | Like “ahn” in “croissant” but nasal | impossible | impossible | ahn-po-see-bluh |
| important | important | ahn-por-tahn | ||
| symphonie | symphony | san-fo-nee |
The French Consonants: A Guide for English Speakers
Simple Consonants
| Consonant | Description | French Example | English Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b, d, f, k, l, m, n, p, t, v, z | Generally similar to English pronunciation | table | table | tah-bluh |
| drôle | funny | drohl | ||
| frère | brother | frehr | ||
| g | Hard as in “go” or soft as in “giraffe” | gâteau | cake | ga-toh |
| j | Like “s” in “measure” | jour | day | zhoo-r |
| r | Guttural, like in the back of the throat | restaurant | restaurant | reh-staw-rahn |
| s | Like “s” in “sun” or “z” between vowels | soleil | sun | soh-leh |
| h | Always silent in French | homme | man | ohm |
| Special Cases | chat | cat | shah | |
| c | Hard like in “cat” or soft like in “city” | cœur | heart | kuhr |
| g | Hard as in “go” or soft as in “giraffe” | girafe | giraffe | zhee-raf |
French pronunciation : Liaisons and Linking
The liaison involves pronouncing a normally silent final consonant at the start of the following word if it begins with a vowel or a silent ‘h’.
Example: “les amis” (lay-zah-mee)
Conclusion
This introduction to French pronunciation is intended to establish a solid foundation for English-speaking learners. Regular practice, careful listening, and mimicking native speakers are crucial for mastering French pronunciation.
