Basic French Pronunciation Flashcards
This deck provides a glimpse into the basic rules that govern pronunciation in French.
Pronounce:
ami
Note that “a” is pronounced like the British “A” in “father” [a].
Pronounce:
je
Note that the unaccented “e” is pronounced like “uh”, or the “A” in “Again” [ə].
Pronounce:
étudiant
Note that “é” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].
Pronounce:
arriver
Note that “-er” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].
Pronounce:
vous avez
Note that “-ez” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].
Pronounce:
très
Note that “è” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
être
Note that “ê” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
maison
Note that “ai” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
treize
Note that “ei” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
et
Note that “-et” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
elle
Note that “e” + 2 consonants is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].
Pronounce:
merci
Note that “i” is pronounced like the “EE” in “bee” [i].
Pronounce:
y
Note that “y” is pronounced like the “EE” in “bee” [i].
Pronounce:
fort
Note that “o” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].
Pronounce:
au revoir
Note that “au” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].
Pronounce:
beau
Note that “eau” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].
Pronounce:
salut
Note that “u” is pronounced like the “EW” in “dew” [y].
Pronounce:
avoir
Note that “oi” is pronounced like the “WA” in “wasp” [wa].
Pronounce:
loyal
Note that “oy” is pronounced like “why” [waj].
Pronounce:
vous
Note that “ou” is pronounced like the “OO” in “boot” [u].
Pronounce:
jeune
Note that “eu” is pronounced like the “I” in “bird” [œ].
Pronounce:
œuf
Note that “œu” is pronounced like the “I” in “bird” [œ].
Pronounce:
naïf
Note that “aï” is pronounced like the “I” in “like” [ai].
Pronounce:
égoïste
Note that “oï” is pronounced like the “OY” in “boy” [oi].
Pronounce:
tu
Note that “t” is pronounced like the “T” in “toy” [t].
Pronounce:
athlétique
Note that “th” is pronounced like the “T” in “toy” [t].
Pronounce:
sportif
Note that “f” is pronounced like the “F” in “fun” [f].
Pronounce:
philosophie
Note that “ph” is pronounced like the “F” in “fun” [f].
Pronounce:
joli
Note that “j” is pronounced like the “S” in “pleasure” [ʒ].
Pronounce:
intelligent
Note that “g” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “S” in “pleasure” [ʒ].
Pronounce:
garçon
Note that “g” + “a”, “o” or “u” is pronounced like the “G” in “go” [g].
Pronounce:
guitare
Note that “gu” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “G” in “go” [g].
Pronounce:
sucre
Note that “s-“ is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].
Pronounce:
classe
Note that “-ss-“ is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].
Pronounce:
c’est
Note that “c” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].
Pronounce:
ça
Note that “ç” is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].
Pronounce:
douze
Note that “z” is pronounced like the “Z” in “zebra” [z].
Pronounce:
maison
Note that “s” between two vowels is pronounced like the “Z” in “zebra” [z].
Pronounce:
comment
Note that “c” + “a”, “o” or “u” is pronounced like the “K” in “kiss” [k].
Pronounce:
magnifique
Note that “qu-“ is pronounced like the “K” in “kiss” [k].
Pronounce:
mignon
Note that “gn” is pronounced like the “NY” in “canyon” [ɲ].
Pronounce:
riche
Note that “ch” is pronounced like the “SH” in “shy” [ʃ].
Pronounce:
brillant
Note that “ill-“ is pronounced like the “Y” in “yawn” [j].
Pronounce:
travail
Note that a vowel + “il” is pronounced like the “Y” in “yawn” [j].
Pronounce:
attirant
Note that “an/am” is pronounced [ɑ̃].
Pronounce:
argent
Note that “en/em” is pronounced [ɑ̃].
Pronounce:
enfin
Note that “in/im” is pronounced [ɛ̃].
Pronounce:
américain
Note that “ain/aim” is pronounced [ɛ̃].
Pronounce:
plein
Note that “ein/eim” is pronounced [ɛ̃].
Pronounce:
humble
Note that “un/um” is pronounced [œ̃].
Pronounce:
bon
Note that “on/om” is pronounced [ɔ̃].
Pronounce:
les six français
When a word ends in an “S”, “X” or “Z”, those letters are never pronounced if the next word begins with a consonant or if the current word is placed at the end of a sentence.
Pronounce:
Vous avez deux beaux enfants
When a word ends in an “S”, “X” or “Z” and the next one starts with a vowel, these normally silent letters are pronounced, but with a [z] sound that leads into the next word.
Pronounce:
le Louvre
When a word with at least 2 syllables ends in “E”, the “E” is practically silent and only serves to bring out the sound of the consonant before it.
Pronounce:
Bonsoir; Bien sûr !
“R” is always pronounced unless a word ends in “-ER”.
Pronounce:
très bien
Even though it ends in “-EN”, “bien” is pronounced with the sound [ε̃].
Pronounce:
les garçons
“Les” is treated as if it ended in “-EZ”, so it gets the sound [e]. This is also true for “mes”, “tes”, “ses” and “des”.
Pronounce:
un bon ami
When a word ends in an “N” and the next one begins with a vowel, the nasal sound is retained in the first word but the full sound of a normal “N” is added to the second word.
Pronounce:
J’aime l’étudiant d’Italie; s’il vous plaît
When “le”, “la”, “je”, “ne”, “me”, “te”, “de”, “se”, and “que” are followed by a word starting with a vowel, the “E” drops and a contraction is made between both words through the addition of an apostrophe. “Si” only does this if the next word begins with an “i”.
Pronounce:
un grand homme
When a word ends with “D” or “T” and the next one starts with a vowel, these normally silent letters make a [t] sound at the start of the second word.
Pronounce:
le jeune enfant et une jolie fille
Even if the next word begins with a vowel, the “T” in “et” is never pronounced.
Pronounce:
Le jeune enfant est une jolie fille
When the word following “est” begins with a vowel, the “T” is always pronounced.
Pronounce:
Elle chante et ils regardent
When the verb following “ils/elles” ends in “-ENT”, the “N” and “T” are never pronounced, almost as if there were just an “E”.
Pronounce:
avec cinq amis d’Irak
If a word ends in “C”, “K” or “Q”, all of which make the [k] sound, those letters are pronounced.
Pronounce:
Il est sportif
If a word ends in “F”, the “F” is pronounced.
Pronounce:
le fauteuil espagnol
If a word ends in “L”, the “L” is pronounced (as in “espagnol”). However, if the “L” is preceded by a vowel + “i”, the “L” is not pronounced (as in “fauteuil”).
Pronounce:
le petit élève
Remember that the letter “E” is capable of producing 3 different sounds – [ə], [e], [ɛ].
Pronounce:
Il est fort et beau; Au revoir
Remember that “O”, “AU” and “EAU” all make the same sound.
Pronounce:
Salut, tu es courageux; Bonjour, vous avez du sucre ?
Remember that “U” is a much sharper and closed sound than “OU”.
