Basic French Pronunciation

Question 1

Pronounce:

ami

Answer 1

Note that “a” is pronounced like the British “A” in “father” [a].

Question 2

Pronounce:

je

Answer 2

Note that the unaccented “e” is pronounced like “uh”, or the “A” in “again” [ə].

Question 3

Pronounce:

étudiant

Answer 3

Note that “é” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].

Question 4

Pronounce:

arriver

Answer 4

Note that “-er” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].

Question 5

Pronounce:

vous avez

Answer 5

Note that “-ez” is pronounced like the “A” in “play” [e].

Question 6

Pronounce:

très

Answer 6

Note that “è” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 7

Pronounce:

être

Answer 7

Note that “ê” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 8

Pronounce:

maison

Answer 8

Note that “ai” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 9

Pronounce:

treize

Answer 9

Note that “ei” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 10

Pronounce:

et

Answer 10

Note that “-et” is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 11

Pronounce:

elle

Answer 11

Note that “e” + 2 consonants is pronounced like the “E” in “best” [ɛ].

Question 12

Pronounce:

merci

Answer 12

Note that “i” is pronounced like the “EE” in “bee” [i].

Question 13

Pronounce:

y

Answer 13

Note that “y” is pronounced like the “EE” in “bee” [i].

Question 14

Pronounce:

fort

Answer 14

Note that “o” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].

Question 15

Pronounce:

au revoir

Answer 15

Note that “au” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].

Question 16

Pronounce:

beau

Answer 16

Note that “eau” is pronounced like the “O” in “old” [o].

Question 17

Pronounce:

salut

Answer 17

Note that “u” is pronounced like the “EW” in “dew” [y].

Question 18

Pronounce:

avoir

Answer 18

Note that “oi” is pronounced like the “WA” in “wasp” [wa].

Question 19

Pronounce:

loyal

Answer 19

Note that “oy” is pronounced like “why” [waj].

Question 20

Pronounce:

vous

Answer 20

Note that “ou” is pronounced like the “OO” in “boot” [u].

Question 21

Pronounce:

jeune

Answer 21

Note that “eu” is pronounced like the “I” in “bird” [œ].

Question 22

Pronounce:

œuf

Answer 22

Note that “œu” is pronounced like the “I” in “bird” [œ].

Question 23

Pronounce:

naïf

Answer 23

Note that “aï” is pronounced like the “I” in “like” [ai].

Question 24

Pronounce:

égoïste

Answer 24

Note that “oï” is pronounced like the “OY” in “boy” [oi].

Question 25

Pronounce:

tu

Answer 25

Note that “t” is pronounced like the “T” in “toy” [t].

Question 26

Pronounce:

athlétique

Answer 26

Note that “th” is pronounced like the “T” in “toy” [t].

Question 27

Pronounce:

sportif

Answer 27

Note that “f” is pronounced like the “F” in “fun” [f].

Question 28

Pronounce:

philosophie

Answer 28

Note that “ph” is pronounced like the “F” in “fun” [f].

Question 29

Pronounce:

joli

Answer 29

Note that “j” is pronounced like the “S” in “pleasure” [ʒ].

Question 30

Pronounce:

intelligent

Answer 30

Note that “g” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “S” in “pleasure” [ʒ].

Question 31

Pronounce:

garçon

Answer 31

Note that “g” + “a”, “o” or “u” is pronounced like the “G” in “go” [g].

Question 32

Pronounce:

guitare

Answer 32

Note that “gu” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “G” in “go” [g].

Question 33

Pronounce:

sucre

Answer 33

Note that “s-“ is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].

Question 34

Pronounce:

classe

Answer 34

Note that “-ss-“ is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].

Question 35

Pronounce:

c’est

Answer 35

Note that “c” + “e” or “i” is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].

Question 36

Pronounce:

ça

Answer 36

Note that “ç” is pronounced like the “S” in “sand” [s].

Question 37

Pronounce:

douze

Answer 37

Note that “z” is pronounced like the “Z” in “zebra” [z].

Question 38

Pronounce:

maison

Answer 38

Note that “s” between two vowels is pronounced like the “Z” in “zebra” [z].

Question 39

Pronounce:

comment

Answer 39

Note that “c” + “a”, “o” or “u” is pronounced like the “K” in “kiss” [k].

Question 40

Pronounce:

magnifique

Answer 40

Note that “qu-“ is pronounced like the “K” in “kiss” [k].

Question 41

Pronounce:

mignon

Answer 41

Note that “gn” is pronounced like the “NY” in “canyon” [ɲ].

Question 42

Pronounce:

riche

Answer 42

Note that “ch” is pronounced like the “SH” in “shy” [ʃ].

Question 43

Pronounce:

brillant

Answer 43

Note that “ill-“ is pronounced like the “Y” in “yawn” [j].

Question 44

Pronounce:

travail

Answer 44

Note that a vowel + “il” is pronounced like the “Y” in “yawn” [j].

Question 45

Pronounce:

attirant

Answer 45

Note that “an/am” is pronounced [ɑ̃].

Question 46

Pronounce:

argent

Answer 46

Note that “en/em” is pronounced [ɑ̃].

Question 47

Pronounce:

enfin

Answer 47

Note that “in/im” is pronounced [ɛ̃].

Question 48

Pronounce:

américain

Answer 48

Note that “ain/aim” is pronounced [ɛ̃].

Question 49

Pronounce:

plein

Answer 49

Note that “ein/eim” is pronounced [ɛ̃].

Question 50

Pronounce:

humble

Answer 50

Note that “un/um” is pronounced [œ̃].

Question 51

Pronounce:

bon

Answer 51

Note that “on/om” is pronounced [ɔ̃].

Question 52

Pronounce:

les six français

Answer 52

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.

Question 53

Pronounce:

Vous avez deux beaux enfants

Answer 53

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.

Question 54

Pronounce:

le Louvre

Answer 54

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.

Question 55

Pronounce:

Bonsoir; Bien sûr !

Answer 55

“R” is always pronounced unless a word ends in “-ER”.

Question 56

Pronounce:

très bien

Answer 56

Even though it ends in “-EN”, “bien” is pronounced with the sound [ε̃].

Question 57

Pronounce:

les garçons

Answer 57

“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”.

Question 58

Pronounce:

un bon ami

Answer 58

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.

Question 59

Pronounce:

J’aime l’étudiant d’Italie; s’il vous plaît

Answer 59

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”.

Question 60

Pronounce:

un grand homme

Answer 60

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.

Question 61

Pronounce:

le jeune enfant et une jolie fille

Answer 61

Even if the next word begins with a vowel, the “T” in “et” is never pronounced.

Question 62

Pronounce:

Le jeune enfant est une jolie fille

Answer 62

When the word following “est” begins with a vowel, the “T” is always pronounced.

Question 63

Pronounce:

Elle chante et ils regardent

Answer 63

When the verb following “ils/elles” ends in “-ENT”, the “N” and “T” are never pronounced, almost as if there were just an “E”.

Question 64

Pronounce:

avec cinq amis d’Irak

Answer 64

If a word ends in “C”, “K” or “Q”, all of which make the [k] sound, those letters are pronounced.

Question 65

Pronounce:

Il est sportif

Answer 65

If a word ends in “F”, the “F” is pronounced.

Question 66

Pronounce:

le fauteuil espagnol

Answer 66

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”).

Question 67

Pronounce:

le petit élève

Answer 67

Remember that the letter “E” is capable of producing 3 different sounds – [ə], [e], [ɛ].

Question 68

Pronounce:

Il est fort et beau; Au revoir

Answer 68

Remember that “O”, “AU” and “EAU” all make the same sound.

Question 69

Pronounce:

Salut, tu es courageux; Bonjour, vous avez du sucre ?

Answer 69

Remember that “U” is a much sharper and closed sound than “OU”.