Basic French Pronunciation Principals Flashcards

Question

E before two consonants = ? Ex: celle

Answer 1

e (before two consonants) = ai (fair sounds) [3 backwards] (celle, la Terre, une selle, le reste, un verbe, une veste)

Answer 2

-ais = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (un français, mais)

Answer 3

-ait = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (de lait, un fait)

Answer 4

-aient = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (ils seraient)

Answer 5

ei = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (une reine, la neige)

Answer 6

-et = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (un bracelet, un alphabet)

Answer 7

-ai- = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (la laine, faire, un balai, le délai, vrai, j’aime, une semaine, une fraise, une aile, une paire)

Answer 8

Exceptions: ai = [e (upside down like uh) ex: je faisais, nous faisions, ils faisaient

Answer 9

Es + est = ai [3 backwards] (es, est)

Answer 10

Es (in small words) = ai (fair sound) [3 backwards] (des, les, ces)

Answer 11

-Ey = ai [3 backwards] (un poney)

Answer 12

-ect = ai [3 backwards] (un suspect, le respect, un aspect)

Answer 13

Middle nasal = an = [ã] An ex: le sand, tant, changer, un an = Middle nasal = an = [ã] En ex: lent, les enfants, le ventre = Middle nasal = an = [ã] Am ex: un champ, un jambon, un tambour = Middle nasal = an = [ã] Em ex: le temps, la remplir, novembre = Middle nasal = an = [ã] —-

Answer 14

lowest nasal = on = [backwards c with a ~ on top] om is like on when before pronounced b or p (computer, un nom, un zombie) ex: bondé, conquérir, un don (a gift), fonder, une gondole, une jonquille, longue, monter, un canon, un pont (bridge), un biberon, songer, un tonton (uncle), nous bravons (we brave), nous bronzons (we tan)

Answer 15

Top nasal = IN - IM - AIN - EIN - AIM - YN - YM = [ 3 backwards with ~] IN = le jardin, le singe = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal AIN = un pain, une main, demain = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal IM = simple, impossible, le timbre = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal EIN = une peinture, un frein, un sein = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal AIM = la faim, un daim = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal YN = un lynx, un larynx = [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal EN(an exception) = un examen [3 backwards with ~] = Top nasal

Answer 16

UN = [œ - with ~ at the top] = the same as IN but south of Paris it has some of a e sound in it] Chacun, Brun, Un UM - [œ - with ~ at the top] = the same as IN but south of Paris it has some of a e sound in it] Humble, le parfum

Answer 17

IEN = [j3 (backwards with ~) = I + IN ex: un bien, un musicien, un chien, mien, rien, un comédien

Answer 18

OIN = [wē] = W+IN Ex: moin, un soin, loin, rejoindre, un shampoing, un besoin, un joint, un coin, une point, du foin)

Answer 19

NASAL VOWELS DISAPPEAR WHEN FOLLOWED BY A VOWEL or H: Ex: le parfum -> parfumer, un jardin -> jardiner, bon -> bonne, un nom -> nommer, un bon homme

Answer 20

E —> a Une femme, évidemment, prudemment -> e = [a]

Answer 21

MUTE E IN WORDS: Un biberon, Une boulangerie, Allemagne, Rapidement, Lentement, Un rangement, un bracelet, un passeport, une enveloppe, une promenade, nous nageons

Answer 22

open/closed eu + œe -> eu + vowel or last letter of the word = open =[ø] ex: je jeux, bleu eu + consonant = closed = [œ] ex: un meuble, un tracteur Note: different then ou which is more an ooooooo this is more o. Like “the letter o”

Answer 23

Y before consonant = [i] ex: un cycle, un hymne

Answer 24

[j] = y in yes, rolling i I before vowel = [j] ex: dieu, bien

Answer 25

[j] = y between two vowels ex: royal, joyeux

Answer 26

Un yacht = no liaison

Answer 27

Au = [o] (open o) ex: une pause, la sauce, aucun Eau = [o] (open o) ex: un gâteau, un château, beau

Answer 28

OI = [wa] ex: voir, le roi, boire, un doigt (finger), la joie (once)

Answer 29

U = [y] = û (more of an uuuuu sound than [u] which is more of an oooo sound) ex: une chute, une flûte, la lutte, une bûche Ou = où = [u] (more of an oooo sound than [y] which is more of a uuuu sound) Bu, la boue, Un cul, le cou, Du, doux, Je jure, le jour, Du jus, la joue, Lu, le loup, Le pull, une poule, Pur, pour, La rue, la roue, Dessus, dessous, Tu, tout, Vu, vous

Answer 30

U after g and q = Don’t pronounce u after g and q = la langue, longue, une queue, un quart

Answer 31

Ou before a vowel = w [w] = oui, un jouet, l’ouest

Answer 32

ui = wi [upside down h] ex: une nuit, fuir, une buisson, a cuisson, enduite, fuir, juillet, luire, puis, je suis

Answer 33

IL = ILLE = [ij] = rolling i ex: la famille, la vanille, une chenille, mille, la ville, tranquille, une fille, une quille, une grille, les papilles, un gorille

Answer 34

AIL = AILLE = [aj] = a + yyyyyyu AIL = [aj] = a + yyyyyyu ex: un éventail, un épouvantail, de l’ail, un détail AILLE = [aj] = a + yyyyyyu ex: travailler, une paille, une mailler, de la volaille, une bataille,une entaille

Answer 35

EIL = EILLE = AY = [backwards 3 like ay + [j]/rolling I] EIL = [backwards 3 like ay + [j]/rolling I] Ex: l’eveil, le soleil, pareil, le réveil, le sommeil, un conseil EILLE = [backwards 3 like ay + [j]/rolling I] Ex: une groseille, une bouteille, une merveille, une oreille AY = [backwards 3 like ay + [j]/rolling I] Ex: essayer, payer, Mayer, égayer, balayer, effrayer

Answer 36

OUILLE = [uj] = oooo + rolling I ex: une grenouille, les nouilles, la fouille, une ratatouille, une gargouille, douillet, verrouiller, la rouille, mouiller, une dépouille

Answer 37

UEIL (after c and g) = UEILLE (after c and g) = œIL = EUIL = EUILLE = [ŒJ] = uh + rolling i eu + vowel or last letter of the word = open =[ø] ex: je jeux, bleu eu + consonant = closed = [œ] ex: un meuble, un tracteur ex: la seuil, la fauteuil, une feuille, un portefeuille, l’accueil, u, un cercueil, l’orgueil, cueillir

Answer 38

B pronounced: ex: le club, le toubib, snob Otherwise it’s silent

Answer 39

[g] = hard g -> before r and l ex: grave, grand, un gland AND a. o. u. Ex: un gâteau, un gorille, une bague (u not pronounced but makes the g hard) -Gg- + -ing = [g] -> when it’s a foreign word ex: un legging, le jogging [3] = soft g (lip placement changes depending on the sound after) before e or I ex: un nuage, le gîte, changer -gg- = une suggestion - sug-zzestion - su[g]-[3]estion

Answer 40

G not pronounced: -g ex: le sang, le rang -gt ex: le doigt

Answer 41

EGGS Un œuf -> des œufs -> don’t pronounce fs in plural and it’s an o open sound

Answer 42

BEEF Un bœuf -> des bœufs -> don’t pronounce fs in plural and it’s an o open sound

Answer 43

EYES Un œil [œj] -> des yeux = [jø]

Answer 44

BONE Un os -> des os

Answer 45

Plus -> when pronounce s and when don’t? -> pronounce s with “more” -> don’t pronounce s when mean “not anymore”

Answer 46

Tous -> when pronounce s and when don’t? -> pronounce s with people Tous etudiants -> don’t pronounce s with objects tous cuilleres

Answer 47

Vingt - can pronounce t or not but we never pronounce g

Answer 48

-bs- = [ps] Absolument = -bs- = [ps] Absent = -bs- = [ps]

Answer 49

SPECIAL CASES -aon -> Middle nasal = an = [ã] un faon = -aon -> Middle nasal = an = [ã] Un taon = -aon -> Middle nasal = an = [ã] Un paon = -aon -> Middle nasal = an = [ã]

Answer 50

-c- = [g] Une seconde -> segond/e

Answer 51

-en [e with ~ on top] - top nasal Un examen = -en [e with ~ on top] - top nasal

Answer 52

A i = [e] eh not ay Aimer - ay-meh But conjugated it’s the exception J’aime -> j’ehme Tu aimes -> tu ehme Il/elle aime -> il/elle ehme

Answer 53

-mn- = [n] L’automne -mn- = [n] Condamner -mn- = [n]

Answer 54

-pt = [t] p not pronounced Sept = -pt =[t] p not pronounced Compter = -pt = [t] p not pronounced Un comptable =-pt = [t] p not pronounced

Answer 55

—s = [s] pronounced a lot with nouns ending in -us and -is Un ours = [s] pronounced Un virus = [s] pronounced Un tournevis = [s] pronounced Un utérus = [s] pronounced Un pénis = [s] pronounced Le tennis = [s] pronounced Un fils = [s] pronounced (l not pronounced) Un rhinocéros = [s] pronounced Du couscous = [s] pronounced

Answer 56

-on- = [upside down e/uh] Ex: monsieur -> muh-si-u (open) + r is not pronounced An exception to the nasa vowel “on”

Answer 57

faire - to do -ai- = [upside down e/uh] (Past tense) Nous faisons -> feh-zon Je faisais -> feh - zay Tu Faisais -> feh - zay Elle/Il faisait -> feh - zay Vous faisiez -> feh-zi-ay Ils/elles faisaient -> feh-zay

Answer 58

Oi -> un oignon - like o [backwards c/closed o] instead of the usual oi = wa

Answer 59

-e- -> [a] -> usually when e followed by mm Innocemment -> c = s b/c of e after, e = [a] Intelligemment -> e = [a] Violemment -> e = [a]

Answer 60

X— = [gz] ex: Xavier -> gzavier, un xylophone -> un gzylophone X before vowel = [gz] ex: un exemple X before consonant = [ks] ex: un texte X in numbers = [z] ex: deuxième (second), dixième (ordinal numbers it comes up a lot) X in short words = [s] ex: dix, six

Answer 61

Liaisons with a d ending = [t] Ex” un grand arbe = un gran tarbe

Answer 62

LAISON RULES Liaisons with s, x, z endings = [z] n + vowel = N ex: mon avis, ton état, son orange f + vowel = v ex: neuf ans q + vowel = k ex: cinq ans r + vowel = r ex: premier enfant

Answer 63

W = [v] ex: un wagon

Answer 64

-tien- = [s ien] ex: un patient, la patience (c is also s)

Answer 65

-tion = [s ion] Ex: attention, une récréation, une action

Answer 66

-t = usually silent (ex: tout) but in small words usually pronounced Ex: mat, net, un but (a goal)

Answer 67

Th = [t] (h not pronounced)

Answer 68

s between two vowels = [z] ex: une maison une télévision, une chaise

Answer 69

sc- = [sk] ex: un scandale, un score, un scorpion

Answer 70

Exception -> z like a [s] les aztèques

Answer 71

-sc- = [s] ex: descendre -> sc = [s] also: une piscine, un ascenseur

Answer 72

usually don’t pronounce s at the end of words. Exceptions: un ours - a bear un sens - a sense un virus - a virus

Answer 73

P = [p] 1) English words we pronounce p at end: top, stop, le rap (rap) 2) -pt- = p + t ex: un symptôme, somptueux, dompter 3) Not pronounced at the end of words otherwise: Ex: trop, un drap, un camp 4) -mpt- = p not pronounced in these words: compter, un acompte, un comptable

Answer 74

Special cases with -aon Middle nasal = an = [ã] ex: un faon (fawn), un taon (horsefly), un paon (peacock)

Answer 75

C = [k] = hard c -> followed by a, o, u ex: contre, carré, la culture,

Answer 76

_cqu = [k] Ex: acquérir, grecque, acquitter

Answer 77

_ct = [kt] (sometimes) Ex: direct, le tact, exact _ct = silent Ex: le suspect, un aspect, le respect

Answer 78

cc + e.i. [ks] ex: un accent, accélérer, le succès

Answer 79

C = [s] = soft, s-like c -> followed by e., I ex: le ciel, un citron, celle

Answer 80

ç + a, o, u = [s] Ex: un garçon, ça, François

Answer 81

C not pronounced: __ nc ex: blanc __ct ex: le suspect, un aspect, le respect BUT ___ct pronounced [kt]: direct, le tact, exact

Answer 82

C = g in these exceptions: ex: une seconde, le second

Answer 83

Ch + Sch = [~f] (sh) Except: beginning of names: it’s [k] = Chris, Christian, Chrétien

Answer 84

In liaison —> d becomes t ex: un grand arbre -> un gran Tarbre

Answer 85

F = FF = PH = [f] F at the end —> pronounced ex: nerf, veuf exception: - rf ex: un cerf, un nerf

Answer 86

__f -> [V] in liaisons

Answer 87

H = can act as vowel (must) (with le, la, un, une before) or consonant (aspiré) (with le - la - un - une)

Answer 88

H = middle of the word - it’s separating vowels ex: dehors, un véhicule, un souhait)

Answer 89

K = Q = QU = [k] = hard c (c followed by a, o, u) QU = [k] = quand, un quai, quoi, la liqueur, le cirque, chaque, tranquille -q = [k] = cinq, le coq

Answer 90

L = [l] - Exceptions for -ille -> where it’s not a i+y sound, it’s an i+[l]/L sound (only happens 5% of the time, most times it’s the i+y sound) -> une Ville, mille, tranquille

Answer 91

GN + oi = [n] GN + oi = [n] ex: Une baignoire, Un peignoir (pronounced exactly the same except for b and p) GN + anything but oi = [n with a tail on left] = ni (n + rolling I - nnnn ) =un agneau, un compagnon, un champignon NG = usually with American words and pronounced like American with a nasal element

Answer 92

-gt- = [t] longtemps (long time) , vingtième, une vingtaine

Answer 93

UEIL (after c and g) = UEILLE (after c and g) = œIL = EUIL = EUILLE = [ŒJ] = uh + rolling i

Answer 94

Bow—cooooo