Vowels
In French, vowel sounds are represented by a variety
of written forms.
Written as
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Example
|
Sound clip
|
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a, à, ha-
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café, papa
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â, as
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âge, gâteau
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e
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le, demi
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eu, œu-, heu-, œ
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coiffeur, acteur
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eu, eux
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deux, bleu
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é, ée, hé, er, es,
ez, et
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été,
allé
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ê, è, e,, ai, ais, ait, ei,
aî, ë, et
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maison, frère
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i, ie, is, î, hi, y, ï
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fille, midi
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o, au, eau, aux, eaux, os, ô, hô
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o, ho, hô
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comme, téléphone
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u, û, hu
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ou, où, oû, oo, hou, oux
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douze, rouge
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Nasal Vowels
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an
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chambre, prendre
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on
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mon, comprendre
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| |
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The following sounds are quite similar so don't
worry if you find it difficult to hear the difference. More and more French
people ignore the distinction.
|
| |
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in
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cinq, main
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un
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brun, lundi
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Semi-vowels
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i, y,il, ill
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ciel, yaourt
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oi, oî, ou
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bonsoir, oui
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ui, hui
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nuit, huit
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Consonants
Most consonants are pronounced as in English. The exceptions are:
Written as
|
Example
|
Sound clip
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h (not pronounced)
|
un hotel, un haricot
|
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r, rr, rh
|
trois, rouge
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c, qu, q, cc, k, ck
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acteur, coiffeuse
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c +e/i, ç
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cent, ici, garçon
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g, gu, gg
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gare, grand
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g+e/i
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gentil, région
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v, w
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vacances, wagon
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w in foreign words
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web
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ch, sh
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chaussure
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th
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théâtre
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gn
|
agneau
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Alphabet
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Sound clip
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ABC
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DEF
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GHI
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JKL
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MNO
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PQR |
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STU |
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VW |
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XYZ |
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