French pronunciation

Vowels

IPA pronunciations in square brackets

a, à, â [a] as in "fat"
e [ə, ε] when followed by a single consonant followed by a vowel, or at the end of word, silent or like a in "sofa"; otherwise like e in "set"
é [e] like ay in "pay" but shorter
è, ê [ε] like e in "set"
i, î [i, j] before a vowel, like y in "yes"; otherwise as in “macaroni”
o, ô as in “so”
u [y, w] before a vowel, like w in "water"; otherwise like i in “sit” but with lips rounded as in English oo
ù, û [y]
ai [ε] like e in "set"
au [o] like English o
eau [o] like English o
ei like e in "set"
eu, oeu [ø, ]like e in "set" but with lips rounded as in English oo
œ like e in set but with lips rounded as in English oo
oi, oî like English wa
ou, où, oû [u] before a vowel, like w in "water"; otherwise as in "soup"
ui [μ]
y [i, j]

Most of the consonants are pronounced as they are in American English (IPA pronunciations in square brackets):

b [b]
c [s, k] before e, i and y like English s, otherwise like English k but not as aspirated
ç [s] like English s and before a, o, u
ch usually like English sh, sometimes k
d [d]
f [f]
g before e, i and y as in “mirage” otherwise as in “go”
gn like ny in “canyon”
gu, gh [g] before e, i and y as in “go”
h is always silent
ill [j] if preceded by vowel, [ij] if not
j like s in "vision"
k [k] not as aspirated as the English k sound
l [l]
m [m] before b and p is silent, but the preceding vowel is nasalized
n [n] before another consonant or the end of the word is silent, but the preceding vowel is nasalized.
p [p] not as aspirated as the English p sound
ph [f] like English (f)
q, qu [k] like English k
r, rh [r] varies among dialects
s [s, z] between vowels like English z, otherwise like English s, like z at end of word if next word begins with a vowel
ss [s]
ssi [sj]
t, th [t] like English t but not as aspirated
ti [sj, tj] before a vowel, like English sy, following s and before a vowel ty as in question
v [v]
w [v] like English v
x at the start of a word, before a consonant or at the end of a word or syllable as in “express”
x between vowels as in “example”
x at the end of numbers like English s
z [z]

The final syllable of a single word in French is always stressed. When a phrase is spoken, stress falls on the last syllable of the entire phrase.

Usually only the consonants b, c, f, k, l, q and r (if not a verb) are pronounced at the end of words. As b, k and q are rare final letters, you can remember to be CaReFuL to pronounce the common final letters. Most consonants are pronounced at the end of a word if the next word starts with a vowel.
If a word is a verb (i.e. it has a subject like "ils" or "elles"), and it ends in "-ent," then the final "-ent" is completely silent. This rule does not apply in some parts of Québec and North America.
The dieresis ( ¨ ) commonly and erroneously called "umlaut" (le tréma in French), marks a vowel that is pronounced separately from a preceding vowel.
The French r is very different than the American or British English r. The tip of the tongue should be low and the back of the tongue should be high. This results in a sound like you are trying to clear your throat (only softer). There is a different, perhaps older, r sound used in some parts of southern France and in Québec made by tapping the tongue on the alveolar ridge.

Categories: French language | Canadian French