Vowels and consonants

1 Vowels

1.1 French vowels sounds

1.2 Diphthongs

The vowels in French are all made up of one sound, unlike those in English which can be made up of two sounds e.g. fire (these are called diphthongs). As such, some vowel sounds which at first sight seem to be the same are in fact slightly different. For example the vowel [e] as in crée contains one vowel sound whereas the English play [eɪ] contains two vowels sounds, [e] as in bet and [ɪ] as in sit.

1.3 Sounds involving u

Among the most difficult sounds for many English-speaking learners of French are sounds involving u. The vowel [u] (as in tout) is similar (although not the identical) to the English [u:] (as in to). By contrast, the French vowel [y] (as in du, dessus) has no near equivalent in English. Failure to use the correct u sound can create a wrong meaning (as with dessus / dessous) or else inhibit communication.

1.4 Vowel + r

As with certain forms of English, such as Scottish or Irish English, in French the r is always pronounced, even when it comes at the end of a syllable (as in finir) or the middle of a syllable (as in confirmation) or where it preceeds a silent letter coming at the end of a word (as in pure, mort). An exception to this is –er coming at the end of a word, which is usually pronounced [e].

This contrasts with Southern British forms of English, where an r coming at the end of a syllable is usually not pronounced (as in fair, tour) unless followed by a syllable beginning with a vowel (as in sharing).

Note that unlike the English r, which is pronounced from the front of the mouth using the tongue, the French r is pronounced from the top of the mouth (a little like the Scottish –ch sound in loch, but softer).

1.5 Nasals

1.5.1  Definition

All English vowels, and the majority of French vowels are “open” vowels, that is to say they are pronounced through the mouth which remains open during pronunciation. Unlike English, French also has a certain number of nasal vowels:

• [ɛ̃] as in plein
• [ɑ̃] as in quand
• [œ̃] as in un
• [ɔ̃] as in bon

These are produced by allowing air to pass through the nose as well as the mouth during pronunciation. Nasal vowels occur where a vowel is followed by n or m, although these consonants are not pronounced.

1.5.2  Nasal vowels pronounced

Nasal vowels are pronounced where:

•  The next syllable is introduced by a new consonant: campagne  
•  It constitutes the final syllable of a word: violon, parfum, voisin

1.5.3  Nasal vowels not pronounced

Nasal vowels are not pronounced where:  

•  The next syllable is introduced by a vowel: vinaigre, inutile  
•  The n or m is doubled: innocent, emmener  
•  The vowel + n / m is followed by e: cousine, voisine

2 Consonants

2.1 General

Consonants in French are broadly the same as in English, but there are a number of differences which are presented in this section. The consonants s, t, d, x, z, p are generally silent when ending a final consonant, except where there is liaison – see unit 7 section 3.

2.2 The letter r

As mentioned in 1.3 above, the French r - [R] - is pronounced from the top of the mouth, like a softer version of the Scottish –ch sound in loch.

2.3 The consonants gn and ng

2.3.1 The consonant gn

The consonant gn is generally pronounced [ɲ], which is like the English n sound followed by an y:

2.3.2 The consonant ng

The consonant ng is generally pronounced [ŋ], which is like the English ing sound, and is generally used for English or quasi-English loan words:

2.4 The consonants j, g and ch

2.4.1 The consonants j and soft g

The [ʒ] sound, used in words like jolie or nager, is softer than the English j sound (as in journey or general).

2.4.2 The consonant ch

Similarly the [ʃ] sound used in chercher, is softer than ch is in English (it is in fact identical to the English sh which does not exist in French).

2.5 The letter c

2.5.1 Before consonant or certain vowels

This is pronounced [k] before a consonant or before a, o or u:

2.5.2 Before e and i

It is pronounced [s] before e and i:

2.5.3 Words ending -ect

In words ending -ect the c is usually silent:

2.6 The letter g

As with the letter c, g is hard [g] before a, o or u:

It is pronounced [ʒ] before e and i:

2.7 The letter l

2.7.1 Used at beginning or in middle of word

The letter l is pronounced [l] as in English when it is used at the beginning or in the middle of a word:

2.7.2 Used at end of word

The letter l is usually pronounced like an English y - [j] - at the end of a word after i:

But it is pronounced [l] after a and e:

2.7.3 After multiple vowels

After multiple vowels, l and lle are pronounced [j]:

2.8 The consonants ll

2.8.1  After multiple vowels

As with the letter l, the consonant lle is pronounced [j] after multiple vowels:

2.8.2  The group ille or illa

In the group ille or illa, the ll is usually pronounced [j]:

There are a number of exceptions where it is pronounced [l] :

2.8.3  The group illi

In the group illi, the ll is pronounced [l]:

2.9The consonant ps

In words beginning ps, such as psychologie, both the p and the s are pronounced.

2.10 The letter s

Final –s is silent at the end of most of the following types of word:

2.11 The letter t

Final –t is silent in most verb forms:

Final –t is also silent in most other words ending vowel + t or vowel + nt:

Exceptions to this include:

2.12 The letter d

Final –d is silent in most words:

Exceptions to this include:

2.13 The letter x

Final –x is silent in most words ending -aux, -eaux, -eux, -oux:

The letter x is silent in six and dix where these are followed by a consonant (as in dix jours), but pronounced [z] where they are followed by a noun (as in dix ans).

Where six and dix are used on their own, x is pronounced [s].