BASIC FRENCH PRONUNCIATION

French uses an alphabet similar to our own. Many of the letters are pronounced the same, but some are different. The following is a brief list of some of the major differences.

Consonants

1. 'C', 'R', 'F', and 'L', with the exception of some words, are usually the only consonants you pronounce at the end of a word in French. The same consonants as in the English word CAREFUL!

2. 'Ç' is always pronounced like 'ss' in the English word 'mess'. It only appears in French before the letters 'a', 'o', and 'u'.

3. 'G' is pronounced like 's' in the English words 'measure' and 'treasure' before the letters 'e' and 'i'. When it comes before 'a', 'o', or 'u', it sounds like 'g' in the English word 'grape'.

4. 'H' by itself is always silent.

5. 'J' is always pronounced like 's' in the English words 'measure' and 'treasure'.

6. 'X' at the end of a few words is pronounced like 's' in the English word 'set'. Sometimes it is pronounced like 'gs' in the English words 'eggs' or like 'z' in the English word 'zip' when it comes in the middle of a word.

Consonant combinations

1. 'Ch' is usually pronounced like 'sh' in the English word 'shoe'.

2. 'Gn' is pronounced like 'ny' in the English word 'canyon'.

3. 'Ll' is sometimes pronounced like 'y' in the English word 'yellow.'

4. 'Th' is always pronounced like 't' in the English word 'mat'.

Vowels

1. 'É' is pronounced like 'ay' in the English words 'gray', 'tray', and 'play'.

2. 'I' by itself is usually pronounced like 'ee' in the English words 'see', 'seem' and 'knee'.

Vowel combinations

1. 'AU' is pronounced like 'ow' in the English words 'know' and 'tow'.

2. 'EAU' is pronounced like 'au' in French (see above).

3. 'EU' is pronounced similar to 'oo' in the English words 'book' and 'took', but you must make your lips tighter in French.

4. 'OEU' is pronounced like 'eu' in French (see above).

5. 'OU' is pronounced like 'oo' in the English words 'soon', 'moon', and 'noon'.

Vowel and consonant combinations

1. 'Er' at the end of words is usually pronounced like 'ay' in the English words 'say' and 'stay'.

2. 'Que' and 'Qui' are always pronounced like 'ke' and 'ki' in the English words 'kernel' and 'kiln'.