French Pronunciation Guide
Master French pronunciation with phonetics, common sounds, and practice techniques.
Before you begin
- None
The walkthrough
Step by step.
Step 1 of 5
French Vowel Sounds
French has more vowel sounds than English. A = "ah", E = "uh", I = "ee", O = "oh", U = "ew" (round lips). Practice: "tu" (you), "rue" (street), "fou" (crazy).
- Record yourself and compare to native speakers
- Exaggerate lip positions while learning
Step 2 of 5
Nasal Vowels
Unique to French. AN/EN = "awn", ON = "on", IN = "an", UN = "un". Examples: "pain" (bread), "bon" (good), "vin" (wine). Air flows through nose and mouth.
- Pinch nose - sound should change if you're doing it right
- Practice with minimal pairs
Step 3 of 5
The French R
Produced in the back of throat (guttural). Like gargling gently. Practice with: "rouge" (red), "Paris", "restaurant". Start with "kh" sound and soften.
- Don't roll the R like in Spanish
- Practice regularly - it gets easier
Step 4 of 5
Silent Letters
Most final consonants are silent: "petit" (small), "chat" (cat). Exceptions: C, R, F, L often pronounced. H is always silent: "hôtel" sounds like "otel".
- Remember CaReFuL for final consonants that sound
- Listen to how liaisons work in speech
Step 5 of 5
Practice Sentences
Je m'appelle Marie. (My name is Marie) | Bonjour, comment allez-vous? (Hello, how are you?) | Je ne parle pas bien français. (I don't speak French well)
- Speak slowly at first
- Mimic native speakers' rhythm and intonation
Guide complete
