Mya Mosley
9 minutes
Learning French
Learn to read French 🇫🇷
At our French Learning Course Online, we understand the importance of mastering pronunciation. Our comprehensive approach ensures that you not only recognize the letters but also pronounce them with the finesse of a native speaker. Through audio guides, interactive exercises, and expert tips, we empower you to articulate each sound with confidence and accuracy. So if you want to master this beautiful language, feel free to join.
Let’s get started. The French alphabet, a musical arrangement of 26 letters, is your gateway to the elegance and expressiveness of the French language.
Aa
[ah]
The letter “A” in French is pronounced as a pure, open “ah” sound, much like the “ah” in the English word “car.” Keep your mouth open and relaxed to achieve the correct pronunciation.
Bb
[bay]
“B” in French is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart. It’s a soft “b” sound, as in the word “bay.” Avoid pronouncing it too harshly; let it flow seamlessly.
Cc
[say]
This letter is pronounced like ‘k‘. While before ‘e‘, ‘i‘, and ‘y‘, it is pronounced as [s].
Dd
[day]
“D” in French is pronounced like the English “d,” as in the word “day.” Ensure it is articulated clearly without aspiration.
Ee
[euh]
The letter “E” in French has a few variations. In an unstressed syllable, it often sounds like the short “uh” in “cup.” In other instances, it may be pronounced as a clearer “eh.”
Ff
[eff]
“F” is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart, with a soft and effortless sound, as in the word “effort.”
Gg
[zhay]
“G” has a soft pronunciation before e, i, or y, resembling the “zh” sound in the English word “genre.” Before other letters, it is pronounced with a hard “g.”
Hh
[ash]
“H” is mostly silent in French, affecting the pronunciation of the letters around it.
Ii
[ee]
“I” in French is pronounced as a pure and clear “ee” sound, much like the English word “see.”
Jj
[zhay]
“J” in French is pronounced like the “zh” sound in the English word “leisure.” It is similar to the soft “g” sound.
Kk
[kah]
“K” is straightforward in French, pronounced as a clear and crisp “kah” sound, similar to the English word “car.”
Ll
[ell]
“L” in French is pronounced softly.
Mm
[em]
“M” in French is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart, with a nasalized “em” sound, as in the word “ham.”
Nn
[en]
“N” in French is pronounced as a nasalized “en” sound, similar to the English word “pen.”
Oo
[o]
“O” is pronounced as a pure, open “oh” sound, much like the English word “go.”
Pp
[p]
“P” is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart, with a soft and gentle “p” sound, as in the word “pay.”
[koo]
“Q” in French is often followed by a silent “u” and is pronounced like “koo,” resembling the English word “cool.”
Rr
[air]
The French “r” is typically rolled, creating a distinct and vibrant sound. Practice the rolling motion by vibrating the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
There’s a little trick to learning how to pronounce the famous French “r“.
Ss
[ess]
“S” is pronounced softly, similar to its English counterpart, with an “ess” sound, as in the word “dress.”
Tt
[tay]
“T” in French is pronounced like its English counterpart, with a clear and crisp “t” sound, as in the word “tay.”
Uu
[oo]
“U” in French is pronounced as a rounded “oo” sound, much like the English word “food.”
Vv
[vay]
“V” is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart, with a gentle and clear “v” sound, as in the word “vay.”
Ww
[doo-bluh vay]
In French, “W” is often referred to as “double v” and is pronounced as “vay-vay.”
Xx
[eeks]
“X” in French has multiple pronunciations. In some cases, it may sound like “eeks.”
Yy
[ee-grek]
“Y” is pronounced as “ee-grek.”
Zz
[zed]
“Z” is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart, with a clear and crisp “zed” sound.
French has a lot of diacretic signs that play a role in pronunciation. Let’s break them down.
Too much to take? We understand. First things first.
Don’t be affraid, for basic pronunciation, you have to know only 2 accent marks (accent ç and é in the end of the word). These are the signs that can change the meaning of a word if pronounced incorrectly. We will explain them below.
One of the accent mark in French that you should know is accent ç (c cédille). It is used to soften the pronunciation of the letter “c” when it appears before the vowels “a,” “o,” and “u.” The cedilla (¸) is a small tail-like mark placed under the letter “c,” indicating that it is pronounced as /s/ rather than /k/.
Let’s try to pronounce:
Word
How to pronounce?
Translation
ça
[sa]
this
effaçable
[aifasabl’]
erasable
garçon
[garson]
boy
Let’s not worry about the open/close sound, but just remember that the “é” at the end of the word is pronounced.
parlé
[parlay]
spoken
Okay, and now the information for the advanced ones. Let’s delve into the open and close “e” sounds.
In French, the accents é, è, and ê serve different purposes and result in distinct pronunciations. Here’s an explanation of each:
é
[ay]
è and ê
[e]
How to prounce properly French sounds?
By incorporating these tips into your language learning routine and practicing regularly, you’ll be on your way to sounding more like a native French speaker!
Whether you have questions about our language courses or simply seek guidance on the best program for your language learning journey, our team is here to assist you.
Start your journey to fluency today! Dive into the language, immerse yourself in French culture, and watch as your world expands with new opportunities and connections. Don’t wait any longer – begin your French learning adventure now!
