The French language is not written in a certain way.French uses the same alphabet as English, but many of the words are different.The rules are more consistent in French than they are in English.You won't have a problem pronouncing French words once you learn the sounds of the letters.
Step 1: The French vowels are pure.
English and French have the same vowels.French vowels are always pronounced the same with the exception of the letter e.Sometimes an accent mark can change the pronunciation, but not always.A circumflex over a vowels indicates that the vowels were followed by an s.An is drawn out a little longer than the others.The is used to distinguish between the words "la" and "l", which are spelled the same.The English word for meet is i or y.The English word "not" has an o in it.It sounds like an.The French U isn't a sound in English.To make it, say ee while rounding your lips.
Step 2: Depending on where the word is in, you can change the pronunciation of e.
The letter e is pronounced differently than the other pure vowels if it occurs in the middle of a syllable or at the end.An e sounds similar to the English word "fair" in the middle of a syllable.The English word for "her" sounds like an e at the end of a syllable.The English word "play" has an ay in it.The word été is pronounced ay-tay.A silent e at the end of a word.An es is always pronounced.Regardless of location, an always sounds like ai in the English language.There are accent marks at the end of words.
Step 3: You can learn blended vowels.
Many French words have 2 or 3 vowels side-by-side.Individual vowels are not spoken.They blend together to create a new sound.It sounds like wah.The English word for tooth is ou.The English word "let" sounds like an ai or ei.It sounds like an eau.The English word for "her" sounds like an oeu.
Step 4: Practice vowels.
There are 5 vowels in French.These sounds are similar to English sounds, although English has no distinct vowels.Exhaling through your nose is the best way to make the vowels.These are words with the letters on or off, such as "nom" and "non", in the English word song.It sounds like the ung in the English word is sung.It sounds like these are words with the letters am, an, em, or en.It sounds like the ang in the English word was singing.These are words with the letters ien, such as "bien".
Step 5: To pronounce French semi-vowels, move your tongue upward.
French has 3 semi-vowels.The letters are combined with another to create a sound.When you say semi-vowel, your tongue hits the roof of your mouth.Your lips are between a pucker and a smile.The letter w in English is similar to the semi-vowel.As in the French word "moi", it makes a wah sound when spelled oi.It makes us sound.The semi-vowel is similar to the English letter w.You can find it in the words "ennui" or "duel", both of which are ui or ue.The semi-vowel is similar to the letter y in the English language.It appears most often at the end of words such as "fille" or "effrayant".
Step 6: Most French vowels are the same as their English equivalents.
The vowels b, d, f, l, m, n, v, and Z are the same in French as they are in English.The letters may be silent, but they never change in pronunciation.The letters are silent at the end of the words.If the word begins with a vowels, they will be pronounced as usual.
Step 7: French vowels sound different from English vowels.
There are two French vowels that make completely different sounds.If you are new to English, these may trip you up.You will get them with practice.The English word "measure" sounds similar to the French j.The English word "kit" sounds like the French q or qu.
Step 8: Distinguish the vowels with alternate pronunciations.
French vowels have different pronunciations depending on where they are in a word.Many of these are similar to "hard" and " soft" in English.The letter c sounds similar to the English word "menace" when it comes before an e or i.The letter c isn't followed by an e or an i in some French words.An accent mark is added to the letter to make it sound different.It sounds like the English word "measure" when a g comes before an e or i.It makes a hard g sound like the English word "go."The English s sounds similar at the beginning of a word.It sounds like the English Z when it is between 2 vowels.
Step 9: If you don't get it right, practice the French r.
The sound of the French r is similar to gargling.You make the sound by pressing the back of your tongue against your throat.gargling a liquid in your throat and making a sound at the same time is a good way to practice.Try the same thing again, but with no liquid.The French r doesn't have an equivalent sound in English.You won't be able to pronounce French words correctly if you just say it the same way as an English r.
Step 10: The French are always quiet.
In French, the letter h is not pronounced with a hard h sound.No matter where the letter is in the word, this is true.It still isn't pronounced even if a word starts with an h.The word hiver is pronounced ee-vair.The blend ch is similar to an sh.The English word "chatter" is pronounced like a k in a few loanwords from other languages.
Step 11: The vowels p, t, and k should not be aspirated.
When you say these vowels in English, you blow air out of your mouth.In French, these vowels are not usually aspirated.French speakers occasionally aspirate these vowels, but only if they are angry or upset.Aspirating these vowels can offend someone.Put a piece of paper in front of your mouth and say the word paper to practice.You are aspirating if the paper moves.Don't stop practicing until you get it right.
Step 12: Ignore vowels at the end of words.
The last letter of a French word is usually silent.Only b, c, f, k, l, q, and r are ever pronounced.You wouldn't say "grand", "beaucoup" or "temps" if you wanted to.The letters b, k, and q are not the final vowels of a word.Loanwords from other languages are where they usually appear.If you pronounce the c at the end of the word "avec", you're not pronouncing it correctly.An l is always pronounced at the end of a word if it follows an i.There are exceptions to every rule in English.If you don't know, you're better off not pronouncing it.To make sure, listen to a native speaker pronounce the word, both by itself and in a sentence.
Step 13: Don't say -ent at the end of French verbs.
In French, there are many words that end in -ent.The ending is usually pronounced ahn.When these letters are used as the ending for French verbs, they are silent.The word "mangent" is pronounced mahnzhe.In the words "appartement" and "vraiment", an -ent at the end of a word is pronounced.
Step 14: Slang that is different from English can be remembered.
French words sound different at the end of words than they do in English.It's a good idea to memorize the French pronunciation of these words.It sounds like "play."This is the end for all verbs.It appears at the end of words with 2 or more syllables.The English word for play is ay at the end of any word.It sounds like ah-ee.It also sounds like ah-ee.It usually sounds like eey.The English word "onion" has the same sound as gn.
Step 15: When appropriate, flow words together.
The rule is easy to understand.The two words that start in a vowels are spoken together.The first and second words have the same ending.If you said "nous avons," the s at the end of the word would flow into the beginning.The phrase is pronounced noo Zah-vong.The phrase "un petit enfant" means a small child.The word petit ends in a letter, while the word enfant begins with a vowels.There is a call for a liaison.The phrase would be pronounced ung p'tee TahNG-fahng.
Step 16: There are vowels that are pronounced differently in liaisons.
Basic liaisons are easy to understand.There are 3 vowels that are pronounced differently when they occur at the end of a word.You can make alternate pronunciations if you flow the words quickly.The change makes it easier to say something.A s or x sounds like a Z.Deux ans is a phrase that means two years.A d is similar to a t.The phrase neuf heures is pronounced ner verr.
Step 17: Put stress on the end of a word.
It can be difficult to figure out which syllable gets the most stress in English.The last full syllable is always stressed in French.A full syllable has at least one sound.There are French words for which the last syllable is not a full syllable because an e at the end of a word is always silent.Place the stress on the last syllable with these words.The French word table is pronounced Tah-bluh.In French, sentence stress is relatively even.You stress all words equally in French while in English.