Take Care: French Pronunciation232

French pronunciation can be a daunting task for English speakers, but with a little practice, you can master the basics. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Nasal vowels

French has four nasal vowels: a, e, i, u. These vowels are pronounced by sending the air through your nose, rather than your mouth. To practice, try saying the following words:* an (year)
* en (in)
* in (in)
* un (a)

2. Vowels

French vowels are pronounced differently than English vowels. The following table shows the most common French vowels and their approximate English equivalents:| French vowel | English equivalent |
|---|---|
| a | ah |
| e | eh |
| i | ee |
| o | oh |
| u | oo |

3. Consonants

French consonants are also pronounced differently than English consonants. The following table shows the most common French consonants and their approximate English equivalents:| French consonant | English equivalent |
|---|---|
| b | b |
| c | c (before e, i, y) |
| d | d |
| f | f |
| g | g (before e, i, y) |
| h | silent |
| j | zh |
| k | c (before a, o, u) |
| l | l |
| m | m |
| n | n |
| p | p |
| q | k |
| r | r |
| s | s |
| t | t |
| v | v |
| w | w |
| x | ks |
| y | y |
| z | z |

4. Liaison

Liaison is a phenomenon in which the final consonant of a word is pronounced when it is followed by a word that begins with a vowel. For example, the word "le" (the) is pronounced "leh" when it is followed by a vowel, such as "ami" (friend).

5. Elision

Elision is a phenomenon in which the final vowel of a word is dropped when it is followed by a word that begins with a vowel. For example, the word "je" (I) is pronounced "j'" when it is followed by a vowel, such as "aime" (love).

With a little practice, you can master the basics of French pronunciation. Just remember to be patient and to practice regularly. Bientôt, vous parlerez français comme un natif!

2025-01-20

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