[ean] as a Pronunciation Guide for French181
[ean] is a phonetic transcription of the French diphthong "ien". It is pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /e/, but with the lips rounded as for the vowel /u/. The result is a sound that is similar to the English diphthong in "bean".
The diphthong [ean] is found in a number of French words, including:* bien (well)
* rien (nothing)
* tiens (here you are)
* sien (his, hers)
* tien (yours)
[ean] is also found in the endings of many French verbs, including:* -iens (we)
* -iennent (they)
* -iez (you (plural))
When pronouncing [ean], it is important to make sure that the lips are rounded throughout the diphthong. If the lips are not rounded enough, the sound will be more like [ɛ̃].
Here are some tips for pronouncing [ean]:* Start with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /e/.
* Round the lips as for the vowel /u/.
* Glide from the /e/ to the /u/ sound, keeping the lips rounded throughout.
* Pronounce the diphthong quickly and smoothly.
With practice, you will be able to pronounce [ean] correctly. Here are some words to practice with:* bien
* rien
* tiens
* sien
* tien
* viens
* chien
* rien
* dien
Once you have mastered the pronunciation of [ean], you will be able to speak French with greater confidence.## Additional Tips for Pronouncing French Diphthongs
In addition to [ean], there are a number of other diphthongs in French. Here are a few tips for pronouncing them correctly:
* [ai] is pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /a/, but with the lips rounded as for the vowel /i/. The result is a sound that is similar to the English diphthong in "high".
* [au] is pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /a/, but with the lips rounded as for the vowel /u/. The result is a sound that is similar to the English diphthong in "cow".
* [ɔ̃] is pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /ɔ/, but with the lips rounded as for the vowel /u/. The result is a sound that is similar to the English diphthong in "bone".
* [œ̃] is pronounced with the tongue in the same position as for the vowel /œ/, but with the lips rounded as for the vowel /u/. The result is a sound that is similar to the English diphthong in "burn".
With practice, you will be able to pronounce all of the French diphthongs correctly. This will help you to speak French with greater confidence and clarity.
2025-02-19
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