Pronunciation of French Word Endings56

The pronunciation of French word endings can be tricky for non-native speakers. However, with a little practice, you can master the rules and speak French like a native. Here are some tips:

Pronouncing -e Endings

The letter -e at the end of a word is usually silent. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, the -e is pronounced in the following words:*
je (I)
me (me)
te (you)
se (himself, herself, itself)
le (the)
que (that)

The letter -e is also pronounced when it is followed by a consonant, such as in the word "porte" (door). However, it is silent when the word is followed by another vowel, such as in the word "portefeuille" (wallet).

Pronouncing -s Endings

The letter -s at the end of a word is usually pronounced as a [z] sound. However, it is pronounced as an [s] sound in the following words:*
bus (bus)
jus (juice)
plus (more)
tous (all)
vous (you)

The letter -s is also pronounced as an [s] sound when it is followed by a consonant, such as in the word "dents" (teeth). However, it is pronounced as a [z] sound when the word is followed by another vowel, such as in the word "voitures" (cars).

Pronouncing -ent Endings

The letter -ent at the end of a word is usually pronounced as a [ã] sound. However, it is pronounced as a [ɑ] sound in the following words:*
agent (agent)
argent (money)
client (client)
content (happy)
parent (parent)

The letter -ent is also pronounced as a [ɑ] sound when it is followed by a consonant, such as in the word "dents" (teeth). However, it is pronounced as a [ã] sound when the word is followed by another vowel, such as in the word "voitures" (cars).

Pronouncing Other Endings

The pronunciation of other French word endings is more straightforward. Here is a summary:*
-a: pronounced as a [a] sound
-u: pronounced as a [u] sound
-i: pronounced as a [i] sound
-o: pronounced as a [o] sound
-t: pronounced as a [t] sound
-n: pronounced as a [n] sound
-r: pronounced as a [ʁ] sound

With a little practice, you will be able to master the pronunciation of French word endings and speak French like a native.

2024-10-29

Previous：How to Prepare for French Proficiency Tests on Your Own: A Comprehensive Guide

Next：The French Pronunciation of ‘C‘: A Comprehensive Guide