Do it now: how many vowels can you spot in the

following words?

Vowels (a, e, i, o, u)
1. Animal

2. Table

3. Sac

4. Ça va

5. Uniforme

Challenge: can you think of any other words containing vowels in French?

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 1

 Mercredi 11 septembre 2024

La phonétique

LO:to introduce the main French sounds

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 2

 X= you do not pronounce at the end
1)Silent final consonant
H= is silent at the beginning

exemple: hôtel, hamburger

Remember the word DePoSiTo
Z= you do not pronounce it

In general we do not pronounce the consonants

D, P, S, T if they are at the end of a word

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zkqgbd
m/articles/zdh292p#:~:text=Silent%20letters%
20at%20the%20ends,%2C%20t%20%2C%20x%
20%2C%20z%20
.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 3
 Test yourself: read the following to the person close to you

1.Duvet How many did you get right?

2.Grand
3.Parent Give your partner a percentage!
4.Deux
5.Trois If you scored 5 right, then it’s 50%
6.Souris
7.J’habite dans un hôtel à Hawaii
8. amusant
9.Élégant
10.Champ
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 4
 Mastering French pronunciation
Simple vowels

1. Simple vowels: sounds and gestures

2. [a/â/à]
3. silent final [e]
4. [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai]
5. [i/y]
6. [open o] [closed o/ô] [au/eau]
7. [u] [ou]
8. [closed eu] [open eu/œu]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 5

 Mastering
Simple vowels: sounds and gestures pronunciation

chat je clé tête

[a/â/à] [e] [é/er/ [è/ê/ai]
ez]
[cat] [I] [key] [head]

ami porte dos chaud

[i/y] [open o] [closed [au/eau]
o/ô]
[friend] [door] [back] [hot]

tu poule deux cœur

[u] [ou] [closed [open eu/
eu] œu]
[you] [hen] [two] [heart]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 6

 [a/â/à] Mastering
pronunciation
Pronunciation rules
The [a] in French sounds like the [a] in the
chat English word cat.
[a/â/à]
Be careful to avoid using the English sound ‘ay’ in
cognates like table and âge!
[cat] Écoute et répète:

animal papa là table

[animal] [daddy] [there] [table]

pas aller quatre âge

[not] [to go] [four] [age]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 7

 [a/â/à] Mastering
pronunciation
Lis les phrases, puis écoute et répète
C’est l’anniversaire de la dame.
[It’s the lady’s birthday.]

La dame fait la décoration de la table.

[The lady does the decorating of the table.]

La radio et le gâteau sont sur la table.

[The radio and the cake are on the table.]

L’animal a une place à la table.

[The animal has a place at the table.]

Le pirate arrive aussi à la table.

[The pirate also arrives at the table.]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 8

 Mastering
Silent final ‘e’ pronunciation

An unaccented [e] at the end of a word is silent.

cuisine voiture homme danse

[kitchen] [car] [man] [dance]

An [e] at the end of a word will make the preceding consonant sounded.
We hear this often with feminine forms of adjectives.

il est elle est il est elle est

petit petite grand grande
[silent t] [sounded t] [silent d] [sounded d]
[he is small] [she is small] [he is tall] [she is tall]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 9

 [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai] Mastering
pronunciation
Pronunciation rules
je clé tête
[e] [é/er/ [è/ê/ai]
ez]
[I] [key] [head]

The [e] in French The [é/ez/er] in French The [è/ê/ai] in

sounds like the [e] in makes a sound like French sounds like
the English word the [é] in café, a French the [e] in the
problem. word we have borrowed in English word pet.
English.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 10

 Mastering
Écoute: [e], [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

aigle
_gle ass_
assez depuis
d_puis première
pr_mi_re

[eagle] [enough] [since] [first (f)]

premier
pr_mi_ selon
s_lon régler
r_gl_ côté
côt_
/réglé
[to pay / paid]
[first (m)] [according to] [side]

m_me
même panais
pan_s plier/plié
pli_ remuer
r_mu_
/remué
[same] [parsnip] [to fold / folded] [to stir / stirred]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 11
 [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai] Mastering
pronunciation
The [e] exceptions
There are certain occasions where an unaccented [e] makes the
[è/ê/ai] sound.
Listen carefully to the bold [e] sounds in these sentences.

La coccinelle est‿avec la puce. [The ladybird is with the flea.]

Le bec de la poule est chouette. [The hen’s beak is nice.]

L’abeille est le chef qui fait le miel. [The bee is the boss who
makes the honey.]
Le cher ver va vers la mer. [The dear worm goes
towards the sea.]
[e] sounds like [è/ê/ai] in the word est [is], and before
double consonants and CaReFuL consonants.
But be careful! [er] endings are usually pronounced [é]!
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 12
 [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai] Mastering
pronunciation
The [e] exceptions
There are certain words ending in [es] and [et] that make
the same sound as [é/er/ez].
These include:
• Plural possessive adjectives: mes, tes and ses
• Plural definite article: les
• Conjunction: et

mes parents tes chiens ses chats les balles toi et moi
[my parents] [your dogs] [his/her cats] [the balls] [you and me]

There are rare exceptions when the [e] sounds

like [a]. Listen to the [e] in la femme [the woman].

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 13

 [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai] Mastering
pronunciation
Imperfect and perfect tenses
Correct pronunciation of the [e] sounds is vital in French:
Sounds can change meaning.

elle a donné j’ai parlé

[she gave] Listen and focus on the [I spoke]
[é] of the perfect tense,
elle donnait and the [ai] of the je parlais
imperfect tense.
[she was giving / [I was speaking /
she used to give] I used to speak]
Perfect tense:
one-off past events.
Imperfect tense: continuous
actions in the past or things
which used to happen.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 14
 [e] [é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai] Mastering
pronunciation
Lis les phrases, puis écoute et répète
Mon père aime jouer au rugby avec mon frère.
[My father likes to play rugby with my brother.]

Mais mon frère préfère jouer au foot.

[But my brother prefers to play football.]

Selon ma mère, je ne fais pas‿assez de devoirs.

[According to my mother, I don’t do enough homework.]

Mon frère fait ses devoirs à grande vitesse.

[My brother does his homework at great speed.]

Je n’aime pas mon frère! Il m’énerve!

[I don’t like my brother! He annoys me!]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 15

 Mastering
Snap! [e] or [é/er/ez]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[e] [e]
chenille devoirs

ch_nille d_voirs
[caterpillar] [homework]

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 Mastering
Snap! [e] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[è/ê/ai] [è/ê/ai]
tunnel assiette

[e] [e]
changes changes
sound sound
before a tunn_l assi_tte before a
CaReFuL double
consonant [tunnel] [plate] consonant

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 17

 Mastering
Snap! [e] or [é/er/ez]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[e] [é/er/ez]
peluche idéal

p_luche id_al
[cuddly toy] [ideal]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 18

 Mastering
Snap! [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai]
et est

[e] sounds
is [e] sounds
like [é] in like [è/ê/ai]
et in est
_t _st
[and] [is]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 19

 Mastering
Snap! [e] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[è/ê/ai] [è/ê/ai]
mère paire

m_re p_re
[mother] [pair]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 20

 Mastering
Snap! [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai]
thé père

th_ p_re
[tea] [father]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 21

 Mastering
Snap! [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[é/er/ez] [è/ê/ai]
dansé pensait

Perfect Imperfect
tense tense
dans_ pens_
[danced] [was thinking /
used to think]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 22
 Mastering
Snap! [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[è/ê/ai] [è/ê/ai]
donnais parlait

Imperfect Imperfect
tense tense
donn_ parl_
[was giving / [was speaking /
used to give] used to speak]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 23
 Mastering
Snap! [e], [é/er/ez] or [è/ê/ai]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[è/ê/ai] [é/er/ez]
fais fée

f_s f_e
[do/make] [fairy]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 24

 [i/î/y] Mastering
pronunciation
Pronunciation rules
The [i/î/y] in French sounds like the [ee] in the
ami English word meet.
[i/î/y]
Be careful to avoid using the English sound ‘eye’ in
cognates like cycle and direction!
[friend] Écoute et répète:

dîner livre pyjama riz

[to dine] [book] [pyjamas] [rice]

recycler biologie pays direction

[to [biology] [country] [direction]
recycle]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 25

 [i/î/y] Mastering
pronunciation
Lis les phrases, puis écoute et répète
Le pirate guide le terrible crocodile à midi.
[The pirate guides the terrible crocodile at midday.]

Il y a un lion qui lit un livre dans‿un lit.

[There is a lion who is reading a book in a bed.]

Le tigre est‿agile et aussi dynamique.

[The tiger is agile and also dynamic.]

L’utilisation de notice
Did you la dynamite est‿une situation difficile.
the liaisons?
est‿agile,
[The use of dynamiteest‿une,
is a difficultson‿île
situation.]
But remember …
Le pirate va sur
There son‿île
is no liaisonavec
afterleet.tigre.
[The pirate goes to his island with the tiger.]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 26

 [open o] [closed o/ô] [au/eau] Mastering
pronunciation
Pronunciation rules
porte dos chaud
[open [closed [au/eau]
o] o/ô]
[door] [back] [hot]

The [open o] sounds like the The [closed o/ô] and [au/eau] sound
[o] of hot in English. identical, like the [o] of hotel in English.
To make the [open o], the To make the [closed o] or [au/eau], the
mouth is open and the tongue mouth is slightly open and the tongue is
is low in the mouth. high in the mouth.

The [o] is open: The [o] is closed:

- before every consonant - before [hard s/z], e.g. poser [to put]
except the [hard s/z], - when it is the final sound in a word, e.g.
e.g. sport. zéro, including before an SFC, e.g. dos
- when it has a circumflex accent,
e.g. hôtel.
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 27
 Écoute: Mastering
[open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau] ? pronunciation

h_tel
hôtel _ssi
aussi mant_
manteau s_ldat
soldat
[hotel] [also/too] [coat] [soldier]
[closed o/ô] me
[closed o/ô] [closed o/ô]
too! [open o]
[au/eau] [au/eau] [au/eau]

f_x
faux arr_ser
arroser _ffrir
offrir repos
rep_s
[false] [to water] [to offer] [rest]
[closed o/ô] [closed o/ô] [closed o/ô]
[open o]
[au/eau] [au/eau] [au/eau]

enc_re
encore n_tre
notre bat_
bateau bient_t
bientôt
[again] [our] [boat] [soon]
[closed o/ô] [closed o/ô]
[open o] [open o]
[au/eau] [au/eau]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 28
 [open o] and [closed o/ô] [au/eau] Mastering
pronunciation
Lis les phrases, puis écoute et répète
C O C C C
Le fantôme va encore sauter sur l’hôtel jaune.
[The ghost is going to jump again on the yellow hotel.]
C C C O C C
L’eau chaude est‿autour de notre beau bateau.
[The warm water is around our beautiful boat.]
O C O O
Le soldat fait trop de sport sous l’orage.
[The soldier does too much sport in the storm.]
C O C O C
Le fantôme porte un manteau orange sur le dos.
[The ghost is wearing an orange coat on his back.]
O C C
L’ordinateur va bientôt exploser.
[The computer is going to explode soon.]

O [open o] like ‘hot’ C [closed o/ô] [au/eau]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 29
 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[closed o/ô]
[open o]
[au/eau]
faute forte

f_te f_rte
[fault] [strong]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 30

 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[closed o/ô] [closed o/ô]

[au/eau] [au/eau]
peau seau

p_ s_
[skin] [bucket]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 31

 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[open o] [open o]
école collège

éc_le c_llège
[primary school] [secondary school]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 32

 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[closed o/ô]
[open o]
[au/eau] mots mort
le la
merci
bonjour

m_ts m_rt
[words] [dead]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 33

 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[closed o/ô] [closed o/ô]

[au/eau] [au/eau]
exploser sauter

expl_ser s_ter
[to explode] [to jump]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 34

 Mastering
Snap! [open o] or [closed o/ô] [au/eau]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[closed o/ô]
[open o]
[au/eau]
sort pot

s_rt p_ts
[spell] [pots]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 35

 [u] [ou] Mastering
pronunciation
Pronunciation rules
tu [u] and [ou] often sound poule
[u] [ou]
similar in English, but in
French they are very
[you] different. [hen]

The [u] in French sounds like The [ou] in French sounds

someone saying ‘ew’ as if they like the ‘oo’ in food.
are disgusted by a bad smell.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 36

 Mastering
Écoute: Do you hear [u] or [ou]? pronunciation

bulle
b_lle court
c_rt boule
b_le cure
c_re

[bubble] [court] [ball] [therapy]

bouche
b_che dessus
dess_s rue
r_e roue
r_e

[mouth] [on top] [road] [wheel]

doux
d_x buche
b_che dessous
dess_s du
d_
of the /
some
[soft] [log] [below] [of the / some]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 37
 Mastering
Snap! [u] or [ou]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[u] [ou]
puce joue

p_ce j_e
[flea] [cheek]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 38

 Mastering
Snap! [u] or [ou]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[ou] [ou]
mouche foule

m_che f_le
[fly] [crowd]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 39

 Mastering
Snap! [u] or [ou]? pronunciation

Say SNAP! if you hear the same sound in both words.

[ou] [u]
loup lu

l_p l_
[wolf] [read: past
participle]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 40
 [closed eu] [open eu / œ/œu] Mastering
Pronunciation rules pronunciation

The difference between the cœur

deux
[closed [closed eu] and [open
eu] [open eu / œu] is subtle. eu / œu]
[two] [heart]

To pronounce To pronounce
[closed eu], [open eu/œu],
the mouth is slightly open the mouth is open a
with the tongue near the little wider and the
roof of the mouth. tongue is lower down.
It is a short sound. It is a long sound.
This sound is very similar to This sound is similar to
the [e] sound in je. the English word stir.

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 41

 [closed eu] [open eu/œu] Mastering
Pronunciation rules and practice pronunciation

The [eu] is closed … before a silent final consonant, e.g. vieux [old]
Écoute et répète. Do at the end of a word, e.g. bleu [blue]
you hear an open or before [hard s/z], e.g. douteuse [doubtful]
a closed sound? before [-te] and [-tre], e.g. neutre [neutral]
The [eu] is open before most sounded consonants, e.g. beurre [butter]

feutre œuf yeux sérieuse

[felt pen] [egg] [eyes] [serious]
[open
[closed eu] [closed eu] [closed eu]
eu/œu]

fleur pneu sœur jeune

[flower] [tyre] [sister] [young]
[open [open [open
[closed eu]
eu/œu] eu/œu] eu/œu]
© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 42
 Mastering
Do you hear [closed eu] or [open eu/œu]? pronunciation

peu
p_ peur
p_r œuvre
_vre dangereux
danger_x
closed open open closed

[little] [fear] [work] [dangerous]

feu
f_ fleuve
fl_ve euro
_ro jeudi
j_di
closed open closed closed

[fire] [river] [euro] [Thursday]

acteur
act_r bœuf
b_f veut
v_t meubles
m_bles
open open closed open

[actor] [bull/beef] [wants] [furniture]

© www.teachit.co.uk 2022 109171 43