All the basics
How French sounds, read 2 of 15, 3 min
Vowels and their spellings
Les voyelles
French vowels are short and steady, and they don't slide the way English ones do. Several letter groups make just one sound, so learn them as a set and most words become readable.
Single vowels
Hold your mouth still while you say each one. The one with no English match is u: say "ee", then round your lips without moving your tongue.
- amia = ahfriend
- étéé = aysummer
- mèreè = ehmother
- lee = a short uhthe
- midii = eenoon
- véloo = ohbike
- tuu = ee with round lipsyou
Letter groups that make one sound
These are the patterns to memorise. Once you know them, you can sound out most words you see.
- vousou = ooyou (polite)
- moioi = wahme
- jauneau = ohyellow
- beaueau = ohbeautiful
- maisonai = ehhouse
- neigeei = ehsnow
- deuxeu = uh, lips round and tighttwo
- sœurœu = uh, lips round and opensister
- parler-er at the end = ayto speak
- nez-ez at the end = aynose
u and ou are different words
This is the contrast that matters most. tu means you, and tout means all. Your lips are rounded for both, but your tongue is forward for u and pulled back for ou.
- tuyou
- toutall
- ruestreet
- rouewheel
The English sound guides are only rough. When they disagree with the voice, go with the voice.