R, U and French Consonants
The French r and u are two of the sounds that most signal a foreign accent. Consonants are simpler, and a handful of spelling rules cover almost everything.
The French r /ʁ/
It's made at the back of the throat, where you gargle. The tongue tip stays down behind the bottom teeth, and doesn't curl as in English.
Steps: 1. Say a soft, breathy 'k' and notice where it is. 2. Relax the back of the tongue and let air rub there. 3. Add voice and it's the sound of a very soft gargle. 4. Practise with vowels: ra, ri, ro, rou.
Lighter is better. Between vowels it's almost a whisper.
Start of word
Examplesrue, rouge, rire
TipHardest: start with the gargle before the vowel
After a consonant
Examplestrès, grand, prendre
TipEasier: 'g' and 'k' are close by, so begin with gr-, cr-
Between vowels
ExamplesParis, arriver
TipVery light
End of word
Examplespour, mer, sœur
TipVery faint, almost breath
Before consonant
Examplesparler, carte, merci
TipSoft and quick
- Le grand frère de Robert arrive à Rouen.Robert's big brother is arriving in Rouen.
- Trois rats gris courent dans la rue.Three grey rats are running along the street.
The vowel u /y/
No English equivalent, and vital for meaning. Say a long ee. Keep your tongue exactly there, high and forward. Now round your lips tightly, as if to whistle. If it sounds like 'oo', the tongue has slid back.
tu
/u/tout
Meaningyou, all
vu
/u/vous
Meaningseen, you
rue
/u/roue
Meaningstreet, wheel
dessus
/u/dessous
Meaningon top, below
pur
/u/pour
Meaningpure, for
bûche
/u/bouche
Meaninglog, mouth
russe
/u/rousse
MeaningRussian, red-haired
sûr
/u/sourd
Meaningsure, deaf
- Tu as vu la lune ?Have you seen the moon?
- Je suis sûr que tu as lu ce livre.I'm sure you've read this book.
Consonants that differ from English
Most are close to English, with these adjustments. French consonants are precise and short.
/p/ /t/ /k/
Spellingp, t, c, k, qu
Examplespapa, table, quand
Point to watchNo puff of air. Hold a tissue before your lips: it shouldn't move
/t/ /d/ /n/ /l/
Spellingt, d, n, l
Exampleslit, dans, non
Point to watchTongue tip against the back of the upper teeth, not on the ridge behind them
/l/
Spellingl
Examplesville, belle, sel
Point to watchAlways clear and light, no dark English 'll'
/ʒ/
Spellingj, ge, gi
Examplesje, rouge, girafe
Point to watchLike the s in 'measure', never 'dj'
/ʃ/
Spellingch
Exampleschat, chose
Point to watchAs in 'shop', never 'tch'
/ɲ/
Spellinggn
Examplesmontagne, ligne
Point to watchClose to 'ny' in 'canyon'
/j/
Spellingill, -il, y
Examplesfille, travail, yeux
Point to watchLike the y in 'yes'
/z/
Spellingz, s between vowels
Exampleszéro, rose, maison
Point to watchFully voiced
h
Spellingh
Exampleshomme, hôtel
Point to watchAlways silent
th
Spellingth
Examplesthé, théâtre
Point to watchPlain /t/
S, c, g: spelling rules
The sound of c and g depends on the vowel after them, and s depends on its neighbours. These rules cover many common spellings.
s between vowels
Sound/z/
Examplespoison, désert, rose
ss
Sound/s/
Examplespoisson, dessert, russe
s at start or after a consonant
Sound/s/
Examplessac, penser
c + e, i, y
Sound/s/
Examplesce, ici, cycle
ç
Sound/s/
Examplesça, garçon, reçu
c + a, o, u or consonant
Sound/k/
Examplescafé, comme, classe
g + e, i, y
Sound/ʒ/
Examplesâge, gilet, gym
ge + a, o
Sound/ʒ/
Examplesmangeons, geai
g + a, o, u or consonant
Sound/ɡ/
Examplesgare, goût, gros
gu + e, i
Sound/ɡ/
Examplesguerre, guitare
qu
Sound/k/
Examplesqui, quatre
ch
Sound/ʃ/ (usually)
Exampleschat, riche
ch in some Greek words
Sound/k/
Examplespsychologie, orchestre, chorale
ph
Sound/f/
Examplesphoto, pharmacie
- Un poison n'est pas un poisson.A poison is not a fish.
- Le dessert est délicieux dans le désert.The dessert is delicious in the desert.
T and x
These two letters vary the most.
t
Sound/t/
Examplestable, partir
-tion, some -tie, -tia, -tien
Sound/s/
Examplesnation, démocratie, patient, initiale
-stion
Sound/stj/
Examplesquestion, gestion
x inside a word
Sound/ks/
Examplestaxi, texte
ex + vowel
Sound/ɡz/
Examplesexamen, exercice, exemple
x in six, dix alone
Sound/s/
Examplessix, dix
x in liaison
Sound/z/
Examplesdeux ans, six amis
x in dixième, deuxième
Sound/z/
Examplesdixième, sixième
final x
Soundsilent
Examplesprix, voix, heureux
soixante, Bruxelles
Sound/s/
ExamplesException
Double consonants
Usually pronounced as one: belle, ville, femme, année. Exceptions: when the doubled letter marks a future or conditional with -rr- in courir and mourir (je courrai vs je courais), and some learned words such as illégal, immense, grammaire can be pronounced long.
- Je courrai demain.I will run tomorrow.
- Je courais souvent.I often used to run.
- Il mourrait de faim.He would die of hunger.
Practice with both sounds
Read these aloud slowly, then at speed. Keep your tongue tip low for r and your lips round for u.
- Sur le mur, une peinture rouge.On the wall, a red painting.
- La rue Dubois est sûre.Dubois Street is safe.
- Je préfère la culture russe.I prefer Russian culture.
- Bruno a bu du jus de prune.Bruno drank some plum juice.