Les voyelles
Les voyelles (vowels) are essential for clear pronunciation and fluency. Unlike in English, French vowels are pure sounds, meaning they are pronounced without gliding into another sound. Mastering them helps students speak, read, and understand French more naturally.
The French Vowels
A - as in chat (cat) - pronounced like "ah"
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E - as in petit (small) - can be open [É›] or closed [É™]
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I - as in histroire (story) - pronounced like "ee" in "see"
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O - as in mot (word) - can be open [É”] or closed [o]
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U - as in lune (moon) - a rounded "ee" sound, unique to French
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Y - as in style (style) - behaves like the English I in pronunciation
Nasal Vowels
French has nasal vowels, where air escapes through the nose. These include:
[ɑ̃] - dans (in)
[ɛ̃] - vin (wine)
[ɔ̃] - nom (name)
[œÌƒ] - un (one)
How Can Students Practice?
Listening to native speakers to hear how consonants blend naturally.
Repeating tricky words aloud to improve pronunciation.
Reading and identifying silent consonants in words.
Using games and tongue twisters to reinforce tricky sounds.
By mastering French consonants, students will improve pronunciation, reading fluency, and confidence in speaking!