Do you find the information below useful? If you do, you can get guides like it for 1,000+ French words by downloading this app for your iPhone or iPad.
m | ![]() | The French 'm' sound is pronounced in a similar way to English 'm'. Just remember that the letter "m" at the end of a word or before another consonant doesn't represent an 'm' sound as such in French, but rather that the previous vowel is nasalized. | |
a | ![]() | The French 'a' vowel is pronounced with the tongue far forward in the mouth and the mouth quite wide open, but not quite as open as for a typical English 'a' vowel. | |
ʁ | ![]() | The French 'r' is generally what is technically called a "uvular fricative". In simple language, that means you bring the back of your tongue close enough to the back of the mouth that it causes friction (the "raspy" sound that you hear) with the escaping air. | |
ʃ | ![]() | This sound is very similar to the English 'sh' sound as in "she". In French, it is commonly written "ch". Some English speakers tend to round their lips when pronouncing this sound. If you do, then try not to round your lips while producing the sound in French! | |
e | ![]() | The French 'close e' vowel, often written é, is pronounced with the tongue almost as far forward in the mouth as it will go, and fairly close to the roof of the mouth. Keep your lips fairly spread and aim to "hold your tongue and lips in position" (to avoid producing it as a "glide" or diphthong) as you pronounce it. |