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l | ![]() | The French 'l' is similar to the 'l' in English "with Lee". The tongue tip usually touches the back of the upper teeth. It is also a so-called "clear" l: in other words, you don't raise the back of your tongue as you pronounce the French 'l', as occurs in some cases in English. | |
ə | ![]() | The 'schwa' or 'neutral e' is pronounced with the tongue in a "central, relaxed" position and the mouth also in a 'half open, relaxed' position. Note that many French speakers actually tend to pronounce this vowel as a 'close eu' vowel (as occurs at the end of words ending in -euse), or at least with some rounding of the lips. | |
v | ![]() | The French 'v' sound is pronounced in a similar way to English 'v'. | |
ɛ | ![]() | The French 'open e' vowel, is pronounced with the tongue almost as far forward in the mouth as it will go, but with the mouth a bit more than half open. Keep your lips unrounded and aim to "hold your tongue and lips in position" (to avoid producing it as a "glide" or diphthong) as you pronounce this vowel. | |
s | ![]() | A French 's' sound is made in a very similar way to an English 's' sound, by bringing the front part of the tongue very close to the ridge behind the teeth, causing friction as the air escapes. However, many English speakers use the very tip of the tongue, whereas in French it is common to use the part of the tongue just behind the tip (called the "blade" of the tongue). | |
t | ![]() | The French 't' is pronounced like an English 't' after a 'th' sound (as in "with two"). Your tongue touches the back of the teeth. Also try to avoid a "strong burst of air" (aspiration) as in English. If you are a native English speaker, repeat the word "tool" then "stool" with your hand in front of your mouth. In "tool", you'll feel a stronger burst of air than in "stool". In French, pronounce the 't' as in English "stool", without the strong burst of air. | In this particular case, before a 'i' vowel, a French 't' sound may actually be pronounced with some aspiration. |
i | ![]() | The French 'i' vowel is pronounced with the tongue almost as far forward and close to the roof of the mouth as it will go and with the lips spread. Aim to "tense" your lips for a moment as you pronounce it. | |
b | ![]() | As with French 'd' and 'g', when you pronounce a French 'b', try to make your vocal cords vibrate all the time your lips are closed (but without the air escaping through your nose as in an 'm' sound). Try to "force some extra air" towards your closed mouth, but without it coming out through your nose. This can take some practice for English speakers! | |
y | ![]() | The French 'u' vowel is pronounced with the tongue almost as far forward and close to the roof of the mouth as it will go (as for an 'i' vowel), but with the lips rounded. Aim to 'hold' your lips in position to avoid pronounce the vowel is a 'glide' or diphthong. The phonetic symbol [y] can be slightly confusing: it represents the 'u' vowel, and not the sound at the beginning of the English word "yes". | |
l | ![]() | The French 'l' is similar to the 'l' in English "with Lee". The tongue tip usually touches the back of the upper teeth. It is also a so-called "clear" l: in other words, you don't raise the back of your tongue as you pronounce the French 'l', as occurs in some cases in English. |