French pronunciation: alternations with nasalised vowels (e.g. masculine vs feminine forms)

On the previous page, we gave an introduction to nasalised vowels. We saw that a nasalised vowel is generally marked by the letter n (or occasionally m) after a vowel, but only in some cases. We mentioned that n marks a nasalised vowel when it occurs on the very end of a word, or before another consonant.

This means there are actually some cases where adding a suffix to a word ending in a nasalised vowel changes the pronunciation, so that the n is pronounced, and the vowel before it potentially changes. This notably happens when the feminine -e ending is added to adjectives and nounds ending in a nasalsed vowel.

Adding -e to -ein, -ain

Recall that ein and ain on the end of a word (or before another consonant) are generally pronounced with the nasalised in vowel. However, when an -e is added, -eine and -aine are pronounced with the open e vowel, and the n is pronounced (though not normally the final -e).

Adding -e to -in and -un

When -e is added to a word ending in -in or -un, a similar thing occurs: the n is pronounced, and the vowel is no longer nasalised. In this case, the vowel reverts to its "normal" pronunciation as reflected by the spelling (so an i vowel for -ine and an u vowel for -une).

Addine -e to -on

This case is essentially similar, but in the spelling, the n is usually doubled. The vowel is essentially pronounced as an open o vowel.

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The next page looks at the French l, m, n sounds.