Consonants

The letter between [] represent a sound, not the consonant ; [k] is not ‘Kay’ but the [k] sound in cut.
The consonants which are not listed below are pronounced the same way in both languages.

[k/p/t] (kaput) are much softer in French ; you do not exhale any air. Try forming the sound with your lips silently, then do not exhale any air, but say a vowel. I like to say that the consonant starts the vowel.

[k] can be written

c + a, o, u (camion, couleur),
q, qu (que, qui), the u is silent.
k (képi, kiwi).

[ss] like the c in 'lace' can be written :

s as in 'danser' or ss (when between two vowels) as 'aussi'.
c + i or e.
ex : cinéma, cerise…
c needs a cedilla ç in front of a, o, u to keep this sound [ss].
ex : ça, reçu…
Tion is pronounced [ssION] (beware, no English [CH] !).
ex : attention, station…

is generally not pronounced at all. We do not exhale.
ex : hotel [OtÈl], Henri [ANrI]…

[ch]

the combinaison of c + h normally produces a sound similar to the sh of 'shave' (beware, no English [TCH] !).
ex : chocolat, chapeau, chien…

[j]

like the sound of s in 'leisure'.
ex : je, jouer…
and also g + i and e.
ex : âge, rougi… (beware, no English [DJ] !).

[z]

like the z of 'razor'.
ex : Zoé, zut…
Also s between two vowels (or with liaison, see before).
ex : osé [OzÉ], Asie [AzI]…
Note : to retain the sound [ss] between two vowels, the letter ‘s’ must be doubled.
Compare : désert [z] and dessert [ss].

[ille]

like i + the y in yahoo.
ex : Camille, fille…
exceptions : 'mille, ville, tranquille' keep the [l] sound.

[R]

This sound is produced at the back of the mouth. It is never the Spanish rolled R. It is pretty smooth, and most of the time almost silent in the middle of a word. Here again, don’t forget that vowels are louder than consonants !
My advice to find that eery sound ; gargle, then hold down the tip of your tongue (with a pencil for instance). Then study the vibration that happens in the back of your mouth, just where the throat begins. Then use that sound to ‘start’ a vowel. rA, rI… Don’t worry, practice does it :-) !

ex : rat, riz, rue, rez, roue, par, sourire, parler, gris…




Home French Tutoring Proofreading Custom Recordings Free Material Free Lessons Free Online Book Easy Poetry Podcast Travel Tips Reviews Camille's Audiobooks Favorite Links Contact Me Store Learn with Camille "A course designed for my specific needs" "Warning: addictive!" "An extremely dedicated and conscientious teacher" "Superb one on one instruction" "I travel over one hour each way to my weekly lesson without a second thought" More reviews...	Consonants The letter between [] represent a sound, not the consonant ; [k] is not ‘Kay’ but the [k] sound in cut. The consonants which are not listed below are pronounced the same way in both languages. [k/p/t] (kaput) are much softer in French ; you do not exhale any air. Try forming the sound with your lips silently, then do not exhale any air, but say a vowel. I like to say that the consonant starts the vowel. [k] can be written c + a, o, u (camion, couleur), q, qu (que, qui), the u is silent. k (képi, kiwi). [ss] like the c in 'lace' can be written : s as in 'danser' or ss (when between two vowels) as 'aussi'. c + i or e. ex : cinéma, cerise… c needs a cedilla ç in front of a, o, u to keep this sound [ss]. ex : ça, reçu… Tion is pronounced [ssION] (beware, no English [CH] !). ex : attention, station… H is generally not pronounced at all. We do not exhale. ex : hotel [OtÈl], Henri [ANrI]… [ch] the combinaison of c + h normally produces a sound similar to the sh of 'shave' (beware, no English [TCH] !). ex : chocolat, chapeau, chien… [j] like the sound of s in 'leisure'. ex : je, jouer… and also g + i and e. ex : âge, rougi… (beware, no English [DJ] !). [z] like the z of 'razor'. ex : Zoé, zut… Also s between two vowels (or with liaison, see before). ex : osé [OzÉ], Asie [AzI]… Note : to retain the sound [ss] between two vowels, the letter ‘s’ must be doubled. Compare : désert [z] and dessert [ss]. [ille] like i + the y in yahoo. ex : Camille, fille… exceptions : 'mille, ville, tranquille' keep the [l] sound. [R] This sound is produced at the back of the mouth. It is never the Spanish rolled R. It is pretty smooth, and most of the time almost silent in the middle of a word. Here again, don’t forget that vowels are louder than consonants ! My advice to find that eery sound ; gargle, then hold down the tip of your tongue (with a pencil for instance). Then study the vibration that happens in the back of your mouth, just where the throat begins. Then use that sound to ‘start’ a vowel. rA, rI… Don’t worry, practice does it :-) ! ex : rat, riz, rue, rez, roue, par, sourire, parler, gris…