Pronouncing words in French: Vowels

French sounds

The way you say a word is called pronunciation. In French, there are some sounds that are different to English sounds.

Even if a word looks the same and means the same thing, the way that you say it is‎ different in French. Watch the video below to see a few examples.

Vowel sounds

In French, the vowels are a, e, i, o, u and y. Sometimes they can be written with marks above them called accents.

They do not always make the same sound as in English. When combined with other vowels or consonants, they can then make a completely different sound.

Here are some examples to help you to pronounce French words correctly. Try practising them out loud.

Vowel sounds

1. a

This letter makes a similar sound to a in the English word apple. It can be written as a, â or à.

le taxi – the taxi
à vélo – by bike

2. e

The letter e at the end of a word is silent.

la piscine – the swimming pool

la neige – the snow

3. e

There are different ways of saying and writing e in French. The first way sounds like the sound that er makes at the end of the English word mother.

It can be written as e before one consonant or in a one syllable word.

regarder – to watch
je – I

4. e

The second way of saying e in French sounds like the e in the English word egg.

This can be written as e before two consonants, è, ê, ai, aî, ei and e before a final c, l or t.

mettre – to put
un frère – a brother
être – to be
une maison – a house
aîné – older
la neige – the snow
avec – with
l’hôtel – the hotel
le poulet – the chicken

5. e

The third way of writing the e sound is é, -er, es, ez and et.

All these letter combinations make a sound which is not in English. It is a short, sharp sound which you might use to attract someone's attention. Spread your lips and make your tongue low in the mouth as you say this.

le café – the cafe
danser – to dance
les – the
assez – enough
et – and

6. i, î, y

These letters make a sound not found in English. Spread your lips in a wide grin and show your teeth to make this sound. Note the letter y also has a different sound at the start of words.

la piscine – the swimming pool
la girafe – the giraffe
le dîner – the dinner

7. o not at the end of a word

When o does not appear at the end of a word, it sounds like o in the English word hot.

orange – orange
l'oreille – the ear

8. o at the end of a word, ô, au and eau

These letters make a sound not found in English. Make your lips into a round shape and sound as if you have had a shock.

un vélo – a bike
bientôt – soon
jaune – yellow
le chapeau – the hat

Note: although not at the end of word, o in rose makes this sound too.

9. u, û

This letter makes a sound not found in English. Form your lips as though you are going to whistle, then say the sound for the letters ee in English.

tu – you
une jupe – a skirt
des lunettes de soleil – some sunglasses
août – August

Other vowel combinations

10. eu, œ, œu

These letters make a sound not found in English. Imagine you have seen something unpleasant. Open your mouth a little and sound disgusted.

bleu – blue
l'œil – the eye
ma sœur – my sister

11. gu before e, i or y

Gu before these vowels make a g sound.

la guitare – the guitar

12. il and ill after a vowel

These letters make the English y sound.

le soleil – the sun
le brouillard – the fog

13. oi, oî

To make the sound for these letters, say an English w and a (as in apple) – wa.

le poisson – the fish
la voiture – the car
froid – cold
noir – black
la boîte – the box

14. ou

It can be written as ou, oû or où.

These letters make a sound not found in English. Purse your lips tightly like a chimpanzee to say this sound.

• jouer – to play
• Où est ? – where is?
• le ragoût – the stew

Nasal vowel sounds

Some vowels are called nasal vowels as you say them through your nose. They are made by allowing air to come down your nose as well as out of your mouth as you make the sound.

The below nasal sounds are all combinations of the vowels (a, e, i, o, u and y) followed by m or n. If a vowel is followed by m or n in French, then it becomes nasal and you don’t say the m or the n.

The following sounds do not exist in English.

1. a, e

This can be written as am, an, em or en

Open your mouth a little and keep your tongue low in your mouth and allow the air to come through your nose and mouth.

le jambon – the ham
ma tante – my aunt
au printemps – in spring
en hiver – in winter

2. i

This can be written as in, im, ain, aim, ein, eim, yn or ym.

It sounds more like the English an in ran. Put your mouth in the position to say an, then allow the air to come down your nose.

le lapin – the rabbit
le train – the train
grimper – to climb
la faim – the hunger
le peintre – the painter

3. ien

Say the sound for i in French, then the sound for in.

bien – good
un chien – a dog

4. o

This can be written as om or on.

Put your mouth in the position to say o as in the French word orange and then allow the air to come down your nose.

le nom – the name
le pantalon – the trousers
le poisson – the fish

5. u

This can be written as un or um.

Imagine the grunting noise people make instead of saying pardon, when they haven’t heard what you have said. Put your mouth in the position to say eu as in bleu and then allow the air to come down your nose.

un – a
un pull – a jumper
le parfum – the perfume