How to speak French


Usually, French consonants are not that difficult to pronounce for English speaking people.
To my dear Japanese and Chinese students: to improve your pronunciation of French consonants will also improve your pronunciation of English consonants. That's rather good news.

 

The French consonants that are often found difficult to pronounce are the R and the the nasal consonant:

R

Le rat et la souris redoublèrent de rire en regardant les acrobates rouler sur l'herbe.

Le mignon agneau gagnant règne à la montagne.

French Consonants in contrast


k / g

coût goût, car gare, quai gai, qui gui, quand gant, cru grue
Your turn: cagoule, kangourou
t / d

tout doux, tu du, tard dard, toit doigt, train drain, tôt dos
Your turn: tardif, denture
b / p

bord port, barre part, bon pont, bleu pleut, bris pris, boule poule
Your turn: poulbot, plèbe
j / z

gésir, jaser, Joseph, Jason, geyzer
Your turn: jusant, gisant
f / v

faveur, fauvette, fève, vif
Your turn: effluve, Véfour
l / n

loi noix, loup nous, long non, lin nain
Your turn: lunule, l'ain&eacutr;
  • © 2009 by Gabrielle Guichard