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Pronouncing French Accents

The document provides an overview of various French accents, including the acute accent (é), grave accent (è, ù), dieresis (ë, ï, ü), cedilla (ç), circumflex (â, ê, î, ô, û), and ligature (œ, æ). Each accent is explained with its pronunciation rules and examples, highlighting how they affect the sounds of vowels and consonants in French words. Understanding these accents is essential for proper pronunciation and meaning in the French language.

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63 views

Pronouncing French Accents

The document provides an overview of various French accents, including the acute accent (é), grave accent (è, ù), dieresis (ë, ï, ü), cedilla (ç), circumflex (â, ê, î, ô, û), and ligature (œ, æ). Each accent is explained with its pronunciation rules and examples, highlighting how they affect the sounds of vowels and consonants in French words. Understanding these accents is essential for proper pronunciation and meaning in the French language.

Uploaded by

u8fmnze43
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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French Accents

They are there to help you!


Acute accent: é
In French: accent aigu

e = ‘euh’ la nationalité

é = ‘eh’ célibataire
= sound goes up (like the
direction of the accent) une école
= pretend you are smiling
un défi
aigu = sharp, shrill, high
Grave accent: è, ù
In French: accent grave

e = ‘euh’ très

é = ‘eh’ après
= sound goes up (like the
direction of the accent) la lèvre / les lèvres
= pretend you are smiling
Notice the difference:
è = aire je répète, déjà
= sound goes down,
(like the accent)
= long sound
Dieresis: ë, ï, ü
In French: le tréma

noël

Thaïlande
You must pronounce all vowel sounds!
Adélaïde

Notice the difference:


Mais [but] vs. Maïs [corn]
Cedilla: ç
In French: la cédille

C in front of A, O, U = pronounced K Canada, culture


[‘hard C’]

C in front of E, I, Y = pronounced S cité, merci


[‘soft C’]

Ç in front of A, O, U = pronounced S bicycle, comme ci


le français, comme ça, façon, leçon
Rule: The cedilla changes the C from
hard to soft
Circumflex: â, ê, î, ô, û
In French: le circonflexe, ou « petit chapeau »

1) References Latin roots of French (most une hôpital (hospitalis), un hôtel, une forêt
words used to have an s or a doubled letter) (forestis), un arrêt, les pâtes, un ancêtre

2) Changes pronunciation = long, soft sound 2) Changes pronunciation = long, soft sound
(subtle), rather than sharp and short (subtle), rather than sharp and short

î&û = No change
une tâche, avoir hâte
â = long sound Notice: tâche (task) vs tache (stain)

ê = same as accent grave è une fête, rêver, être

ô = soft, open o un hôtel, le chômage


Ligature: œ, æ
In French: la ligature

Un cœur

Pronounce the two vowels together! Un œuf

Contrast with: coefficient

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