Al Noor LanguagesEnglish tests and languages
French

French sounds

Silent letters, nasal vowels, and the French r.

12 minutes · A free lesson from Start here · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase

French spelling looks irregular at first, but a few rules explain most words.

Listen and repeat

petitSay: puhteeپَتیMeans: small, littlefinal consonants are usually silentMon frère est petit.Say: moh(n) frehr eh puhtee.موں فغےغ اے پَتی.Means: My brother is small.
ils parlentSay: eel parlایل پاغلMeans: they speak-ent on a verb is silentIls parlent français.Say: eel parl frah(n)seh.ایل پاغل فغاںسے.Means: They speak French.
enfantSay: ah(n)fah(n)اںفاںMeans: childan / en: a nasal vowel, said partly through the noseIl a un enfant.Say: eel a uh(n)n ah(n)fah(n).ایل ا اںن اںفاں.Means: He has a child.
bonSay: boh(n)بوںMeans: goodon: a rounder nasal vowelC'est très bon !Say: seh treh boh(n)!سے تغے بوں!Means: It's very good! (food)
vinSay: veh(n)ویںMeans: winein / ain: a flatter nasal vowelDu pain et du vin.Say: due peh(n) eh due veh(n).دیُ پیں اے دیُ ویں.Means: Some bread and some wine.
tuSay: tueتیُMeans: you (informal)u: say 'ee' with rounded lipsTu es là ?Say: tue eh la?تیُ اے لا?Means: Are you there?
vousSay: vooوُوMeans: you (formal or plural)ou: like English 'oo'Vous êtes d'où ?Say: vooz eht doo?وُوز اےت دُو?Means: Where are you from? (formal)
étéSay: ehtehاےتےMeans: been; summeré: like the 'ay' in 'day', but shortCet été, je voyage.Say: seht ehteh, zhuh vwayazh.سےت اےتے, ژَ ووایاژ.Means: This summer, I am travelling.
trèsSay: trehتغےMeans: veryè / ê: like the 'e' in 'bed'C'est très bien.Say: seh treh byeh(n).سے تغے بییں.Means: That's very good.
rougeSay: roozhغُوژMeans: redr: from the back of the throatUne robe rouge.Say: uen rob roozh.ایُن غوب غُوژ.Means: A red dress.

Lesson quiz

Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.

Quick check: How is “-ent” said at the end of “ils parlent”?

  1. Like the English word “meant”
  2. It is silent
  3. Like “on”, through the nose
Show the answer

B: It is silent — -ent on a verb is silent: ils parlent sounds just like il parle.

Quick check: What is liaison?

  1. Leaving out every final vowel
  2. Stressing the first syllable
  3. Saying a silent final consonant before a vowel
Show the answer

C: Saying a silent final consonant before a vowel — vous avez sounds like “vou-z-avez”: the silent s is said because avez starts with a vowel.

Quick check: How does “ou” in “vous” sound?

  1. Like English “oo”
  2. Like the “ow” in “now”
  3. Like “ee” with rounded lips
Show the answer

A: Like English “oo” — ou is “oo”. The u in tu is the one said as “ee” with rounded lips.

Quick check: Which part of the mouth makes the French r?

  1. The tip of the tongue, rolled
  2. The back of the throat
  3. The lips
Show the answer

B: The back of the throat — The French r comes from the back of the throat: rouge.

Practise what you just learnt

Create a free Al Noor account to do the marked practice for this lesson, track your progress through French, and take the free diagnostic test.

Create a free accountSign in