193x Filetype PDF File size 0.20 MB Source: mymission.lamission.edu
French Pronunciation Charts Whatfollows are two representations of French pronunciations: 1. a list of all the French spellings in all positions and linkings with their IPA equivalent; and 2. a list of all IPA sounds found in the French language and their spellings. In learning to correctly pronounce French without the aid of a IPA transcriptions, I find it best for the beginning student to follow the route of the French spellings rather that working from the sounds themselves. Although there are many rules and spellings, French is an extremely regular language. With the exception of a few words with variable word endings and some proper nouns, almost all French words will follow the rules to the letter. Part one: French Spellings - Vowel Pronunciation French spellings for the vowel -a IPA French example with IPA -a or -à usually Paris [ là -â in a few verb forms allâtes -â (except as above) pale -a before and sounds extase lacer -ai, -aî, -aie, -ais, -aise, -ait, -aient usually mais -ai in some verb forms of faire when before [z] faisais faisons -ai final gai -ail, -aill, -aille travail cailloux -aim, -ain when final or before a consonant except -m or -n, or -h faim ainsi -aim, -ain when followed by a vowel aime plaine -am, -an, -aon when final or before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h champ fumant -am, -an when followed by a vowel or another -m or -n tamis manne -au chaud -au before -r Fauré -ay, -aye, -ayes payer French spellings for vowel -e IPA French example with IPA -é été père -è, -ê, -ë forêts Noël -e before a single consonant and a vowel cheval -e before two consonants elle -e before final pronounced consonants fer 1 -e before final silent consonants (except -s and -t) pied -e final spoken silent parle sung parle -e final in monosyllables je -er final - generally in non-verb forms hiver -er final - in verb endings and some nouns and adjectives. parler boulanger -es final parles -es final in monosyllables before a closed vowel les -es final in monosyllables before an open vowel des -et final filet et (the words meaning and) et -eau beau -ei seize -eim & -ein when final or before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h plein -em &-en when final or before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h ensemble -em &-en when followed by a vowel the -e is not nasal tenir tennis -emm&-enn wheninitial remain nasal except ennemi emmêler ennui -en after -i viens -ent final firmament -ent final in third person plural verb endings parlent -eu in the interior of a word heure -eu before [z] creuse -eu as a final sound peu -ge before a back vowel (-a, -o, -u) Georges French spellings for the vowel -i IPA French example with IPA -i single including before a mute -e finir -î with the circonflexe île -ï with the diérèse Aïda -i preceding a stressed vowel bien Final -il and -ille, and medial -ill aille -ill and ille with no other vowel fille -im and -in when final or before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h timbre brin French spellings for the vowel -o IPA French example with IPA -o preceding a consonant or a vowel doter -o whenfinal sound mot -ô ôter -o before [z] rose -oe and -oeu coeur -oi voix -oin when final or before a consonant ex. -h loin -oy royal -ou are before a stressed vowel oui -om-on whenfinalor before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h nom -eon. pigeon -ou, -où and -oû vous French spellings for the vowel -u IPA French example with IPA -u after g- and q- silent guitare -u,- û, -ü(e), and -ue murmure -umand-unfollowed bya vowel, but not -m, -n, or -h. unanime -ue when followed by -il, -ill, or –ille orgueil -que when final or not followed by double consonants que -ueu after -g and –q vainqueur -u before a stressed vowel lui -umand-un whenfinal or before a consonant except-m or -n, or -h brun French spellings for the vowel -y IPA French example with IPA -y or -ÿ except when nasal martyr -ym and -yn before a vowel hymne -yn and -ym when final or before a consonant ex. -m or -n, or -h thym -y initial in a word yeux -y between two vowels royal Consonantpronunciation While consonant pronunciation is considerably easier than for vowels, it still offers some challenges for the singer. Each individual consonant will be presented with a minimum of two pronunciation examples: first, a general pronunciation for the single and double consonant in the initial and medial position, and second, a possible final pronunciation. If such exist, pronunciation variants in liaison, and combination will also be presented. Letter French Spelling IPA French Word with IPA b -b or -bb initial and medial beau abbesse final silent plomb followed by -s or -t absolu c -c before a front vowel (-e, -i, or -y) ciel -cc before a front vowel (-e, -i, or -y) accent -c or -cc before a back vowel (-a, -o, -u) or a cons. encore final parc final after -n silent blanc -ct final direct silent respect -ç with the çédille garçon -ch blanche -ch in words of Greek origin Christ -cqu acquisition d -d or -dd initial or medial doux addition final silent pied in liaison grand_arbre f -f or -ff initial or medial enfant effort final comparatif in liaison neuf_heures g -g before a front vowel (-e, -i, or -y) sabotage -gg before a front vowel (-e, -i, or -y) suggestion -g or -gg before a back vowel (-a, -o, -u) or a cons. grave final silent sang in liaison sang_et eau -ge before a back vowel (-a, -o, -u) or a consonant pigeon -gu before a front vowel (-e, -i, or -y) gigue -gn compagnon -gt silent doigt
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