FRENCH 2

spellings for nasal vowels, spellings for

mixed vowels, spellings for glides
Spellings for nasal
vowels
Nasal Vowels ɑ̃ , õ, ɛ̃, œ̃

The most distinctive feature of each of the four nasal

basic vowel quality not its
vowels is its
nasalization
ɑ/ɑ̃
o/õ
ɛ/ɛ̃
œ/œ̃
Nasal Vowels ɑ̃ , õ, ɛ̃, œ̃

When an “n” or an “m” follow vowel sounds, the sound

is often nasalized.
Never pronounce the “n” or the “m” after the
nasalized vowel unless they are in liaison.
If letter combinations which produce a nasal are
followed by a vowel or another “m” or “n”, do not
nasalize
con [kõ]
comme [kɔm] or [kɔmə]
Nasal Vowel Spelling [ã]

am or an
champ
dans
grands
devant
Nasal Vowel Spelling [ɑ̃ ]

em or en
temps
ensemble
encor
prendre
“regular” [a] vs. nasal
[ɑ̃ ]
gras/grand
chat/chanter
animer, ans
cane/quand
âne/an
 Nasal Vowel Spelling [õ]
om and on
tombeau
son
ombre
mon
“regular” [o] vs. nasal
[õ]
peau/pont
mot/mont
haut/honte
trop/tronc
seau/son
beau/bon
Nasal Vowel Spelling [ɛ̃]

aim or ain
faim
main
sainte
daim
eim or ein
Reims
teint
im or in
simple
matin
Nasal Vowel Spelling [ɛ̃]

ym or yn
thym
syndicat
en after i (glide)
bien
reviens

What do these all have in

common?
i/y
“regular”[ɛ] vs nasal [ɛ̃]

perdre/pain
ancienne/ancien
certaine/certain
 Nasal Vowel Spelling
[œ
um or ̃ un
]
parfum
humble
un
lundi
“regular”[œ] vs
nasal[œ̃]
le/lundi
peu/parfum
Un grand jardin rond
[œ̃ grɑ̃ ʒardɛ̃ rõ]
Un bon chien blanc
[œ̃ bõ ʃjɛ̃̃ blɑ̃ ]
Un bon vin en France
[œ̃ bõ vɛ̃n ɑ̃ frɑ̃ s]
On mange bien dans le
jardin, enfin
[õ mɑ̃ ʒ bjɛ̃ dɑ̃ lœ
ʒardɛ̃nɑ̃ fɛ̃]
Spellings for mixed
vowels
Typical Spellings for
Mixed Vowel [y]
u and û when final, or before a consonant or mute e
revue
salut
une
dû
purée

**nice to know** In certain tenses of the verb avoir (to have)

eu and eû are pronounced as [y]: eu, eus, eûmes, eûtes,
eurent, eusse, eusses, eût, eussions, eussiez, eussent
Typical Spellings for
Mixed Vowel [ø](closed)
eu or oeu as the final sound of the word (not necessarily the
final letters)
peu
veut
dieu
peut
*creuse
*chanteuse
**Need to know: sometimes jeûne appears written with a
circumflex, sometimes not. Pronounce [ʒø nə] regardless.
Typical Spellings for
Mixed Vowel [œ](open)
eu or oeu when in the interior of the word.
heure
malheur
peuple
coeur

ue followed by il or ill
orgueil
écueil
Spellings for glides
Glides [j] [w] [ɥ]

Glides are characterized as consonants not vowels

because they do not form the core of the syllable.

Sometimes, you will hear glides referred to as semi-

vowels or semi-consonants (since they are neither
one nor the other)
Usual spellings of [j]

i before a stressed vowel

dieu
nation
bien
premier
Usual spellings of [j]

il, ill, and ille are sometimes [j] or [jə]

soleil
famille
Usual spellings of [j]

y is sometimes [j]
yeux
payer
rayon
ayant
Usual spellings of [j]
il, ill, and ille are MOST OFTEN [j] or [jə]

soleil
famille
travail
deuil
corail
détaillant
travailler
abeille
grenouille
cailloux
*final –ile forms two syllables as in aile [ɛ lə]
Usual spellings of [j]
medial ill following a consonant is also [j]
gentille
grilles
charmille
brillant
brille
fille
papillons
famille
*Final –il is not included in this rule as in profil [prɔ fil]
*fils [fis]
SPELLING EXCEPTIONS
THREE WORDS:
mille, tranquille and ville along with their derivatives.
Remember “a million tranquil villages”
ville
village
villa
mille
tranquille
million
ALSO When il or ill are initial
illusion
ils
illicite
il
Usual spellings of [j]

INITIAL y is always [j]

yeux
yeuse

y between two vowels: THINK that it represents ii. The first i

goes with the first vowel, and the second i with the second
vowel AS IN:
rayon=rai-ion= [rɛ jõ]
royal=roi-ial= [rwa jal]
fuyard= fui iard=[fɥi jar]
When y is NOT a glide

y before or after a consonant is [i]

lyre
martyr
style
lycée
When y is NOT a glide
ym or yn followed by a consonant,= [ɛ̃]
thym
syndicat
symbole
symphonie
synthese
ym or yn followed by a vowel, or another m or n do
not nasalise:
hymne [imn] or [im nə]
Spellings of Glide [w]
oi [wa]
moi
voix
oin [wɛ̃]
loin
poindre
oy [waj]
royal
soyeux
noyée
ou [w] before a stressed vowel

ouest
Spellings of the Glide [ɥ]

u before any vowel (except mute e)

lui
nuage
suis
depuis
pluie
suave