Pronouncing Consonants

French consonants are mostly pronounced like their English counterparts, with a few variations
and exceptions. The consonants b, d, k, l ,m , n ,p , s , t , v, and z are generally pronounced as in
English.
Final consonants are usually not pronounced in French, except for c, r, f, 1 (consonants in
CaReFul).

Unpronounced Final Consonants

vous you (plural)

alors SO

assis seated

vas go (second-person singular)

épuisé exhausted

Pronounced Final Consonants

avec with

sec dry

œuf egg

bref brief, short

il he

In verb forms, the final ent of the third-person plural is silent.

(ils) achètent (they) buy
(ils) marchent (they) walk
(ils) vivent (they) live
In the verb form est (is), only the e is voiced.

est is

c As in English, French c has a soft and a hard sound. The hard sound k sounds like the c in carry.
It occurs before a, o, u, and before a consonant.
carré – Square
OK
d'accord
- climate

climat -

c The soft c (s) sounds like the c in cinnamon. It occurs before e, i, or y.

cercle - circle

cinéma - cinema
cynique - cynical

§ ("c cédille") before a, o, or u is a pronounced like a soft c (s sound).

français - French déçu - disappointed

c + h The combination c + h is pronounced like sh in sunshine when followed by a vowel.

Practice saying these examples:
chat - Cat
chercher - To search
chaud - Hot

c+h is pronounced like k (or the hard c in cut) when followed by a conso-nant.

Christine chrétien
-Christine -Christian
 g The letter g has a soft sound (zh) and a hard sound (g). The soft g occurs in front of the vowels
e and i. It is represented by zh and is pronounced like s in pleasure.
gérer to manage
nager to swim
juger to judge

g The hard g occurs everywhere else. It sounds like the g in egg or go.
gai joyful
griller to grill
guide guide

gn is pronounced like ni in onion.

Agnès
Agnès
wine grower
vigneron
to bleed
saigner

h The letter h is always silent in French.

haricot
bean

habit clothing
hotel
hôtel
t+h The combination of t and h is pronounced like t.
thé Tea
marathon marathon
Nathalie Nathalie
i The French j sounds similar to the soft g sound, ho matter where it is placed.
Jacques Jacques.
to eject
éjecter
pretty
joli

I The letter I is usually pronounced like the English equivalent, though with more vigor and
distinctness.
la the (feminine)
allumer
to switch on
lire
to read
ille and a final il are often pronounced like y in yes.
famille family
work
travail
pareil similar
the day before
veille
p French p is pronounced like English p, and the combination p + h is pronounced like f, as in
English.
poli polite
phrase sentence
pharmacy
pharmacie
q The letter q (usually qu) is like the English k.
Querelle argument
qui who
quarante forty
r The r in French is very different from the English r. It is pronounced at the back of the mouth
and is slightly rolled.
arriver to arrive
vivre
to laugh
rire
to live
S The letter s can be pronounced in different ways. The doubled ss is pronounced like s in sing.
paresse laziness
lisse smooth
sausage
saucisse

S at the beginning of a word is pronounced like s in sing.

sage wise
sel salt
Simon Simon
5 between vowels is pronounced like z.

visage face
fraise strawberry
valise suitcase
† The French t usually sounds like the English t, except when followed by ion: it is then
pronounced like s in sun (same as ss).
Aviation aviation
fiction fiction
rationnel rational

× The letter x is pronounced with a ks sound, like the x in fax, or a gz sound, like the x in exam.
maximum maximum
proximité proximity
exaspérer to exasperate
exercice exercise