Pronounciation Guide
The following links may be helpful for literal or audio pronounciation of French words.
Online Guides: |
a written literal pronounciation guide
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a pronounciation guide where you can hear French words from your computer |
There are several differences between French and English pronunciation that might be most obvious as you read along with your child:
• consonants are essentially the same;
• there are significant differences between the sounds of the vowels;
• h is always silent in French;
• an s at the end of a word, to indicate the plural, is silent;
• qu sounds like k (not kw as quiet);
• th is pronounced t;
• ch is pronounced like the English sh;
• i is pronounced like the long English e (see);
• ou in French always sounds like troop (not out);
• oi sound like wa in wash;
• au and eau have the long o sound (go);
• ez has the long a sound (say);
• accents change the sounds of vowels;
< è sounds like the short English e (peck) ;
< Ă© sounds like the long a sound (say);
< ĂŞ sounds like the short English e (peck);
< ç sounds like the s sound (sand);
• stress falls on the last sounded syllable (tapi sounds like tap-ee);
• when a word begins with a vowel (or a silent h), it is usually joined with the last consonant
of the preceding word – it will sound as though your child is reading one word instead of
two.
Adapted from “Yes, You Can Help”.
Translation Guide
The following links may be helpful for translating words and phrases from English into French or from French into English.
* Please note:
The translator will not produce a perfect translation. In most cases it should adequately convey the general sense of the original; however, it is not a substitute for a competent human translator.
Online Translation Guides: |
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