French Pronunciation Guide Module 1

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which of the following words ends with a silent letter in French?

heureux

achat

chaud

compris (correct)

What is the French term for a silent letter?

aspiré

sonore

muet (correct)

écrit

Which statement is true regarding words that begin with 'h' in French?

They are usually silent. (correct)

They are always pronounced.

They always follow a vowel.

They can never be aspirated.

How does French typically indicate a monetary value differently than English?

Uses a comma instead of a period. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a colon in French?

To introduce a related phrase. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following punctuation marks is used in the same way in both English and French?

Comma Signup and view all the answers

What type of 'h' is pronounced in some French words?

H aspiré Signup and view all the answers

What punctuation mark indicates an element of surprise or excitement in French?

Exclamation point Signup and view all the answers

What is the French phrase for saying 'thank you very much'?

Merci beaucoup Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase would you use to ask someone their name in an informal setting?

Comment tu t’appelles? Signup and view all the answers

What is the appropriate response to 'Merci'?

De rien Signup and view all the answers

What is the formal way to ask 'Do you speak English?' in French?

Est-ce que vous parler anglais? Signup and view all the answers

To express that you don't understand in French, which phrase would you use?

Je ne comprends pas Signup and view all the answers

Which question word in French means 'where'?

Où Signup and view all the answers

How do you say 'Excuse me' in French?

Excusez-moi Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Pourquoi?' translate to in English?

Why? Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following should be capitalized in French?

Names of countries and continents Signup and view all the answers

What are brackets called in French?

les crochets Signup and view all the answers

In written French, when is a period used?

At the end of a sentence like in English Signup and view all the answers

What is the French term for a question mark?

le point d'interrogation Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence structure is commonly used to indicate a question in French?

Inversion of the subject and verb Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of punctuation in written French?

Most French punctuation marks are similar to those in English. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about French quotation marks is correct?

They are called 'les guillemets'. Signup and view all the answers

What phrase became notable in the nineteenth century as an apology involving French?

Pardon my French Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when two vowels appear together, and one is dropped?

Elision Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words can cause elision with the article 'le'?

animal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about elision in French is true?

Elision affects both written and spoken forms of French. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of an elision on the pronunciation of the word 'l'été'?

It combines 'le' and 'été' into a single sound. Signup and view all the answers

What type of contraction is described as required in written French?

Elision Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of enchainement?

enchainement itself Signup and view all the answers

Which definite article does NOT undergo elision with a following noun?

la une Signup and view all the answers

What is the pronunciation of the letter 'G' in French?

/zheh/ Signup and view all the answers

What type of word can trigger elision when it precedes a vowel?

Articles Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following letters is usually silent in French?

H Signup and view all the answers

How is the letter 'R' pronounced in French?

/ehr/ Signup and view all the answers

What is the vowel sound for the letter 'I' in French?

/ee/ Signup and view all the answers

Which letter is pronounced similarly to 'day' in French?

D Signup and view all the answers

What sound does the letter 'Z' make in French?

/zehd/ Signup and view all the answers

How is the letter 'E' pronounced in French?

/uh/ Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following letters has a pronunciation resembling 'spa'?

A Signup and view all the answers

Which letter's sound is described as being 'usually one 's' sounds like 'z' ' in French?

S Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate sound of the letter 'U' in French?

/eew/ Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

French Alphabet and Pronunciation

French alphabet shares similarities with the English alphabet but features distinct sounds.
Vowel pronunciations are short; longer vowel sounds are uncommon.
Consonants generally resemble their English pronunciations, except for specific variations.

Key Pronunciations of the Alphabet

A: /ah/ (aller - to go).
B: /beh/ (une batte - a bat).
C: /seh/ (un couteau - a knife).
D: /deh/ (dormir - to sleep).
E: /uh/ (les cheveux - hair).
F: /eff/ (fort - strong).
G: /zheh/ (le gaz - gas).
H: Often silent, with exceptions. Example: heureux (happy).
I: /ee/ (finir - to finish).
J: /zhee/ (jouer - to play).
K: /kah/ (un kangourou - kangaroo, rarely used).
L: /ell/ (un livre - a book).
M: /ehm/ (mon ami - my friend).
N: /ehn/ (la naissance - birth, sometimes nasal).
O: /oh/ (un ordinateur - a computer).
P: /peh/ (payer - to pay).
Q: /keoo/ (qui - who).
R: /ehr/ (un renard - a fox, guttural throat sound).
S: /ess/, usually sounds like 'z' between vowels (un poisson - a fish).
T: /teh/ (une tarte - a pie).
U: /eew/ (une ruse - a trick).
V: /veh/ (une voiture - a car).
W: /doobluh veh/ (un wagon-lit - a train car).
X: /eeks/ (une exercise - an exercise).
Y: /ee grehk/ (un yaourt - yogurt).
Z: /zehd/ (un zèbre - a zebra).

Silent Letters and Pronunciation Rules

Words ending in -d, -h, -s, -t, and -x have silent endings that may affect pronunciation.
French features silent letters, termed “muet”; silent 'h' follows this rule.
Enchainement: Sounds of words blend in spoken French, affecting pronunciation but not writing.

Punctuation in French

Colon (les deux): Used to introduce related phrases, similar function to English.
Comma (la virgule): Used as in English, including numeric formats (e.g., 1,25 for currency).
Exclamation Point (le point d'exclamation): Indicates surprise or excitement, similar usage to English.
Brackets (les crochets): Used to insert explanatory text in quotes.

Elision and Contractions

Elision occurs when vowels are adjacent in speech or writing, dropping one vowel form.
Common terms for elision: la → l’, le → l’, etc.
Required in written French, contrasting with English optional contractions.

Helpful French Phrases

Simple greetings: Bonjour (Hello), Enchanté (Nice to meet you).
Asking for time: Quelle heure est-il? (What time is it?).
Inquiring about names: Comment vous appelez-vous? (What is your name? - formal).
Switching to English: Est-ce que vous parlez anglais? (Do you speak English?).
Expressing understanding: Je ne comprends pas (I don’t understand).

Common Question Words

Pourquoi? (Why?)
Où? (Where?)
Comment? (How?)
Quand? (When?)
Qui? (Who?).

“Excusez-moi” for drawing attention politely.
“Merci” for expressing thanks, with “Merci beaucoup” for added emphasis.
Respond to thanks with “De rien” (You’re welcome).

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the basics of French pronunciation and self-introduction. It specifically focuses on the French alphabet and how to correctly articulate the sounds of each letter. Ideal for beginners looking to enhance their French speaking skills.