How to Pronounce French Semi-Vowels

Learn the pronunciation of French semi-vowels

This tutorial presents an overview of the rules of European/metropolitan French pronunciation, focusing on the vowels, consonants, stress, and intonation patterns that are different from American English. For more practice with comprehension and pronunciation, please check the listening and repetition exercises.

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For more French learning through authentic videos, I recommend Yabla French and FluentU. For audiobooks and lessons of modern French, try French Today. I've recommended some French books at Amazon, and Interlinear books are great for learning French by reading literal translations in English. Need even more French? Try the French courses at Udemy

French Semi-Vowels

Semi-vowels can also be called glides or approximants.


Semi-Vowels

IPA Phonetic spelling Sample words General spelling
[w] w fois, oui, Louis oi, ou
[ɥ] ew-ee lui, suisse ui
[j] yuh oreille, Mireille ill, y

 

Some words ending in -ille(r) pronounce the l, however: ville, mille, tranquille, distiller, osciller, etc.

 

Words in Contrast

[wa] - [a] loi la
[ɥ] - [y] lui Lu
[ej] - [e] pareil paré
[aj] - [a] bail bas

 

Notice that words ending in -eil or -eille are pronounced [ej], while words ending in -ail or -aille are pronounced [aj].


 

French Phonetics: Learn French Pronunciation



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