This guide is designed to help you learn proper French pronunciation.  While there are a lot of similarities between French and English sounds, each language has unique characteristics.  Visit this guide as often as you need to find help on pronouncing French words and sounds.

`Sound^1 `Examples^4 `Similarities `in `English

a^1 [a]mi, [a]rbre^4 The `a sounds like the a in `cat.

é^1 [é]t[é], t[é]l[é]vision^4 The `é sounds like ey in `they.

e^1 l[e], d[e] ^4 The `e sounds like the e in `fern.

è^1 m[è]re, p[è]re^4 The `è sounds like e in `get.

ê^1 f[ê]te, [ê]tre^4 The `ê sounds like e in `get.

ai^1 m[ai]s, p[ai]x^4 The `ai sounds like e in `get.

i^1 am[i], [î]le^4 The `i sounds like the ee in `feel.

o^1 h[o]mme, f[o]rt^4 The `o sounds like the o in `fork.

o^1 gig[o]t, [au]^4 The `o or `au is like the o in `so.

ou^1 c[ou]leur, [où]^4 The `ou is like the oo in `too.

u^1 m[u]sique, t[u]nique^4 Does not exist in English.  Produce
 ^4 by positioning your mouth as if you
 ^4 were going to `whistle

eu^1 déj[eu]ner, qu[eue]^4 Does not exist in English. `Similar `to
 ^4 `e above (Eng. fern) but produce with
 ^4 `rounded `lips

eu^1 h[eu]re, coul[eu]r^4 Does not exist in English.  Same as 
 ^4 `eu above but `relax `rounded `lips

in^1 [in]stant, p[ain]^4 Same as `ê above but `nasalize `sound.

an, en^1 inst[an]t, [en]fant^4 Same as `a above but `nasalize `sound.

on^1 garç[on], p[on]t^4 Same as `o in so but `nasalize `sound.

b^1 [b]anc^4 The `b is like the b in `baby.

c(a,o,u)^1 [c]alme, en[c]ore, [c]ure^4 The hard `c is like the k in `key.

c(e,i)^1 [c]et, [c]iel^4 The soft `c is like the s in `some.

d^1 [d]éjeuner, [d]ur^4 The `d is like the d in `dose.

f^1 [f]ort, [p]hilosophie^4 The `f is like the f in `father.

g(a,o,u)^1 [g]az, gi[g]ot, [g]ui^4 The hard `g is like the g in `gone.

g(e,i)^1 [g]el, [g]igot^4 The soft `g is like the s in `vision.

j^1 [j]e, [j]eune^4 The `j is like the s in `vision.

k^1 [k]ilo, [ch]oeur^4 The `k or `ch is like the k in `key.

l^1 [l]e, [l]a^4 The `l is like the l in `lose.

m^1 [m]ère, [m]usique^4 The `m is like the m in `mother.

n^1 [n]i, [n]eveu^4 The `n is like the n in `nose.

p^1 [p]ère, [p]ersonne^4 The `p is like the p in `pose. 

r^1 a[r]bre, [r]ése[r]voi[r]^4 This is a typical French sound.
 ^4 Memorize the French pronunciation of
 ^4 the word `réservoir to learn the
 ^4 pronunciation of the r in different
 ^4 parts of a noun.

s^1 [s]y[s]tème, [s]es^4 The `s is like the s in `soft.

t^1 [t]éléphone, [th]é^4 The `t or `th is like the t in `top.
 ^4 French pronounces the th sound in
 ^4 theatre as a t.

v^1 [v]élo, [v]ous^4 The `v is like the v in `volume.

z^1 mu[s]ique, [z]éro^4 The `z is like the z in `zoo.

ch^1 [ch]emise, [ch]aise^4 The `ch is like the ch is `shop.  Often 
 ^4 the corresponding words are
 ^4 pronounced the same:  chaise-chair
 ^4 (ch in shop) or choeur-choir (k in
 ^4 key).

gn^1 pei[gn]e, ga[gn]e^4 The `gn is like the n in `canyon.

Important rule:  Once a French sound has been established, it remains the same while the English sound may glide as in the examples that follow.  Remember not to glide French sounds.

 ^1 French^4 English
	
 ^1 mais (but)^4 may
 ^1 port (harbour)^4 port
 ^1 fil (thread)^4 feel