Table of Content
Introduction
Did you know that despite having only six vowel letters, namely A, E, I, O, U, and Y, the French language contains a total of 19 different phonetic vowels when combined with other letters or diacritics? These French phonetic vowels are divided into three categories: voiced, nasal, and semi-vowels. Voiced vowels are generated by vibrating the vocal chords, making them clear and audible sounds. Nasal vowels, on the other hand, resonate through the nasal cavity, adding a distinct sound to the pronunciation. Finally, semi-vowels fill a distinctive gap between vowels and consonants, characterized by a glide-like articulation.
Whether you’re a beginner eager to understand the basics or a learner with an intermediate level aiming to refine your pronunciation, this guide is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to master the language of love! If you are not familiar with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) or the names of the letters in French, read this article first!
French Phonetic Vowels Table
The first column of the table below contains the IPA symbol of the vowel, followed by the French spellings used to obtain that sound, and finally a word as an example with its translation in English.
| IPA | Spelling | Example | Translation |
| /a/ | a | patte | paw |
| /ɑ/ | â as | pâte case | pasta square |
| /e/ | ai aî é ê ed ei er es ez | aider aîné été gêné pied neiger manger les nez | to help elderly summer embarrassed foot to snow to eat the (plural) nose |
| /ɛ/ | è ê e ai ei et | près prêt elle mais peine jouet | close ready she but sorrow toy |
| /ə/ | e | le | the (masculine) |
| /œ/ | eu œu | peur œuf | afraid egg |
| /ø/ | eu œu | dieu vœu | god wish |
| /i/ | i y | si vas-y | if go on |
| /o/ | o ô au eau | mot tôt haut beau | word early high handsome |
| /ɔ/ | o | horrible | horrible |
| /u/ | ou | cou | neck |
| /y/ | u û | vue sûr | sight sure |
| /ɑ̃/ | an am en em | plan jambe vent ensemble | plan leg wind together |
| /ɛ̃/ | in im ain aim en ym | vin impoli pain faim combien sympa | wine impolite bread hungry how much nice |
| /ɔ̃/ | on om | bon nom | good name |
| /œ̃/ | un um | brun humble | brown humble |
| /j/ | i ï il ill y | bien aïe détail famille yeux | good ouch detail family eyes |
| /w/ | oi ou w | oiseau oui web | bird yes web |
| /ɥ/ | u | suite | next |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the array of French phonetic vowels may seem daunting at first, mastering them is entirely achievable with dedication and practice. By familiarizing yourself with how these sounds resonate in your mouth and training facial muscles, you will refine your pronunciation skills over time. Remember, the key lies in attentive listening and accurate repetition. So, embrace the challenge, stay focused, and let your linguistic adventure unfold with each subtle vowel sound you conquer!
Do you know all the little accents we sometimes find on French letters? If not, let’s study the diacritics!
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One response to “French Phonetic Vowels”
[…] Are you an Absolute Beginner in French? First, let’s study the alphabet!Did you know that the French language has a total of 19 different vowel sounds? That is a lot! Let’s learn them here. […]