In French, the word for “United States” is États-Unis (pronounced aytaz-yunee). At first glace, this pronunciation looks quite easy. However, things become complicated quickly when we want to say either “the” United States, “to the” or “from the” United States. This post will cover these pronunciations in depth.
États-Unis
United States
Les États-Unis pronunciation in French
In French, country names always take a definite article. For the United States, the definite article is les, the plural of “the”.
Thus, the complete word for “the United States” is: Les États-Unis. To pronounce this properly, the liaison (linking of two words) must occur on the first and second –s, causing them to sound like a -z sound. Hence, here’s how everything looks with the liaison.
Les(z) Étas(z)-Unis
In French, the word for “America” is l’Amerique.
l’Amérique
America
Hence, the compete name of the United States of America in French is: Les États-Unis d’Amérique.
Les(z) Étas(z)-Unis d’Amérique
the United States of America
“États-Unis” pronunciation with prepositions
In French, to express “I’m going to the United States”, you say Je vais aux États-Unis. The verb for “to go” is aller. Here, the aux is a contraction of à (preposition meaning to or at) with les (definite aritcle, plural of le).
To pronounce aux États-Unis, two liaisons must occur: one on the –x and another on the first –s. Both sound like z. Hence, aux(z) États(z)-Unis.
Je vais aux(z) États(z)-Unis.
I’m going to the United States
Use the same construction for “I live in the United States”: J’habite aux États-Unis.
To express “I come from the United States” (or I’m from the Unisted States) say, Je viens des États-Unis. For des États-Unis, two liaisons occur: des(z) États(z)-Unis. Venir means “to come” in French.
Je viens des(z) États(z)-Unis.
I come from the United States.
Conclusion
Et voilà! Now you know how to pronounce États-Unis in French. Native speaker and Parisian, Camille, at French Today also provides an excellent lesson on the pronunciation of les États-Unis. You may also check out our posts covering the word croissant and famous wine names.
