Published November 9, 2023 • Updated September 22, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
In French, the word for “United States” is États-Unis (pronounced aytaz-yunee). At first glance, this pronunciation looks quite easy. However, things become complicated quickly when you want to say either “the” United States, “to the” or “from the” United States. This lesson will cover these pronunciations in depth.
The IPA pronunciation of États-Unis is /e.ta.zy.ni/, which sounds approximately like “ay-tah-zoo-nee.”
États-Unis pronunciation
In French, country names generally 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) États(z)-Unis
In French, the word for “America” is l’Amérique.
l’Amérique
America
Hence, the complete name of the United States of America in French is: Les États-Unis d’Amérique.
Les(z) États(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”, 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 article, 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 United 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.
📚 Related lessons
👉 Américain, Americaine – American
👉 Français – French
👉 Country names + nationalities
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