Learning how to read French is an essential step of the learning process. This lesson covers 30 reading rules which you can use to master French pronunciation. Click on any of the words, listen and repeat!
French reading rules
Consonants
1. Words ending in two consonants
If a word ends in two consonants, completely ignore the last consonant and end on the second-to-last consonant. For example, the word concert (concert) is pronounced [kɔ̃sɛʀ]. Skip the final -t.
If a word ends in a two consonants and a nasal sound (see below), the same rule applies. Skip the last consonant. For example, restaurant (restaurant). No -t.
2. Words ending in two consonants + -e
If a word ends in two consonants plus -e, the final -e forces the final consonant to get pronounced. For example, for the masculine adjective couvert (covered), the final -t gets ignored (see rule above). In the feminine form, “couverte”, the final -e gets sounded out: [koo-vert].
- couvert/couverte covered
3. Words ending in vowel + consonant
If a word ends in vowel plus consonant, ignore the final consonant. For example, the word petit (short, little) is pronounced [pəti].
4. Words ending in vowel + consonant + -e
If a word ends in vowel plus consonant plus the letter -e, that -e forces that last consonant to get pronounced.
For example for petite (feminine form of petit), the final -t gets pronounced.
- petit/petite small, short
5. CaReFuL rule
The CaReFuL rule states that if a word ends in the letters -c, -r, -f or -l, these letters must be pronounced.
However, the CaReFuL does have some exceptions. Don’t pronounce the -c on the ends of the following words:
Note that the CaReFuL rule does not apply to the infinitives of -er verbs.
- parler to speak
6. Ch sounds like sh
If a French word contains a “ch”, sound it out like an “sh” in English. For example, choix (choice).
7. Qu sound like -k
When you see a “qu” in a word, sound it out like a “k” in English not a “qu” like in the English word “quantity”. Thus, que (that, what) sounds like [kə].
8. Single -s vs. double -ss
A single -s is pronounced like a -z.
A double -ss sounds like -s as in “Sam”.
9. Soft -c vs. hard -c
When the letter -c is followed by either -e or -i, the -c sounds like an -s as in “Sam”.
When a -c is followed by any other letter, it a hard -c or -k sound.
- classe class
10. Soft -g and hard -g
When followed by the letters -e or -g, the -g is soft.
When followed by another letter, -g has a hard sound.
- grand big
11. Rule for -gn
The -gn corresponds to an ñ in Spanish and has a “ny” sound like in the English word “canyon”. The phonetic symbol [ɲ] is used to show the -gn sound in dictionaries.
- gagner to win
12. Rules for double -ll
A double -ll in French can be pronounced like an -l or a slight -y [j] sound, depending on the word.
Pronounce the -ll like L or the words mille (thousand), ville (city) and tranquille (calm) and all other words derived from or related to these words.
- million million
- milliard billion
- village town
- tranquillité calmness
For all other words with an -ll and not related to mille, ville and tranquille, the -ll sounds like a slight -y or [j] sound.
13. What to do with -eille and -aille
Words ending in -eille sound like [ay] and words ending in -aille sounds like “I” or “eye”.
14. Words starting with -h
If a word starts with the letter -h, ignore it.
15. Don’t pronounce -th in English!
If a word has a -th, just pronounce -t and completely ignore the -h.
- mathématiques mathematics
- thé tea
16. – euil sound
Words ending in -euille end in a light -y sound.
- écureuil squirrel
- accueil front desk, reception
- feuille leaf
- portefeuille wallet
17. -ouille sound
Words ending in -ouille sound is “ou-ee”.
18. -t becoming an -s
In a lot of words, a -t sounds like an -s. This occurs when the -t in the English equivalent word sounds like an -s or -sh.
- nation nation
- diplomatie diplomancy
- democratie democracy
If the English equivalent word does not have an -s or -sh sound, the -t maintained in French.
- partie party
19. B becomes P
The letter -b sounds like a -p when preceding the letters -s and -t.
- observation observation
- obtenir to obtain
Vowels
Mastering the vowel sounds really is the key to being about to read and pronounce French correctly. After this section we’ll touch on the nasal sounds, which can get quite tricky.
20. Ou sound
Whenever you see an -ou in a French word, read it like “oo” as in the English word “food”. The phonetic symbol for the -ou is [u]. The word vous (you formal and plural) has this sound.
21. Single -u or “pointed” -u.
The single -u is one of the most difficult sounds to make in French. It sounds like a sharp or pointed -u coming out from puckered lips.
22. Single -i
In French, a single -i simply sounds like “ee” as in the English word “feet”.
23. -ai sound
There are two ways to pronounce the -ai in French. For words ending in -ai, it sounds like “ay” as in the English word “play”. The corresponding phonetic symbol is [e].
- Je donnerai I will give
- Je sais I know
When an -ai is followed by a consonant, it sounds like the -e in the English word “get”. The corresponding phonetic symbol is [ɛ].
24. -o sound
In French there are two -o sounds: an open -o and a closed -o. The open -o has the phonetic symbol [ɔ]. Voter (to vote) has the open -o or [ɔ] sound.
The following are examples of the open -o in French.
- opinion opinion
- opportunité opportunity
The closed -o in French sounds like “oh” as in “oh my gosh” and has the corresponding phonetic symbol [o]. The closed -o is used for -o with circumflex accent (ô) and when a word ends in -ose.
Examples of the closed -o:
25. -au sound
In French the letters -au are also pronounced like an open -o, or “oh” as in “oh my gosh”.
- aussi also
- aujourd’hui today
26. -œ sound
French has a unique letter called “l’e dans l’o“ or “the -e in the -o”. It’s essentially an -o and an -e combined in to a single letter.
French nasal sounds
Sometimes letter combinations can be nasal and at other times the exact same letters in the exact same spellings are not nasal. It is important to learn when a nasal sound is required and when it is not. This has to do with the way a word is broken down into syllables.
If a word has vowel + consonant + vowel, the consonant always goes with the second vowel. For example, for the word ami (friend), the syllable breakdown is: a-mi.
The second key rule is that a syllable break is done between two consonants. For example, for inviter (to invite), a syllable break is done between the -n and -v. Hence, in-viter.
Thus, for initiation, there is no nasalization on the -in. This is because the -i and -n are not in the same syllable (i-nitiation). For inviter, the -in is nasal because -in is the same syllable: in-viter.
27. -in, im, -aim, -ain, -eim, -ein, yn, yn
The following spelling patterns are a nasal sound: -in, im, -aim, -ain, -eim, -ein, yn, yn. They correspond to the phonetic symbol [ɛ̃].
- inviter to invite
- américain (masculine form of American)
- intéressant interesting
Note than the nasal in or [ɛ̃] sound is used for -en in words ending in -ien. Thus bien (well) is [b + ee + ɛ̃] and not [b + ee + ɑ̃].
Also note that nasalization is cancelled when the -n or -m is doubled.
- innocence innocence
28. -am, -an, -em-, -en
The following spelling combinations are nasal: -am, -an, -em-, -en. The phonetic symbol for this sound is [ɑ̃].
Note that if the -n or -m is doubled, there is no nasalization.
- année year
- anniversaire birthday
29. -on, -om
The spelling combinations -on and -om are a nasal -o and correspond to the phonetic symbol [ɔ̃]. For example, non (no).
Note that if the -n or m is doubled, there is no nasalization.
30. -un, -um sound
The letter combinations -un and -um have a nasal sound corresponding to the phonetic symbol [œ̃]. This sound is very similar to the nasal -in [ɛ̃] (see above) and very difficult to differentiate. Listen to the -un in lundi (Monday).
Discover more;
- Guide to accent marks
- Acute accent (é)
- Grave accent (è)
- How to pronounce ENT
- How to pronounce TH
- 25 most difficult words to pronounce
French pronunciation | Lessons by David Issokson
