French Diction Rules

1c between 2v

v/ cv

v “X” v

vc/ v

v + 2c + v

vc/cv

c + “L or R”

v/ ccv

v + L and R together + v

vc/ cv

v + digraph + v

v/ ccv

v + 3c + v

vc/ ccv

v + v (with diérèse (ë))

v/ v

v + v (with diérèse (ë)) exseptions

saint-saëns

when are vowels nasalized

vowel + final m/n, vowel + m/n + another consonant (not m/n/h)

m/n + another consonant (not m/n/h) exceptions

emm/enn

a

bright [a]

a + [s] or [z]

dark [ɑ]

a + silent s

dark [ɑ]

â

dark [ɑ]

am/n

[ɑ̃]

ai interior of word

[ɛ]

ai + [z]

[e]

ai final in word

[e]

aim/n

[ɛ̃]

au(x)

[o]

au + r

[ɔ]

au exceptions

automne, mauvais [ɔ]

é

[e]

è, ê, ë

[ɛ]

e + 2c+

[ɛ]

e + 2c+ exceptions

ess-, eff-, desc-, dess-, [e]

prefix re-

[ə]

emm

femme (bright [a])

pronounced consonants

be carful q

e + final silent consonant

[ə]

monosyllabic e + final silent consonant

[e]

-er

[e]

-er exception

hiver [ɛr]

final -et

[ɛ]

final -et exceptions

filet, bouquet [e]

final e

[ə]

e + 1c + v

[ə]

em/n

[ɑ̃]

em/n exceptions

-ien [jɛ̃]

-ent verb

[ə]

-end noun adj.

[ɑ̃]

eau

[o]

ei

[ɛ]

e + t

[ɛ]

et word

[e]

eim/n

[ɛ̃]

interior of word eu

[œ]

eu + [z]

[ø]

final sound in word eu

[ø]

i/î + c or final

[i]

i + stressed vowel

[j]

“L” or “R” + i

[j i]

i + [ə]

[i]

v + il(l)

[j]

final il(e)

[il]

c + ill

[ij]

c + ill exceptions

mille, tranquille, ville, pupille, Séville

im/n final or + c (not m/n/h)

[ɛ̃]

o

[ɔ]

o + [z]

[o]

final in word o

[o]

ô

[o]

interior of word oeu

[œ]

final of word oeu

[ø]

oi

[wa] bright

oi exceptions

trois [wɑ]

oin final or + c

[wɛ̃]

om/n

[õ]

om/n exceptions

monsieur [ø], bonheur [œ]

ou,où, oû

[u]

ou + stressed vowel

[w]

oy

[waj]

u,û

[y]

u + stressed v

[ɥ]

u + stressed v exceptions

cruelle, fluide [y]

u + g + v

[ ]

ue + il(l)(e)

[œ]

um/n final or + c

[œ̃]

v + y, or y + v

[j]

c + y + c

[i]

v + y + v

i i

ym/n final or + c

[ɛ̃]

b final

[b] except after nasal is [ ]

b

[b] except before unvoiced consonant is [p]

final c

[k] except following nasal

nasal + c

[ ]

c + a, o, u, or consonant

[k]

cqu

[k]

c + e, i, or y

[s]

ç

[s]

cc + e, i, or y

[ks]

ch

[ʃ]

d

[d]

d in liason

[t]

f

[f]

f in liason

[v]

final g/gt

[ ]

g in liasion

[k]

g + a, o, u, or consonant

[g]