Accents in French

What are accents in French?

Accents in French are diacritic marks added to letters to dictate pronunciation.

What is the purpose of the acute accent (é)?

The acute accent (é) indicates that the vowel should be pronounced as /e/, similar to 'ay' in English.

What does the grave accent (è) signify?

The grave accent (è) indicates an open 'e' sound, pronounced as /ɛ/, like 'bet' in English.

When is the circumflex accent (ê) used?

The circumflex accent (ê) can signal a change in vowel pronunciation or indicate that a letter has been omitted.

What effect does the cedilla (ç) have on pronunciation?

The cedilla (ç) changes the pronunciation of 'c' from a hard /k/ sound to a soft /s/ sound before 'a', 'o', or 'u'.

What is the effect of the diaeresis (ë)?

The diaeresis (ë) indicates that two vowels next to each other should be pronounced separately.

What accent is used on the 'u' in 'où'?

The grave accent (ù) is used in 'où' to distinguish it from 'ou' (or).

How does accentuation affect verb conjugations in French?

Accents can affect the pronunciation and sometimes the meaning of conjugated verbs, e.g., 'a' (has) vs. 'à' (to).

Are accents optional in French writing?

No, accents are not optional; they are necessary for correct spelling and pronunciation.