Learn French - French Pronunciation Overview
On beginning your study of the French language youu will be surprised to learn that you already know or can make a good guess at the meaning of thousands of French words. For there are some 4,000 words which are of the same spelling and meaning in French and English, and thousands more of the same meaning which differ only slightly in spelling. Of course the pronunciation of the French words differs greatly from that of the corresponding English words.
THere are also a considerable number of words borrowed directly from the French without any change in spelling and with little or no change at all in pronunciation.
Here are a few examples of words alike or very similar in French and English.
1. words spelled alike and having the same meaning but different in pronunciation:
vain
page
train
place
|
fruit
image
table
index |
nation
nature
absent
cousin
|
station
original
accident
client
|
excellent
important
diligent
bureau |
2. words of the same meaning, slightly different in spelling and different in pronunciation:
riche
rich
|
oncle
uncle |
balle
ball |
objet
object |
scène
scene |
|
salade
salad
|
difficile
difficult |
qualité
quality |
docteur
doctor |
signe
sign |
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3. words borrowed directly from the French with no change in spelling and only minor changes in pronunciation. These words contain some good clues to French pronunciation:
café
route
rôle
rouge |
garage
chauffeur
liqueur
à propos |
encore
chemise
routine
ensemble
|
coquette
rendez-vous
sabotage
lingerie |
à la carte
entrée
matinée
bouquet |
|
The similarities between French and English in vocabularies will be of great help to you in learning French. However, French and English pronunciation are very different, so that you must learn not only to pronounce the French words correctly, but to understand them when you hear them. As in English there are many silent letters, and some sounds, particularly the vowel sounds, are spelled in various ways. You will have little difficulty with the spelling if you practice writing as well as saying new words and exercises. The most important words appear and be practiced many times in this tutorial which will help you in remembering pronunciation, meaning and spelling.
In the first lessons of our French Tutorial, the pronunciation of the French sounds and their spelling will be explained in detail. The description of the sounds should enable you to pronounce them quite well.
You can improve your pronunciation and understanding of the spoken word by listening to French recordings and radio broadcasting in French.
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