French IPA

a

plat

between the a in 'cat' and in 'father'

ɑ

pâte

father

ɑ̃

blanc

like the 'a' in 'car' (without the 'r'), but with half the sound travelling through your nose

b

bébé

baby

ɔ

homme

dot

ɔ̃

bon

say the English word 'on' through your nose and cutting off the final 'n'

d

de

daddy

e

jouer

may

ɛ

merci

set

ʃ

chat

shoe

ə

le

like the 'e' in 'butter' but a little longer

ɛ̃

vin

like the 'a' in 'ban', but blown half through the nose and clipping off the final 'n'

f

fer

farm

g

gag

gag

ɥ

juin

-

i

mille

like the English 'ee' but shorter

j

payer

yes

k

kilo

kiss

l

lent

low

m

maman

man

n

non

no

ɲ

magnifique

like the final sound in 'lasagne'

o

eau

saw

ø

deux

-

œ

heure

a shortened version of 'er' in 'her', without the rolling r

œ̃

un

-

p

papa

puppy

ʀ

rentrer

comes from the back of the throat

s

sel

so

t

tente

tent

u

roue

like the 'ew' in few but without any 'y' sound

v

vin

very

w

oui

wall

y

rue

put your lips in the shape for a 'oo', and try to say 'ee'

z

zéro

zero

ʒ

jaune

measure