French Pronunciation Lessons with audio

French pronunciation is not easy but unlike English at least there are rules. Once you understand French accents, silent letters, liaisons, nasal vowels and other peculiarities of the French language, it gets easier... and even more so with repetition.

There is almost no point in learning French pronunciation from books, you have to hear it. Our audio based lessons are especially well suited for learning French pronunciation. You can listen to these lessons online and of course download all the files for offline study if you prefer.

If you'd like to take French lessons with me, I offer lessons over the phone worldwide, or private lessons in the Tréguier, Brittany area. Go to the French Private Classes section for more info :-)

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The 2 French Hs: Mute H or aspirated H

Tags: 4 Dollars 99 Intermediate Advanced

In French, there are two Hs, 2 different pronunciations for the letter H.

However, the letter H has no sound, and this no matter the context.

Then, why do we speak of a “mute H” (h muet) and an “aspirated H” (h aspiré)?

Ille, eille, aille, euille and ouille – the French Y sound

Tags: 5 Dollars 99 Beginner Intermediate Advanced

Would you be able to say: "Ouille, aïe, j’ai de la paille dans l’oeil"?

In French, the double L is sometimes pronounced like an [L] sound, and other times like a [Y] sound. This lesson explains the general rules of pronunciation, and the inevitable exceptions, and comes with many audio recordings and fun exercise phrases to train on these difficult sounds.

French Consonants and the French R

Tags: Free Beginner When is s pronounced ss or z ? Some French consonants are like English, others are much softer like K, P, T, other again are quite unique like the French R... learn all about them in this lesson.
Read more... [French Consonants and the French R]

French sounds that combine 2 vowels or more

Tags: Free Beginner

These sounds like ui, oui, oi and ou are often very difficult for French students. Use the audio to repeat and master them.

Introduction to French pronunciation

Tags: Free Beginner In English, it’s virtually impossible to pronounce a word if you don’t know it. I’ll only give you tough, through and though as examples. It is not so in French: read this introduction before you proceed to the rest of the pronunciation lessons.
Read more... [Introduction to French pronunciation]

French accents, silent letters, liaison and elision

Tags: Free Beginner

When do you make a liaison and when don't you? Do all accents change the pronunciation of the letter of which they stand? All students can benefit from a little refresher on these unique to French pronunciation rules.

Pronunciation of French plain vowels: a,e,i,o,u,y

Tags: Free Beginner A, O, I, E, and the dreadful U... even the ones that look like the English ones are often pronounced in a slightly different way. In this lesson, you'll see all the way they can be spelled, and this should help you understand why we pronounce the words the way we do.
Read more... [Pronunciation of French plain vowels: a,e,i,o,u,y]

French nasal vowels: in, an, on

Tags: Free Beginner A simple rule will explain to you when a vowel “locks” with an N or an M to form a nasale sound, as in “cousin” or is pronounced with the vowel sound and the N or M sound, as in “cousine”. So don’t just wing it, make sure you understand why we pronounce it the way we do, and train on these quiet weird, yet very useful sounds
Read more... [French nasal vowels: in, an, on]