Pronunciation / How do you pronounce acronyms?

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COVID, ONU, OIF, TV5MONDE! Learn how to pronounce French acronyms correctly with a few practical tips and tricks.

This is an automated translation and it may contain errors. If in doubt, consult the French content.

Mastering the pronunciation of acronyms

In French, acronyms are not all pronounced the same way. Acronyms are pronounced as whole words, such as COVID or SIDA, while acronyms are pronounced letter by letter, such as ARN or OMS. There are also cases where a mixed approach is used, such as in TV5MONDE ;-)

This video introduces you to these different reading methods and gives you some practical advice. Here are a few tips for spelling acronyms:

- It is essential to know the pronunciation of the letters of the alphabet;

- pronounce the sequence of letter names as if they were a single word

- respect the sound sequence, even if it seems unusual.

With a little practice, you'll become more fluent and confident when you speak!

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TV5MONDE

This is an automated translation and may contain errors. If in doubt, consult the French content.

Magali Boureux, phonetics expert

Do you know how to read these acronyms? Have a listen.
Extracts from programmes
COVID-19. SARS. RNA vaccine . HMPV. WHO spokesperson . MPOX.
Magali Boureux, phonetics expert
Yes, some acronyms are pronounced like whole words : COVID, SARS or even AIDS, UN, UNESCO. Other acronyms are pronounced as the letters that make them up: ARN, WHO or OIF for the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. We can also have a mixture of the two: MPOX or our beloved TV5MONDE.
Extract from
TV5MONDE.
Magali Boureux, phonetics expert
So if you want to pronounce the acronyms correctly , look out for the strategy adopted. And if you have to say them letter by letter , like spelling your name or any other word, here are 2 tips: 1. Revise the pronunciation of the letters of the alphabet! 2. Be authentic! Pronounce the series of letters as a single word , respecting the sequence, even if it's weird. OMS will sound like /o ɛ mɛs/, /o ɛ mɛs/, OMS. If it's too difficult, chant each letter "o m s". That' s a lot , but there are a lot of acronyms. So get practising! Find some acronyms, identify their pronunciation strategy and practise pronouncing them ... correctly. OK? Oh dear, one exception!