Pronunciation / The sound [ɑ̃] - "an"

In French, there are nasal vowels :

[ɛ̃] as in	Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	“ à demain ! ”
[ɑ̃] as in	Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	“ vraiment ! ”
[õ] as in	Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	“ c’est bon ! ”

To pronounce vowels, air always goes through the mouth.
To pronounce vowels, air always goes through the mouth and through the nose :
  1. Relax and yawn deeply, like a happy baby .
 
2. Yawn once again and say “ aaaaaaaaaaa ”.
3. Repeat and let some air pass through your nose. Feel the air vibrate in your nostrils.
4. Congratulation, you made the sound[ɑ̃] !

The sound [ɑ̃] is usually written :

• "an” : santé, hanche
• "en” : accident, dent, médicament, ventre, rendez-vous, urgence
• “ am ” + b/p : jambe, chambre
• “ em ” + b/p : exemple

Let’s Practice !

To help you :
Your must lower your voice. You can make a hand gesture downwards to help you.

The sound

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

[ɑ̃] is the nasal equivalent of

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

[ɑ], a very low-pitched sound.

You can put your hand on your nose and the other on you stomach to feel the sound resonate in these parts of your body.

Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	je mange
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	tu penses
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	descendre
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	maman
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	vraiment
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	accident