Pronunciation

How to pronounce the famous “ R ” letter? Why French-speaking people write “ il y a ” but say “ y'a ” ? These aids provide you with examples to listen and tips to better understand French-speaking people and improve your pronunciation.

Pronunciation / The sound “j“

A1 Breakthrough

What do you think of French vowels? Are they: awful, normal, rather / really beautiful? You don't know?

Is the difference between:

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les (z)ans and

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les gens

impossible, difficult, easy to hear?

Is the difference between:

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les (z)ans and

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les gens

impossible, difficult, easy to pronounce?

In your opinion, which is the most beautiful consonant?
In your opinion, which is the most awful consonant?

Have you ever observed a French-speaker's lips as they speak? The [ʒ] is a consonant you pronounce by pursing your lips, as you were blowing the candles out on a birthday cake. Many French sounds are pronounced at the front of the mouth, lips rounded and pursed.
The sound [ʒ] is written:
-« j »
-« g » (+ e, i, y)
- « ge » (+a, u, o; the vowels of "auto")

You can practise pronouncing the [ʒ], by sounding out the consonants that are pronounced using the same area of the mouth:

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tø

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ʒø ʒø

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dø ʒø

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nø ʒø

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ʒuR

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Rəʒu

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siʒoz

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ʒozɛt

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ʒezit

Start practicing!
You can imitate the examples:
- when repeating the example, try saying it fast and slow, yelling and whispering it.
- try repeating in time with the example, as precisely as possible.