Pronunciation / The sound [ʒ] - “j”

What is the difference between these two sounds?

play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	les (z)ans
play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	les gens

Do you find these sounds difficult to pronounce?
 

Have you ever noticed the lip movement of a French speaker? The [ʒ] is a consonant pronounced by pursing your lips, as if you were blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. Many sounds in French are pronounced with the front part of the mouth, with rounded pursed lips.
 

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.  /ʒ/	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. bonjour
The lips are forward.	The sound is audible. You can feel it vibrating in the throat.

You can practice pronouncing the [ʒ], by sounding out vowels pronounced using the same area of the mouth:

If you pronounce [j] (as in: “paille”) instead of [ʒ] (as in  “page”): try replacing this sound with [ʃ] from “chaud”.

paille	page	chaud
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.	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.	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.

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If you pronounce [ʃ] (as in “chant”) instead of [ʒ] (as in “gens”): try saying [aʒa], it will be easier.  

chant	gens	[aʒa]
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.	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.	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.

• The sound [ʒ] is written:

- “j”, as in “bonjour”.
- “g” (+ e, i, y), as in “manger ”, “girafe ”, “ gymnastique ”.