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 / Stressing the last syllable and phone numbers

A1 Breakthrough

The last syllable of a word or of a rhythmic group (a group of words pronounced in a single breath) is different: it has what is called a noticeable stress.

Be sure to stress the length of the syllables in words of the following categories:
- "International" words

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

taxi

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

guitare

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

téléphone

- "International" first names

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

Anne

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

David

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

Lucie

- When you raise your voice to call out to someone who doesn't hear, or to shout, the end syllable is longer and more forceful.
Example:

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

"Qu’est-ce que tu dis ?"

- Numbers
The end syllable of a number always lasts longer.
Example:

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

07 (zéro sept) – 52 (cinquante-deux) – 18 (dix-huit) - 13 (treize). 07-52-18-13

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.

131, avenue de Wagram

Phone numbers are said by grouping numbers together. The numbers are grouped by twos or threes according to the country:
In Belgium: 514 285 19 53 = cinq-cent-quatorze, deux-cent-quatre-vingt-cinq, dix-neuf, cinquante-trois.
In France: 01 44 18 55 55 = zéro-un, quarante-quatre, dix-huit, cinquante-cinq, cinquante-cinq.
In Quebec: 514 285 1841 = cinq-cent-quatorze, deux-cent-quatre-vingt-cinq, dix-huit-cent-quarante-et-un.
In Switzerland: 4121-312 68 17 = quarante-et-un-vingt-et-un, trois-cent-douze, soixante-huit, dix-sept.

Practical exercises

Pronunciation: Stressing the last syllable and phone numbers

A1

5 exercises

Look • Pronunciation (intonation, rhythm and stressing)