Lesson - French Sounds (Pronunciation) - #9

[CFHollister]

Please see the following for introduction and citation information:
http://moi-alizee.us/forums/showthread.php?t=1101

c, s, g, gn, j, x

Some French consonants sound and behave like their English equivalents, but a few variations exist. We have already learned the difference between a French j and an English j. There are a few other differences to consider.

the letter c
As in English, theletter c has the k sound before a, o, u, or consonant s sound before e, i.
canne................. culotte............... cycle................. ici
casque................ classe................ comble.............. cintre
colis................... clou................... centre............... cinéma
coiffe.................. cru.................... celle................. circule
cube................... croire................. cerise............... cercle

the letter ç
A cedilla (une cédille = say-dee-yuh) under the letter c makes the s sound before a, o, u.
ça...................... garçon............... aperçu.............. coinçage

the letters ch
You have already learned that ch has an sh sound.
chef................... chèque............... hache

the letter s
s sound of “hiss” for ss, for initial s, and for final s (when pronounced):
classe................ sa...................... selle................... tous
tasse................. son.................... sec..................... lis
tissu.................. su...................... si....................... lupus
z sound between vowels:
chaise................ maison............... disiez.................. pose

the letter g
As in English the letter g has a hard and a soft sound. I French it has the g sound of “go” before a, o, u, and consonants; j sound of joue before e, i.
gare.................. gomme............... gîte.................... grand
gant................... golf................... gens................... grue
gaine.................. gustatif.............. gentil................. grave
gond................... guide................. géométrie........... gros
goût................... guerre................ glaçon................ glace
gymnastique

the letters gn
The sound of the last syllable in “onion,” “canyon” (minus the final n) is the nyuh sound of gn.
gagner............... éloigner.............. grogner

Before leaving the sounds of g, look at and pronounce:
gui.................... Guy................... ghetto............... Enghien

the letter j
French j, remember, is like the z sound of “azure” or s of measure.
jarre.................. joint................... jean................. jaune
joignant............. jeanne................ jeu................... jeune
jupe.................. joue................... déjeuner............ joyau
joie................... bonjour............... joyeux

the letter x
ks sound before a consonant; gz sound before a vowel.
excuser.............. exciter............... examiner
exclamer............ exemple.............. exagérer