Learn: Core French Vowel Sounds and Common Spellings

Welcome!Building on your knowledge of the French alphabet, this lesson will focus on recognising core French vowel sounds and their common spellings. By the end, you'll confidently identify and apply vowel sounds in French words.

What Are French Vowel Sounds?French vowels are sounds produced without blocking airflow, and they form the core of many French words. There are six main vowels in French: a, e, i, o, u, y. Each can have different pronunciations depending on the word.

Common Vowel SpellingsFrench vowels often appear with accents, which affect their pronunciation. For example, é sounds like 'ay', and è sounds like 'eh'. Similarly, eu produces a unique sound, similar to the English 'uh'.

Accented VowelsFrench vowels can take accents like é, è, ê, ë, which change their sound. For example, ê sounds like 'eh', while ë is pronounced individually, as in 'Noël'. These accents are important for both pronunciation and meaning.

Vowel CombinationsFrench often combines vowels to create new sounds. For example, oi sounds like 'wah', as in 'moi', and au sounds like 'oh', as in 'eau'. Understanding these combinations helps with fluency.

Silent 'e'The letter e at the end of a word is often silent, such as in 'porte' or 'table'. However, it can affect the pronunciation of the preceding consonant or create new syllables.

Review Time!You've done great! Let's test your understanding of the core French vowel sounds and their common spellings.

Well Done!You've completed the lesson on French vowel sounds and common spellings. Keep practising to master French pronunciation!