What NOT to pronounce in French

 

 

–You don’t pronounce the letter -e at the end of a word if this word does not have an accent.

 

–You don’t pronounce the letter -h at the start of a word. This -h is silent.

For example: homme (man), habiter (to live).

 

-When a word ends with certain consonants (-d, -p,-s, -t, -x, -z) you don’t pronounce that last consonant.

For example: petit (little), froid (cold).

 

Exceptions:

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -c in the following words:

Alfred, David,sud (south)

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -p in the following words:

Un cap (cape, stage, direction), un slip (briefs,pants)

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -s in the following words:

autobus, fils (son), tennis

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -t in the following words:

brut (raw), huit (eight), ouest (west). You also pronounce the last -t with words ending with -ct and –pt such as: direct, strict, concept, sept (eight).

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -x in the following words:

Aix, ex, index (forefinger), six.

 

-You do pronounce the  letter -z in the following words:

gaz (gaz).

 

CaReFul rule

 

If a word ends with the letter -c, -r, -f or -l (the consonants  in the word CaReFuL), the final letter is pronounced.

Example: un chef, chair (flesh).

 

Important note

If a word ends with -er you don’t pronounce the letter  -r.

Example: premier (first), aller (to go).

 

Exceptions:

 

-You do not  pronounce the  letter -c in the following words:

blanc (white), banc (bench), tabac (tobacco), estomac (stomach), franc (frank), porc (pork).

 

-You do not  pronounce the  letter -f in the following words:

nerf (nerve), oeuf (egg), clef (key).

 

-You do not pronounce the  letter -l in the following words:

gentil (nice), outil (tool), appareil (device).oeil (eye).

 

the Big Good Quality Kale rule

 

If a word ends with the letter -b -g -q -k you pronounce that last letter.

Example: cinq (five), club (club, group).

 

Exceptions:

plomb (lead)

grog (hot toddy)