French alphabet and pronunciation guide, covering letter names, key sounds, accents, and basic pronunciation rules for beginners.
Welcome to the French alphabet and pronunciation guide! This section covers how to name each letter in French, introduces essential pronunciation rules, explains the role of accents, and provides tips for speaking French more naturally.
French Alphabet
The French alphabet has 26 letters, just like English. However, some letter names and sounds are different. Here are the letter names and how to say them in French:
| Letter | French Name | English Example | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | a | a as in “father” | Open “ah” sound |
| B | bé | b in “bed” | Regular “b” sound |
| C | cé | c in “cat” or “cent” | Hard “k” before a/o/u; soft “s” before e/i/y |
| D | dé | d in “dog” | Regular “d” sound |
| E | e | silent or like “uh” | Can be silent at the end of words |
| F | effe | f in “fun” | Regular “f” sound |
| G | gé | g in “go” or “giant” | Hard “g” before a/o/u; soft “zh” before e/i/y |
| H | hache | silent | Usually not pronounced |
| I | i | ee in “see” | Long “ee” sound |
| J | ji | s in “measure” | “zh” sound |
| K | ka | k in “kite” | Regular “k” sound |
| L | elle | l in “love” | Regular “l” sound |
| M | emme | m in “mother” | Regular “m” sound |
| N | enne | n in “nice” | Regular “n” sound |
| O | o | o in “more” | Closed “oh” sound |
| P | pé | p in “pen” | Regular “p” sound |
| Q | qu | k in “key” | Always “k” sound (usually “qu”) |
| R | erre | guttural r | Throaty “r” in back of throat |
| S | esse | s in “see” or “z” in “rose” | “s” or voiced “z” between vowels |
| T | té | t in “top” | Regular “t” sound |
| U | u | French u (see below) | Rounded “ee” sound |
| V | vé | v in “victory” | Regular “v” sound |
| W | double vé | w or “v” | Usually “v” sound in French words |
| X | ixe | ks in “box” | Regular “ks” sound |
| Y | i grec | ee or “y” | Like English “ee” or a y glide |
| Z | zède | z in “zebra” | Regular “z” sound |
La letra que se llama 'elle' en francés es ___.
Which French letter is named 'elle'?
L
In the French alphabet, the letter 'L' is called 'elle'.
Key Pronunciation Rules
Here are some fundamental rules to help you get French pronunciation right:
- Consonants at the end of words are usually silent (parle vs. parlsilent).
- C is soft (s sound) before e, i, y and hard (k sound) before a, o, u.
- G is soft (“zh” sound) before e, i, y and hard (“g” as in “go”) before a, o, u.
- S between vowels sounds like “z” (maison is “meh-zon”).
- R is pronounced in the back of the throat (a guttural sound).
- U is a unique French vowel: round your lips and say “ee” (lune).
- J is pronounced like the “s” in “measure” (a “zh” sound).
French Vowels and Examples
| Vowel | Example Word | English Translation | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | papa | dad | Open “ah” |
| E | merci | thank you | “uh” or silent at the end |
| I | fille | girl | Long “ee” |
| O | rose | rose | Closed “oh” |
| U | lune | moon | Rounded “ee” |
Basic Accents
French uses four main accents that change pronunciation or meaning. Here are the essentials:
| Accent | Name | Example | English | Effect on Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| é | aigu | école | school | Makes “e” sound like “ay” |
| è | grave | père | father | Makes “e” sound like “eh” |
| ê | circonflexe | forêt | forest | Makes “e” longer or changes vowel quality |
| ç | cédille | garçon | boy | Makes “c” sound like “s” before a/o/u |
Common Pronunciation Challenges
- R: French “r” is throatier than English.
- U vs. OU: u (round “ee”) vs. ou (like “oo” in “food”).
- Silent Letters: Don’t pronounce most final consonants.
- Nasal Vowels: Vowels before n or m are nasalized (e.g., vin, mon).
Tips for Practicing
- Listen to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation.
- Practice speaking slowly and focus on difficult sounds.
- Use online tools or language apps for feedback.
- Don’t worry about being perfect—consistency matters most!
That’s your quick guide to the French alphabet and pronunciation. Next, try reading simple French words aloud using these rules. Bonne chance!
What is an effective way to improve French pronunciation?
Listen to native speakers and mimic their speech.
Listening to natives and mimicking their pronunciation helps train your ear and mouth for accurate French speech.
Flashcards (1 of 35)
- Letter: A
- Pronunciation Tip: Open “ah” sound
- English Example: _a_ as in “father”
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
