CRASH COURSE IN FRENCH FOR CHOIR CRASH COURSE IN FRENCH FOR CHOIR

A→ ahh A→ ahh
E→ euh E→ euh
I→ ee I→ ee
O → oh O → oh
U → ew U → ew
(U is like a more nasalized O) (U is like a more nasalized O)

● In French, there are nasal vowels that are not ● In French, there are nasal vowels that are not
used in English (so they’re tricky for French used in English (so they’re tricky for French
learners who speak English as their first learners who speak English as their first
language ☺) “un bon vin blanc” language ☺) “un bon vin blanc”

○ “un” → “uhn” un → one ○ “un” → “uhn” un → one

○ “on” → “ohn” bon → good ○ “on” → “ohn” bon → good
○ “oin/in” → “ein” vin → wine ○ “oin/in” → “ein” vin → wine
○ “an” → “ahn” blanc → white ○ “an” → “ahn” blanc → white

● “é”, “ai”, and “ais” are pronounced “ay” ● “é”, “ai”, and “ais” are pronounced “ay”

● “eu” and “oeu” are pronounced “euh” ● “eu” and “oeu” are pronounced “euh”

● “ui” is pronounced “wee” ● “ui” is pronounced “wee”

● “u” is pronounced “ew” but “ou” is pronounced ● “u” is pronounced “ew” but “ou” is pronounced
“ooh” “ooh”

● The sound “th” (as in “the, theater”) does not ● The sound “th” (as in “the, theater”) does not
exist in French exist in French
○ “th” is pronounced “t” ○ “th” is pronounced “t”

● The sound “ch” (as in “child, change”) does not ● The sound “ch” (as in “child, change”) does not
exist in French exist in French
○ “ch” is pronounced “shh” ○ “ch” is pronounced “shh”

● The sound “j” (as in “judge, just”) does not exist
in French
○ “j” is pronounced almost like “juh”
(think about the middle of the word
“vision” in English)
● Often, the emphasis in French words is on the
last syllable
○ “Carrot” versus “carotte”
● The sound “j” (as in “judge, just”) does not exist
in French
○ “j” is pronounced almost like “juh”
(think about the middle of the word
“vision” in English)
● Often, the emphasis in French words is on the
last syllable
○ “Carrot” versus “carotte”