Consonants
The letters and pairs that sound different from English.
Most French consonants sound much as in English. These are the ones that don't.
Hard and soft c and g
c and g are hard before a, o, u and consonants, and soft before e, i and y. Spelling tricks keep the sound you need before the next vowel.
| Before a, o, u | Before e, i, y |
|---|---|
| ca, co, cu: k (café, comme) | ce, ci: s (ce, ici) |
| ça, ço, çu: s (ça, garçon, reçu) | |
| ga, go, gu: g (gare, goût) | ge, gi: the s of measure (rouge, gilet) |
| gea, geo: the s of measure (mangeons) | gue, gui: g (guerre, guide) |
Pairs that make one sound
| Letters | Sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| ch | sh | chat, chez, chercher |
| gn | ny, as in canyon | montagne, gagner |
| ph | f | photo, téléphone |
| qu | k | qui, quand, quatre |
| th | t | thé, théâtre |
| ill | y | fille, famille, travailler |
ill after a vowel is just a y sound (travailler, feuille); after a consonant it's i and y (fille is fee-y). A few common words keep the l: ville, mille, tranquille. At the end of a word, -il after a vowel is also y: travail, soleil, œil.
s and ss
A single s between two vowels is said z: maison, rose, chose. Elsewhere, and always when doubled, it's s: sur, reste, aussi. So poisson "fish" and poison "poison", dessert "dessert" and désert "desert" are different words.
Other letters
- j is always the s of measure: je, jour.
- r is made at the back of the throat: rouge, très.
- h is never said: homme, hôtel. See Silent letters.
- t in -tion is s: nation, attention; after s it stays t: question.
- x is ks in taxi, gz in exemple, s in six and dix on their own, z in sixième, and silent at the end of most words: deux, prix.
- Double consonants are said like single ones: belle, pomme, attendre.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Getting started cards.
When is c said like s?
Before e, i and y.
What does the cedilla in ç do?
It makes c sound s before a, o or u.
When is g said like the s of measure?
Before e, i and y.
When is a single s said like z?
Between two vowels.
How is ch said?
Like English sh.
How is ill said in fille and travailler?
As a y sound.
How is -tion said?
Like "syon": the t is s.
How is qu said?
Like k; the u is silent.
How is j said?
Like the s of measure.