Nasal vowels
an, on, in and un: vowels said through the nose.
A vowel followed by n or m in the same syllable is said through the nose, and the n or m itself isn't said. Let the air out through your nose and mouth together, and stop without touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth: bon ends on the vowel, not on an n.
Three sounds, many spellings
| Sound | Spellings | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| an | an, am, en, em | dans, chambre, enfant, temps |
| on | on, om | bon, nom, nombre |
| in | in, im, ain, aim, ein, un | vin, simple, pain, faim, plein, lundi |
un was once a fourth, rounder sound, and some speakers still make it; most in France now say un like in. Before b or p, the n is written m: chambre, temps, nombre, simple.
The three sounds tell words apart: vent "wind", vont "they go" and vin "wine"; sans "without", son "sound" and saint "saint".
After i and o
ien is a quick y and the in sound: bien, rien, chien. oin is a quick w and in: loin, moins, besoin.
When the vowel isn't nasal
When n or m is doubled or followed by a vowel, the vowel before it is an ordinary one and the n or m is said. This is how many feminine forms sound different from their masculine:
Cards from this guide
8 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.
How is a nasal vowel made?
Air goes out through the nose as well as the mouth, and the n or m isn't said.
Which spellings make the vowel sound of dans?
an, am, en and em.
Which spellings make the vowel sound of vin?
in, im, ain, aim and ein, and for most speakers un.
Why is bon nasal but bonne not?
In bonne the n is doubled and followed by a vowel, so the o is plain and the n is said.
How is en said in bien or chien?
As the in sound, after a quick y.
When is a nasal vowel written with m?
Before b or p.
Is the -ent of ils parlent a nasal vowel?
No, it's silent.
What happens to the vowel of italien in the feminine italienne?
It stops being nasal, and the n is said.