French pronunciation can be a challenge, but understanding the rules regarding certain vowels and consonant combinations can make all the difference in your language-learning journey.
In this article, we’ll focus on one very common letter than can have different pronunciations, depending on accents and the letters that follow – the letter e.
The Coffee Break French Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations, in which we demystify tricky French language topics. In the latest episode, Mark and Max discuss how to pronounce the letter e with no accent and how to pronounce é and è, as well as looking at other letter combinations that create the same sounds.
Continue reading to find out more and be sure to listen along to the podcast episode – hearing Max’s pronunciation will be essential for you to get the most from this article.
The sound ‘é’
The French letter é, with an acute accent, maintains a consistent pronunciation – the sound you hear in the word café. This sound is always the same when you encounter the letter é. Here are some examples of words containing é:
été
summer
météo
weather
déjeuner
lunch
Note, however, that there are other combinations of letters that produce exactly the same sound as the é.
We find the é sound in infinitive verbs ending in -er. For example:
parler
to speak
manger
to eat
When verbs are conjugated in the vous form, the -ez ending is also pronounced é. For example:
parlez
you speak
donnez
you give
In three-letter words, the combination -es also produces the é sound.
les
the
des
of the, some
mes
my
tes
your
ses
his, her
ces
these, those
The sound ‘è’
The French letter è, with a grave accent, also remains consistent in terms of pronunciation. Make sure to listen to the audio or video version of this episode to tune into how è sounds. Here are some common nouns containing this letter and sound:
frère
brother
père
father
bière
beer
The same sound can be obtained with the two-letter combination ai. For example:
français
French
paix
peace
Another way to obtain the sound è is when the letter e is followed by two consonants. Let’s see some more examples:
merci
thanks
respect
respect
appelle
call
In addition, the letters ei are also pronounced è. For example:
neige
snow
beige
beige
peine
sorrow
Max mentions an important point in the episode: as with many pronunciation points, there are regional differences and you may hear these letters and letter combinations pronounced in different ways, depending on where you are in the French-speaking world. So, listen out for slight differences in these vowel sounds and remember that there isn’t one specific regional variety of French to learn or copy – all accents and pronunciations are correct.
The sound ‘e’
The letter e, with no accent and when not part of the previously mentioned combinations, is pronounced something like an euh – exactly as it is pronounced in the French alphabet. Here are some common words that contain this sound:
petit
small
ce
this, that
le
the
Again, remember to listen to the podcast and practise this sound with Max and Mark.
In conclusion
Voilà pour ce mini-guide de la lettre ‘e’ !
Mastering French pronunciation takes time and practice, but understanding these rules can significantly improve your language skills. Don’t worry if you find these sounds difficult to master – French speakers will love that you are making an effort to pronounce them correctly.
Make sure to listen to the full episode with Mark and Max on The Coffee Break French Show. This is the series in which we look at a range of topics for French learners, so make sure to subscribe to our podcast feed and our channel on YouTube.
If you’d like more help with your pronunciation of French vowel sounds, you can watch a previous episode of The Coffee Break French Show in which Max and Mark discussed the tricky sounds u and ou. Click here to find the episode and the accompanying blog article.
Plus! To get regular free French lessons in your inbox, you can sign up for our short (coffee-break-sized) email lessons that will help you improve your French. You will also hear from Mark, the founder of Coffee Break Languages, giving advice for language learners at any level. Sign up below!
Keep practising your e sounds and you’ll become more confident in your ability to speak and be understood in French. Bonne chance !
Happy Coffee Breaking!
