Au Secours!
Pronunciation Guide

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Ch = sh like Chicago, Champagne

J = zj (like treasure) je, Jacques

th = t (short) thon, théâtre

"u" sound (for tu)
This sound does not exist in English. Say "ooo" while pulling your lips back to your teeth. This creates a sharper and shorter vowel sound. Try tu, vu, rue.

"r" sound
In French, the "r" is a sound coming from your throat (like gargling). It is not like the Spanish or Italian "r" which is formed with the tongue and palate.

"i" sound
An "i" that has no other vowels around it will sound like "eee". There is no short "i" in French that would be like our "fish" or "it". Try midi, fini.

"e" sound
The "e" sound in the following words sounds like the "u" un put. We will represent thes sound with "uh" such as le = luh.

le, je, me, te, ne, que

Accents
é
= ay né, répété

è = eh emblème, système

Nasal Sounds
an, am, en, em
all sound like ensemble

in, im, ein, eim all sound like ah(n)

on, om sound like uh(n)

un sounds like uh(n)