Language/French/Pronunciation/Liaisons
Unlike some other languages, in French what you read is often different from what you pronounce.
"Une liaison" in French means "a link" or "a relationship". 2 words with "a liaison" are 2 words linked together. The last letter of the first word is pronounced under certain conditions.
According to Wikipedia, "the liaison is the pronunciation of a final consonant immediately before a following word starting with a vowel".
There are 3 types of liaisons: mandatory optional and forbidden liaisons. Here we describe only mandatory liaisons and prohibited liaisons.
Mandatory Liaisons[edit | edit source]
The sign _ means "pronounce the liaison". For example "les_amis" is pronounced "LeZami" with a liaison.
- Between a determinant and the word it determines: "les_amis", "quels_amis", "ces_amis", "les_uns et les_autres", "de bons_amis".
- Between a verb and its subject and object pronouns: "ils_ont", "les_ont_ils", "nous_en_avons".
- With adverbs, prepositions and monosyllabic conjunctions: "en_avion", "très_intéressant", "quand_elle parle".
- With the auxiliary verb to be (although this is a very frequent rather than obligatory link): "il est_ici", "ils sont_arrivés".
- Between the words constituting certain fixed expressions: "tout_à l’heure", "quand-est-ce que", "tout_à coup", "de temps_en temps", "un sous-entendu", etc.
Prohibited Liaisons[edit | edit source]
They are at the border of two important rhythmic and syntactic groups.
In this logic, the liaison is not pronounced between, for example:
The sign % means "do not pronounce the Liaison". For example "en % haut" is pronounced "en haut" without liaison.
- A nominal group and a verbal group: "les enfants % écoutent"
- A noun and an adjective postposed: "un étudiant % américain"
- After the proper names: "Jean % est parti"
- With conjunctions "et" and "ou" : "du pain % et % un bon fromage", "du pain % ou un croissant"
- After the interrogative adverbs : "Quand % est-il arrivé?", "Combien % en as-tu?"
- After the personal pronouns subject in an inversion : "vont-ils % arriver ?"
- With the words beginning with an aspirated "h" (« h » aspiré): "un % héros", "en % haut"
Here are a few words starting with a « h » aspiré:
French | English |
---|---|
hache | axe |
haie | hedge |
haine | hatred |
haïr | hate |
haleter | gasp |
hall | lobby |
halte | halt |
hamac | hammock |
hameau | hamlet |
hamster | hamster |
hanche | hip |
handicap | handicap |
hanneton | cockchafer |
hanter | haunt |
harceler | harass |
harem | harem |
hareng | herring |
haricot | bean |
harnais | harness |
harpe | harp |
harpon | harpoon |
hasard | hazard |
hâte | haste |
hausse | rise |
haut | top |
hautain | haughty |
hautbois | oboe |
Havane | Havana |
hérisson | hedgehog |
héron | heron |
héros | hero |
herse | harrow |
hibou | owl |
hiéroglyphe | hieroglyph |
hochet | rattle |
hockey | hockey |
Hollande | Holland |
homard | lobster |
Hongrie | Hungary |
honte | shame |
hoquet | hiccough |
houblon | hop |
hublot | porthole |
huit | eight |
hurler | to scream |
- In some frozen groups: "nez % à nez", "riz % au lait", "mort % ou vif"
Videos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Comments[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
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- France Regional Accents
- Silent Final Consonants
- Accents
- Aspirated VS non aspirated h
- Alphabet and Pronunciation
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- Accents (advanced level)
- b and p