Pronunciation is essential to be understood: knowing French grammar and vocabulary well is not enough to communicate effectively in a foreign language. Rhythm, intonation, and articulation are also very important in conversation. The goal isn’t to have perfect pronunciation, so don’t be afraid to speak! In fact, many people hold back and hesitate to speak because they want flawless diction. That’s really a shame. At the Centre International d’Antibes, whether through our programs for children or adults, we support everyone in learning pronunciation and speaking skills in a gradual and personalized way. The first thing you can do is learn the basics of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Why? Simply because many books offer phonetic transcriptions of difficult words. But you don’t always have the opportunity to hear the word pronounced in French.
There are some French words that are notoriously difficult to pronounce (accueillir, vraisemblable, aiguille, oignon, paon, etc.). If you're having trouble, remember that some online French dictionaries (www.larousse.fr, etc.) offer audio versions of words. That’s always helpful when in doubt. To speak well yourself, listening to native speakers is essential. Think about watching French films or listening to French songs. The great thing about songs is that it’s easy to find the lyrics online (www.paroles.net, www.lacoccinelle.net, etc.). With the lyrics in hand, you can improve your own French pronunciation by reading and listening at the same time to your favorite tracks. Don’t hesitate to sing out loud! As for French films, it’s a bit trickier since subtitles for the hearing impaired often shorten the dialogue. Another option is to listen to audiobooks, that is, French literary works read by volunteer readers (www.litteratureaudio.com, www.audiolivres.info, etc.).
If you come to learn French in France, you’ll have the chance to hear locals speak naturally. As you progress, you’ll start to notice regional variations. In the East, many people pronounce the number "vingt" as [vɛ̃t]. Don’t ask me why—because usually it’s in the South of France that people pronounce every letter! For example, if you hear someone pronounce the "L" in the word “persil,” chances are they’re from the South. In Antibes, we pronounce the final consonant in town names like “Biot” or “Vallauris.” In general, the southern accent is more melodic and open than elsewhere.
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