Switch from sounding English to sounding really French with these 20 words to practise with

“Prononciation”

Can you actually pronounce this properly in both English AND French?  In fact, very many English words are similar in French and when we read them, we use our ‘English’ brain. 

In this mini-lesson, I have chosen 20 commonly used words and pronounced them in French for you and strongly reinforce the need to get your mouth into position correctly to actually sound French! 

So you want to sound French? - dive in and get speaking!

Discover:

• How to pronounce 20 English words occurring in both French and English

• How to avoid using your ‘English mouth’ 

• How you can pronounce these words like a native French person

How you can pronounce these words like a native French person

Is it a trap? Oui! Indeed, it’s even more natural to make these mistakes because these are English words. However, they are borrowed…It means that they go under a French pronunciation.

In this case, you will have to concentrate even more in order to avoid these traps.

Since this mini-lesson deals with pronunciation, I highly recommend you watch the video several times to absorb the information.

These are the 20 English words we will be covering together:

1. Restaurant >>> restaurant
2. Table >>> table
3. Hôtel >>> hotel
4. Radio >>> radio
5. Télévision >>> télévision 
6. Hôpital >>> hospital
7. Nature >>> nature
8. Final >>> final
9. Capital >>> capital 
10.  Spécial >>> special 
11.  Original >>> original
12.  Chocolat >>> chocolate
13.  Musique >>> music
14.  Banane >>> banana
15.  Cinéma >>> cinema 
16.  Appartement >>> apartment, flat 
17.  Tradition >>> tradition
18.  Nation >>> nation
19.  Session >>> session
20.  Prononciation >>> pronunciation

How to avoid using your ‘English mouth’ 

Before you dive into your French mastery, you should be aware of what English looks and sounds like.

Have you ever paid attention to a video (with no sound) to observe someone speaking English? Sometimes, you can even guess that the native language of a person is English without talking!

Why? Because people who speak English tend to have a round mouth. In addition, since there are several diphthongs (a sound with 2 vowels), English is a “round” language.

Unlike English, French needs flexy lips. People who speak French seem to do lip sports! They extend their lips a lot more, not in a round way but vertically and horizontally. 

It’s not a surprise with the French vowels that require more tension.

Your lips work most with the u sound.

So, if you wish to sound French, you could:

• Lower the tip of your tongue behind your bottom teeth
• Form the word more on your lips than in your mouth
• Focus on the vowels more than the consonants
• Focus on the stress of the word being at the end

In the video, I show you exactly how to achieve this.

How to pronounce 20 English words occurring in both French and English

In this section, you are going to see how to pronounce 20 words. As you may have already observed, these words usually share the same spelling. In French, they would have an extra accent and a minor spelling change. Thankfully, as they are cognates, you don’t need to study French to understand their meaning.

The first one is restaurant.

Why is it different?

As you will see with all the words, the difference is about the stress on certain syllables and mute letters.

In the case of the word restaurant, you will never say the final t. Then, you will say “toe” for the syllable “tau” instead of shorten it like in English. Finally, the pronunciation of the “r” will definitely be different in French.

And don’t forget the nasal vowel “an” at the end.

The second one is table.

Same exact spelling. But, you will say “taaaa” and not “tay”. And for the second syllable, it is not the “bel” sound but “bl” one.

The third word is hôtel. The main differences are you ignore the h in French and the t sound is “hard”. The last letter l is not retroflexive. In other words, your tongue goes back to its initial place and not at the paladar.

This word has almost the same spelling. Yet, its pronunciation differs quite a bit.

Then, you have the same written word: radio. Are you aware that in English, the word is split into 3 syllables? Indeed, you say it as ra-di-o.

In French, you deal only with 2 syllables: ra - dio.

Be sure to say the French r and the “ahhh” sound instead of “ray”. Then, say “dio” with a strong “d”.

The word télévision is so interesting for your pronunciation that I wrote a whole mini-lesson about it that you can find it here. 

The word hôpital works like the previous one hôtel. Why? Because you don’t say the h. There’s no s like in English. And the final syllable is “tallll” instead of “tol”. Don’t forget about the l that goes back to its place…

We have another example where the spelling is identical: nature. Yet, the pronunciation is far from the same! As usual, the “a” sound in French is “ahhh” and not “ay” like in English. Then, in English you produce the sound “tch” when in French, it is a “t” sound. And on top of it, you have the vowel “u” that follows. To finish, the sound r will require more concentration.

Watch the video to see how to pronounce it.

Ready for another one? The word final in French is the combination of “fiiii” and “naaaal”. In English, you say something like “fay-nol”. Can you hear the difference?

The same happens with the word capital. Pay attention to the last syllable which is “taaal” and not “tol”. Be sure to stress this syllable as well.

Same spelling except for the accent: spécial. Here, you will refrain from saying “sh” sound. Instead, say “s” sound. And switch the “ol” sound for a “aaaallle” one please.

Another similar example with original. Same spelling and a light spoken version.

First, the French r has nothing to do with the English one. And we say “gee” and not “dgeee”. Finally, the “al” stays as “aaaal” and not “ol” sound.

Have you seen the movie “Chocolat” with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche? Well, so many people say the title in a wrong way…Why? Because they have no idea that the t is silent to start with. Then, people ignore that it’s “sh” and not “tsh”. Just like the famous French brand “Chanel” and not “channel”! 

The last syllable will be “laaa”. Therefore, you say: sho-co-la.

When you usually have the ending “ic” in English, it becomes “ique” in French such as “fantastique”, “comique”, “électronique”...

For the word musique, you will need to make the effort to produce the “u” sound and not “miyou”. Instead say “mu”. Finally, stress the last syllable instead of the first one.

Easy word. Switch the a for the vowel e and you obtain the French word of banane.

Simply imagine that there are two syllables: ba - nan. Be sure to say the French sound “a” like aaaaa. (Yup, make like a sheep!) 

Time to see the word cinéma.

The main difference in French is the stress that goes at the end of the word: si-né- MA.

And with a strong “a” sound.

The French word of appartement comes with a double p and the vowel “e” after the first  “t”. Remember to say the French a sound. Don’t ignore the “e” in the middle and produce the nasal sound of “en”.

The exact same spelling: tradition. A lot of French words with this end are pronounced “sion” with the nasal “on”. Here, the “t” is like the “s” letter.

Once you master this ending, you’ll be able to do the same with: compétition, organisation, association…

Like I was saying, the same applies with the word nation. Not only will you pay attention to the ending, but you also will concentrate on “naaa” instead of “nay” sound.

The ending “tion” is like the  “sion” ending. Practice your nasal vowel on.

Therefore, the word session in French is: sé -sion.

Finally, another one for you: prononciation. In French, there’s no “u”. Instead, you get the nasal vowel “on” twice! Of course the “siay” becomes “siaa”. Don’t forget the French r either…

20 commonly used English words with a French pronunciation.

As you have seen, many words share the same spelling and differ only for an accent or a few letters.

It is very tempting to say them like you do in English. However, you will have to remember about the French R, the ending “tion”, the letter a…and to stress the final syllable in order to sound French.

I share with other mini-lessons to help you with your pronunciation:

Say the R like a Native French   

Sound like a French native with FRENCH FLEXY LIPS

So, can you tell me other English words French people use and say them in a total different way?