When to pronounce that P

Do you know when to pronounce that P and when not . . . and hesitate when speaking because there’s this 50/50 choice going on in your head and slowing you down? 

In this mini-lesson, you’ll discover:

• When you DO pronounce the P

• When you DON’T pronounce that P

• Other words with this P!

When DO you pronounce the P?

Sometimes you say it, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you do it only when there’s a liaison…I feel you, it can be frustrating but I’m going to share with you some words we use every day, so you can memorise them more easily. 

Here are the French words you will be focusing on in this mini-lesson:

• trop >>> too much / many / too
• compter >>> to count
• dompter  >>> to tame
• camp >>> camp

• galop >>> gallop

• coup >>> punch / knock

• temps >>> time / weather

• température >>> temperature

• top >>> awesome

• rap >>> rap

• drap >>> sheet
• Jean-Baptiste >>> Jean-Baptiste

Do you already have an idea when to pronounce that P?

TROP, when the pronunciation of P is optional or ignored.

There are many words in French when you can choose to make the liaison or not. It’s just a question of liking. In this case, you can pay attention to what native speakers say.

For the word trop, you can make the liaison or not.

Let’s have an example:

• Ce film est trop ennuyeux. >>> This film is too boring.

Choose the option you prefer: say the p or not. Both are acceptable.

In other cases, there’s no liaison since the following word starts with a consonant. 

I have this instance for you: 

• Cet exercice est trop facile. >>> This exercise is too easy.

If you use only trop without anything like in the expression, you never say the p:

• C’est trop ! >>> It’s too much!

Remember to ignore the final letter if there’s nothing after... 

Another example where no liaison is involved:

• Ce lapin. C’est trop mignon ! >>> This rabbit. It’s too cute!

And if there’s a vowel, be sure to make the liaison:

• Cet homme est trop agé. >>> This man is too old.

COMPTER and DOMPTER: which one has the P pronounced?

When the letter P is in the middle, you never know whether should say it or not.

Can you guess in these 2 words, which one has a pronounced P and the other one does not?

The first one compter sounds like “conter”. Indeed, you ignore the P like in this example:

• J’ai compté tous les tigres. >>> I’ve counted all the tigers.

And for the second French word, you do have to say the P!

• J’ai dompté le plus petit. >>> I’ve tamed the smallest one.

Let’s continue with the word compter and its extensions: comptable (accountant) , comptabilité (accountability)...

You do the same and ignore the P in the middle.

• Le comptable m’a informé combien ça m’a coûté.>>> The accountant informed me how much it cost me.

Note that the adjective somptueux / somptueuse work just like dompter where the p is pronounced:

Silent P in these words but not for its extended variations. 

Time to see these words where you’ll use the final P only for its extensions.

For instance, you never say the final P for these 2 French words:

• camp >>> camp

• galop >>> gallop

However, you will use it when we expand the original word: 

• campement >>> camp

• camping >>> camping

And with the other word: 

• galoper >>> to gallop

Let’s have another example. For the French word coup, you don’t pronounce the final P except if it’s the verb: 

• couper >>> to cut

Remenber that the word coup does not require the P even in expressions like:

•  coup de grâce 

But for the word coupe, you do say it because there's an 'e' after.

• une coupe de glace >>>  an ice cream bowl.

You would hear this word all the time: temps. It refers to time or more commonly to the weather. Keep it silent please.

• Quel temps fait-il? >>> What’s the weather like?

But, if you talk about temperature, the French word is the same with an accent: température.

And you do say the P.

• Quelle est la température en été ?  >>> What’s the temperature in summer?

Pronounce the P in these English words in French. 

A simple rule. Whenever French borrows English words with a final P, the pronunciation is kept.

In other words, you do pronounce the final P:

• top >>> awesome
• rap >>> rap

• drap >>> sheet

And the same with the other examples:

• clip >>> (video) clip
• rap >>> rap

• drap >>> sheet

Never say the P for these French words. 

This is an everyday word: drap. It means sheet in French.

Please ignore the P even with liaisons:

•  un drap orange  >>> an orange sheet

The same is true for this common French name: Jean-Baptiste.

It’s normal if you want to say the P but we never say it in the French version.

To summarise, the final P can be silent or pronounced. Sometimes, it’s even optional. Something for sure, if the word is originally English, you keep the P.

The best way is to pay attention to native speakers and take notes. Then, use your own examples.

I have other lessons to help you with your pronunciation:

How to pronounce é and è in French 

How to pronounce ation properly in French

What are the French words where you pronounce the P or other letters when you shouldn't? I'd love to know and help you.