Les lettres avec des sons spéciaux

Silent or aspirated “h”?

The silent “h”

The “h” will be silent when the article in front of it is “l’.” In this case, we consider the “h” to be silent because it is not pronounced at all and we use a “z” link with “des” or “les.”  

For example:
L’hôtel → Les (z)hôtels.

The aspirated “h”

The “h” will be aspirated when the article in front of it is “le” or “la.” In this case, we can’t consider the “h” to be silent as it gives a longer sound to the vowel placed after it. For that reason, we can’t link it with “des” or “les.”  

For example:
Le haricot → Les haricots.

S or z sound?

“Z” sound

When there is one “s” between two vowels, it sounds like a “z.”  

For example:
Hésiter → To hesitate “ey-zee-tey.”

“S” sound

When there are two “s” between two vowels, they sound like an “s.”  

For example:
Assez → Enough “ah-sey.”

“ey” sound?

On top of all the combinations of letters making the sound “ey,” it is possible to obtain it when:

The letter “e” is before an “s”

For example:
Esprit → Spirit.  “ey-ss-pree.”

The letter “e” is before an “x”

For example:
Excuse-moi → Excuse me.  “ey-ss-cuz-mwa.”

The letter “e” is before two consonants or a double consonant

For example:
Angleterre → England.  “on-gluh-tey-rr.”
Perdu → Lost. → “pair-du”.

“emm” or “enn” sound?

“ah” sound

In some words, when “e” is placed in front of “mm”, we pronounce it “ah” and not “ey”. This is an exception to the rule above. Unfortunately, not every word that has “emm” will be pronounced “amm” and there are no rules to help you.  

For example:
Une femme → A woman. → “fam”.
Évidemment → Evidently. → “ey-vee-da-mohn”.

“ohn” sound

In some words, when “e” is placed in front of “mm” or in front of “nn”, we combine the “e” and the “m” or the “n” into the sound “ohn” and we use the other “m” or “n” with the letters coming after it. Unfortunately, not every word that has “emm” or “enn” will follow this, and there are no rules to help you.  

For example:
UL’ennui → Boredom. → “ohn-nwee”.
Emménager → To move in. → “ohn-mey-na-jey”.

“y” sound?

When the letter “y” is stuck between two vowels it will be used twice, once with each vowel to create a sound.  

For example:
Nettoyer →
“oy” = “wa” and “yer” = “yeah” →
“ney-twa-yeah.”

Ennuyer →
“uy” = “wee” and “yer” = “yeah” →
“on-nwee-yeah.”

Payer →
“ay” = “ey” and “yer” = “yeah” →
“pey-yeah.”