Tips to improve your pronunciation in French

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Learning French is a great adventure ! But between nasal sounds, liaisons and the famous "R" of the throat, pronunciation can sometimes seem like an obstacle course. Don't panic ! With a little practice and the right tips, you can improve your accent and speak like a true French speaker.

How to learn to pronounce a word correctly?

1. Listen, listen... and listen again !

The ear plays a key role in learning pronunciation. Watch movies, listen to podcasts or music in French. Try to imitate native speakers by repeating after them. A good exercise is to watch videos with subtitles and read along with the audio. Don't hesitate to pause and repeat the words yourself.

2. Practice reading aloud

Take a book, an article, or even movie dialogues that you like and read them aloud. This will help you articulate the sounds correctly and gain fluency. You can also record yourself to compare your pronunciation with that of a native French speaker.

How to pronounce difficult sounds?

3. Repeat difficult sounds

French has sounds that can be difficult for learners: • The French "R" (as in the word "rue") • The distinction between "u" (moon) and "ou" (wolf) • Nasal vowels like "an", "on", "un"

To improve your pronunciation, work on these sounds individually by repeating them several times. Start by pronouncing each letter of the alphabet independently, then each sound you know, syllable by syllable. Finally, pronounce the entire word.

4. Use the mirror technique

Look at yourself in a mirror while pronouncing words. It may seem strange, but observing the movements of your mouth will help you reproduce the sounds better. Don't hesitate to accentuate each letter and each sound to understand the gesture on your face. If necessary, use your fingers, placed on each side of your mouth, or a pen to observe the movement.

5. Speak with native French speakers

There's nothing better than practicing in a real situation ! Exchange with native French speakers, in person or through lessons with your teacher. Speak in a relaxed manner with people you are comfortable with. Feel free to ask them to repeat a word if you don't understand or if the pronunciation seems unclear to you. Sometimes the French speak quickly, but you'll catch up !

I want to have a French accent !

6. Changing your accent, a good idea ?

When you learn a new language, it is very difficult to change the accent of your mother tongue. Don't worry ! We are not asking you to lose your accent, it is part of your charm! If you speak French with the right vocabulary and a fluent and understandable oral expression, your interlocutor will understand what you say, whatever your accent. By improving your pronunciation, you will improve your accent in French, naturally.

7. Be patient and have fun

Learning pronunciation in French takes time. Don't get discouraged and have fun learning! The most important thing is to practice regularly and not be afraid of making mistakes.

So, ready to speak French ?