Table of content

• Sound #1: ai / ei
• Sound #2: au / eau
• Sound #3: eu / œu
• Sound #4: ou
• Sound #5: oi

Sound #1: ai / ei

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The two combinations ai and ei form the same sound.

They are pronounced as in the English word (a bed).

Here are two examples:

Note that adding an n at the end of the combinations ai or ei will form a completely different sound.

ain and ein are nasal vowels.

Sound #2: au / eau

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au and eau sound the same as oa in the English word (a boat).

For example:

Sound #3: eu / œu

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eu is another type of combined vowels in French.

Pronounce this sound as in the English word (her):

You will also find the vowel cluster œu in some words. It is pronounced the same:

Sound #4: ou

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The combination ou is pronounced as in the English word (a tool).

It is a very common vowel combination in French. For example:

Sound #5: oi

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In the combination oi, the letter i should be pronounced as an a, as in (a farm).

Therefore the sound oi is similar to the one in the word (a waffle).

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Work on your French pronunciation with a collection of posts with examples and audio recordings.