While I drink my coffeeTap any word for a translation, collocations and examples. Underlined words can be saved in one tap.
The marks above e are not decoration: they tell you how to read it.
é (accent aigu) is a closed “ay” sound, lips slightly spread: café, été.
è and ê (accent grave and circonflexe) are an open “eh”, mouth wider: père, fête. Over a and u the mark usually does not change the sound but tells words apart: à (to, at) and a (has), où (where) and ou (or).
| FR | Sounds like | Means |
|---|---|---|
| été | ay-TAY | summertwo closed é |
| café | ka-FAY | coffee |
| élève | ay-LEV | pupilé closed, è open |
| père | pehr | fatherè open |
| mère | mehr | mother |
| fête | fet | party, festivalê open |
| forêt | fo-REH | forestt is silent |
| à Paris | a pa-ree | in / to Parisà is a preposition |
| où ? | oo | where?où = where, ou = or |