While I drink my coffeeTap any word for a translation, collocations and examples. Underlined words can be saved in one tap.
French r is made at the back of the throat, not with the tip of the tongue, a bit like a soft gargle. Practise on merci.
At the end of a word r is usually pronounced: bonjour, pour, mer. But in the verb ending -er the r is silent and -er sounds like a closed “ay”: parler = “par-lay”, manger = “ma(n)-zhay”.
Do not worry about your accent: with an English r people will still understand you. But a throaty r instantly makes you sound “French”.
| FR | Sounds like | Means |
|---|---|---|
| merci | mehr-see | thank your in the throat |
| rouge | roozh | red |
| trois | trwa | three |
| la rue | la rü | the streetr and u together |
| bonjour | bo(n)-zhoor | hellofinal r is pronounced |
| parler | par-LAY | to speak-er = “ay”, r silent |
| manger | ma(n)-ZHAY | to eat |
| le dîner | luh dee-NAY | dinner |