zh - an unusual sound

The sound that is sometimes represented by zh in phonetic notation is fairly rare in English.

In English, we use the zh sound in:

• g in beige
• s in usual

In French, it is the sound made by the letter j:

• je (I)
• jambon (ham)
• jardin (garden)

It is also the soft sound made by the letter g:

• girafe (giraffe)
• manger (to eat)

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u says "oo," almost

The French u sound is different from any sound we have in English. It is very close to the "oo" sound in food, but not exactly the same. To make the French u sound shape your tongue and teeth as if you are going to say "ee" and shape your lips as if you are going to say "oo" in food. The sound that comes out will be the French u sound!

Can you translate these French words?

tortue (tor-TY) - hint: a slow-moving animal
brune (bryn) - hint: brunette
tulipe (ty-LEEP) - hint: a spring flower
tuque (tyk) - hint: keeps your head warm in winter
lune (lyn) - hint: lunar

Visit Nallenart for more information about our French curriculum for grades K-9.

* "y" = the French u sound. Please note that these guides give only an approximation of the real French sounds.
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é says "ay"

Sometimes French uses accents to show what kind of sound a certain letter should have. In French é says "ay." Here are some é words for you to translate.

bébé (bay-BAY)
téléphone (tay-lay-FUN)
éléphant (ay-lay-FAH)
café (ca-FAY)
télévision (tay-lay-vee-ZYOH)

Visit Nallenart for more information about our French curriculum for grades K-9.

* Please note that these guides give only an approximation of the real French sounds.
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a says "a" in sack

In French, the letter a makes a short sound like the a in sack. Can you translate these French words based on their sound?

sac (sak)
radio (rad-YOH)
carotte (ca-RUT)
table (TA-bluh)
salade (sa-LAD)

Visit Nallenart for more information about our French curriculum for grades K-9.

* Please note that these guides give only an approximation of the real French sounds.
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i says "ee"

The letter i says "ee" in French, as in the name Lisa. Here are some French words that use the "ee" sound made by the letter i. Can you tell what these words mean in English?

tigre (TEE-gruh)
appétit (a-pay-TEE)
favori (fa-voh-REE)
Bible (BEE-bluh)
girafe (zhee-RAF)*

Visit Nallenart for more information about our French curriculum for grades K-9.

* "zh" = g in beige or s in usual. Please note that these guides give only an approximation of the real French sounds.
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French Fact: Bilingual Canada

Did you know that Canada has two official languages? They are English and French. The Official Languages Act states that:

"the Constitution of Canada provides that English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada."

Across the country English speaking students spend some of their time learning French and French speaking students spend some of their time learning English. Canadian students also have much more opportunity to develop their second language skills in everyday life, since both French and English can be seen on labels, road signs, and government websites and literature.

Just for fun, get a printable copy of Canada's food guide in French here:
Guide alimentaire canadien