sirop versus zéro
/siʁo/ vs /zeʁo/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
A2 · Français de la santé
À la pharmacie: French dialogue with IPA and English
Follow all six turns, inspect the pronunciation, and practise the contrasts that matter inside this situation.
Six turns for this web role-play
French conversation, IPA, and English meaning
- ClientJ'ai une toux sèche qui m'empêche de dormir.1
/ʒe yn tu sɛʃ ki mɑ̃pɛʃ də dɔʁmiʁ/
I have a dry cough that keeps me from sleeping. - PharmaEst-ce que vous avez aussi de la fièvre?2
/ɛs kə vuz‿ave osi də la fjɛvʁ/
Do you also have a fever? - ClientUn peu, j'ai trente-huit degrés ce matin.3
/œ̃ pø | ʒe tʁɑ̃t ɥi dəɡʁe sə matɛ̃/
A little; my temperature is thirty-eight degrees this morning.Before degrés, the final /t/ of trente-huit is omitted in this reference reading. Toux in the first line is /tu/, without an /s/ or /ks/.
- PharmaPrenez ce sirop et des pastilles pour la gorge.4
/pʁəne sə siʁo e de pastij puʁ la ɡɔʁʒ/
Take this syrup and some throat lozenges. - ClientJe dois en prendre combien de fois par jour?5
/ʒə dwaz‿ɑ̃ pʁɑ̃dʁ kɔ̃bjɛ̃ də fwa paʁ ʒuʁ/
How many times a day should I take it? - PharmaTrois fois par jour, après le repas de préférence.6
/tʁwa fwa paʁ ʒuʁ apʁɛ lə ʁəpa də pʁefeʁɑ̃s/
Three times a day, preferably after meals.
How to read this IPA. These are broad French reference readings, edited as complete sentences. Accent, schwa and optional liaison vary; many speakers use /ɛ̃/ where this reference keeps /œ̃/. The mark ‿ highlights a word link; | marks a rhythmic break; ↑ and ↓ suggest pitch movement.
Word readings adapted from Lexique 3.83, Boris New and Christophe Pallier et al.; sentence readings and notes edited by Parle. Revised IPA and notes: CC BY-SA 4.0. See OQLF on obligatory, forbidden and optional liaison. OQLF: huit. OQLF: sept and neuf. OQLF: six and dix. Reviewed .
Culture and context in French
Read the situation beyond the individual lines.
Les pharmaciens français ont un rôle de proximité. Ils soignent les petits maux du quotidien. Si les symptômes persistent, ils vous orienteront vers un médecin généraliste.
Four focused comparisons
Compare words before another full read.
Follow each card’s label and note. Some words differ by one sound, some share a pronunciation, and others differ more broadly. Use the sentence context when the words sound alike.
cachet versus caché
/kaʃɛ/ vs /kaʃe/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
peau versus peur
/po/ vs /pœʁ/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
crème versus crime
/kʁɛm/ vs /kʁim/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
Word IPA adapted from Lexique 3.83, Boris New and Christophe Pallier et al., with contextual readings and notes edited by Parle. Comparison transcriptions and notes: CC BY-SA 4.0. Broad reference readings vary with accent and speaking style. See OQLF’s liaison guidance and prosody reference. OQLF IPA reference. Reviewed .
Role-play routine
Keep the intention; change one detail.
- Read the exchange once for meaning without stopping at every IPA symbol.
- Repeat one speaker's turns and keep the other turns as prompts.
- Change one time, place, object, or preference while preserving the structure.
- Switch roles and answer without reading the original line word for word.
- Use the sound chart for a reference clip when a sound is difficult.
Safety boundary
This is language practice, not professional advice.
The dialogue does not diagnose, treat, provide emergency instructions, replace a clinician, or replace local emergency services. Use qualified help for real medical, legal, financial, or safety decisions.
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