prix versus prise
/pʁi/ vs /pʁiz/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
A2 · Français des affaires
La négociation: 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
- ClientVotre tarif est un peu élevé pour notre budget.1
/vɔtʁ taʁif ɛt‿œ̃ pø eləve puʁ nɔtʁ bydʒɛ/
Your rate is a bit high for our budget. - MoiC'est le prix de la qualité et du service après-vente.2
/sɛ lə pʁi də la kalite e dy sɛʁvis apʁɛ vɑ̃t/
That's the price of quality and after-sales service. - ClientPourriez-vous faire un geste commercial?3
/puʁje vu fɛʁ œ̃ ʒɛst kɔmɛʁsjal/
Could you offer a discount?Faire un geste commercial asks for a concession, such as a discount; it does not mean a physical hand gesture.
- MoiOn peut envisager une remise de cinq pour cent.4
/ɔ̃ pø ɑ̃vizaʒe yn ʁəmiz də sɛ̃k puʁ sɑ̃/
We can consider a five percent discount. - ClientC'est un bon début, on va y réfléchir sérieusement.5
/sɛt‿œ̃ bɔ̃ deby ɔ̃ va i ʁefleʃiʁ seʁjøzmɑ̃/
That's a good start, we'll think about it seriously. - MoiParfait, je vous envoie la proposition révisée par mail.6
/paʁfɛ ʒə vuz‿ɑ̃vwa la pʁɔpozisjɔ̃ ʁevize paʁ mɛl/
Perfect, I'll send you the revised proposal by email.
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. Larousse: mail. Reviewed .
Culture and context in French
Read the situation beyond the individual lines.
Une bonne négociation demande de la confiance. Expliquez vos arguments clairement et respectez les délais. L'accord final doit être écrit.
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.
vente versus vent
/vɑ̃t/ vs /vɑ̃/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
offre versus ouvre
/ɔfʁ/ vs /uvʁ/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
taux versus tout
/to/ vs /tu/
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. 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.
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