panne versus panneau
/pan/ vs /pano/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
A2 · Français des urgences
Panne de voiture: 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
- MoiMa voiture est en panne sur l'autoroute.1
/ma vwatyʁ ɛt‿ɑ̃ pan syʁ lotoʁut/
My car has broken down on the highway. - DépannageOù êtes-vous situé exactement?2
/u ɛt vu sitɥe ɛɡzaktəmɑ̃/
Where exactly are you located? - MoiJe suis à la borne d'appel numéro quarante.3
/ʒə sɥiz‿a la bɔʁn dapɛl nymeʁo kaʁɑ̃t/
I am at call box number forty. - DépannageUne dépanneuse arrive dans trente minutes.4
/yn depanøz aʁiv dɑ̃ tʁɑ̃t minyt/
A tow truck will arrive in thirty minutes. - MoiEst-ce que je suis couvert par mon assurance?5
/ɛs kə ʒə sɥi kuvɛʁ paʁ mɔ̃n‿asyʁɑ̃s/
Am I covered by my insurance?Mon assurance links /n/. The dialogue alone does not determine whether a real insurance contract covers a breakdown.
- DépannageVérifiez votre contrat d'assistance, Monsieur.6
/veʁifje vɔtʁ kɔ̃tʁa dasistɑ̃s məsjø/
Check your assistance contract, sir.
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. Reviewed .
Culture and context in French
Read the situation beyond the individual lines.
En cas de panne, mettez votre gilet jaune et posez le triangle de sécurité. Sortez de la voiture si vous pouvez le faire sans danger. Appelez ensuite un service de dépannage.
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.
roue versus rue
/ʁu/ vs /ʁy/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
frein versus franc
/fʁɛ̃/ vs /fʁɑ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
huile versus île
/ɥil/ vs /il/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
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.
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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