Paris versus paru
/paʁi/ vs /paʁy/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
A2 · French pronunciation lesson
L'accent final du groupe (La mélodie montante): phrase and IPA practice
Read six useful French phrases, check their IPA and English meaning, then compare four words, phrases, or spoken forms.
Teacher note
What to notice before you repeat.
Placer l'allongement et la tension sur la dernière syllabe de chaque groupe rythmique.
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1C'est bon ↑.
/sɛ bɔ̃ ↑/
It's good.Arrows reproduce this exercise’s suggested pitch movement. Rising pitch alone is not a rule for final stress.
- 2Un petit café ↑?
/œ̃ pəti kafe ↑/
A small coffee? - 3Je suis prêt ↑.
/ʒə sɥi pʁɛ ↑/
I am ready. - 4Regarde la mer ↑.
/ʁəɡaʁd la mɛʁ ↑/
Look at the sea. - 5J'aimerais bien ↑ / prendre un petit café ↑ / s'il vous plaît ↓.
/ʒɛmʁɛ bjɛ̃ ↑ | pʁɑ̃dʁ œ̃ pəti kafe ↑ | sil vu plɛ ↓/
I would like to have a small coffee, please.Arrows suggest rising continuation and a final fall for this reading; another intention can produce a different contour.
- 6Regarde la mer ↑ / elle est si bleue ↑ / ce matin ↓.
/ʁəɡaʁd la mɛʁ ↑ | ɛl ɛ si blø ↑ | sə matɛ̃ ↓/
Look at the sea, it is so blue this morning.
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: prosody. Reviewed .
Four focused comparisons
Compare the words, sounds, or delivery.
Read the label on each card. A one-sound contrast changes one sound; other cards compare whole words, identical readings, connected speech, or intonation. Follow the note before repeating.
café versus cave
/kafe/ vs /kav/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
photo versus faute
/foto/ vs /fot/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
métro versus maître
/metʁo/ vs /mɛtʁ/
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 .
A short repeat routine
Meaning first, then shape, then speed.
- Read the English meaning so the line has a clear intention.
- Use the IPA to locate the target sound or connection.
- Repeat slowly without adding an English-style extra vowel.
- Follow the comparison card’s note and return to the complete phrase.
- Use the sound chart to hear a reference for a sound you find difficult.
Evidence boundary
IPA is a reference, not a pronunciation score.
The transcription and contrasts support deliberate practice. They do not certify an accent, diagnose a speech issue, or prove CEFR proficiency. Phrase Match in the app reports detected words and can be wrong.
Start a guided speaking task in Parle.
The app has 35 free sound references with recording and replay, plus a separate speaking course. Try its first 4 missions on greetings and introductions free; Premium opens all 120 missions.