Paie versus Pain
/pɛ/ vs /pɛ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
A1 · French pronunciation lesson
Le son nasal [ɛ̃] (in, ain, ein, un): 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.
Maîtriser le son [ɛ̃] en gardant la langue vers l'avant et les lèvres étirées (bouche mi-fermée).
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1C'est du vin.
/sɛ dy vɛ̃/
It's wine. - 2Il a faim.
/il a fɛ̃/
He is hungry. - 3Quel beau dessin!
/kɛl bo desɛ̃/
What a beautiful drawing! - 4Prends le train.
/pʁɑ̃ lə tʁɛ̃/
Take the train. - 5Je vais prendre le train de demain matin.
/ʒə vɛ pʁɑ̃dʁ lə tʁɛ̃ də dəmɛ̃ matɛ̃/
I'm going to take tomorrow morning's train. - 6Mon voisin a faim et cherche un bon magasin de pain.
/mɔ̃ vwazɛ̃ a fɛ̃ e ʃɛʁʃ œ̃ bɔ̃ maɡazɛ̃ də pɛ̃/
My neighbor is hungry and is looking for a good bread shop.
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 .
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.
Lait versus Lin
/lɛ/ vs /lɛ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
Mai versus Main
/mɛ/ vs /mɛ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
Tas versus Teint
/ta/ vs /tɛ̃/
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 .
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.
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