les amis versus l'ami
/lez‿ami/ vs /lami/
Compare the complete phrases; more than one sound or word may change. ‿ marks a connection between words.
A2- · French pronunciation lesson
Liaisons obligatoires (Les liens nécessaires): 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.
Apprendre à lier la consonne finale muette au mot suivant commençant par une voyelle.
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1Les‿amis arrivent.
/lez‿ami aʁiv/
The friends are arriving.Les links to amis. The optional liaison from the plural noun amis to arrivent is omitted.
- 2C'est‿un livre utile.
/sɛt‿œ̃ livʁ ytil/
It's a useful book.C’est links to un with t. Utile describes the singular noun livre; the final e does not add a vowel.
- 3Vous‿avez raison.
/vuz‿ave ʁɛzɔ̃/
You are right. - 4Deux‿enfants entrent.
/døz‿ɑ̃fɑ̃ ɑ̃tʁ/
Two children enter. - 5Les‿amis de mes‿enfants sont très‿aimables.
/lez‿ami də mez‿ɑ̃fɑ̃ sɔ̃ tʁɛz‿ɛmabl/
My children's friends are very kind.The links shown are les–amis, mes–enfants and très–aimables. Optional liaison after sont is omitted.
- 6Vous‿avez un‿appartement dans les‿Alpes?
/vuz‿ave œ̃n‿apaʁtəmɑ̃ dɑ̃ lez‿alp/
Do you have an apartment in the Alps?
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.
vous avez versus vous savez
/vuz‿ave/ vs /vu save/
Compare the complete phrases; more than one sound or word may change. ‿ marks a connection between words.
deux enfants versus deux parents
/døz‿ɑ̃fɑ̃/ vs /dø paʁɑ̃/
Compare the complete phrases; more than one sound or word may change. ‿ marks a connection between words.
six ans versus six jours
/siz‿ɑ̃/ vs /si ʒuʁ/
Compare the complete phrases; more than one sound or word may change. ‿ marks a connection between words.
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.
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