plat versus plan
/pla/ vs /plɑ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
A2+ · French pronunciation lesson
Restaurant rapide (Commande polie): 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.
Enchaîner poliment au comptoir : intonation montante pour les questions, descente pour confirmer.
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1Vous prendrez quoi comme plat?
/vu pʁɑ̃dʁe kwa kɔm pla/
What dish will you have? - 2Une salade et une eau minérale, s'il vous plaît.
/yn salad e yn o mineʁal sil vu plɛ/
A salad and a mineral water, please. - 3Vous mangez sur place ou à emporter?
/vu mɑ̃ʒe syʁ plas u a ɑ̃pɔʁte/
Are you eating here or taking away? - 4Sur place, merci.
/syʁ plas mɛʁsi/
Here, thank you. - 5Ce sera huit euros cinquante, carte ou espèces?
/sə səʁa ɥit‿øʁo sɛ̃kɑ̃t kaʁt u ɛspɛs/
That will be eight euros fifty, card or cash?Huit keeps t before euros. Espèces is /ɛspɛs/, without an extra plural consonant.
- 6En espèces, et gardez la monnaie.
/ɑ̃n‿ɛspɛs e ɡaʁde la mɔnɛ/
Cash, and keep the change.The payment is edited to cash, so “keep the change” makes sense. En links to espèces; et has no final t.
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: huit. 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.
comptoir versus couloir
/kɔ̃twaʁ/ vs /kulwaʁ/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
carte versus quart
/kaʁt/ vs /kaʁ/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
emporter versus apporter
/ɑ̃pɔʁte/ vs /apɔʁte/
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.
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.