long versus lent
/lɔ̃/ vs /lɑ̃/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
A2 · French pronunciation lesson
Rythme dans la phrase longue (La vague française): 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 rythme naturel de la phrase longue en français.
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1À Paris, / il pleut.
/a paʁi | il plø/
In Paris, it rains. - 2S'il vous plaît, / un café.
/sil vu plɛ | œ̃ kafe/
Please, a coffee. - 3Même si, / c'est dur.
/mɛm si | sɛ dyʁ/
Even if, it's hard. - 4Dans la rue, / les gens marchent.
/dɑ̃ la ʁy | le ʒɑ̃ maʁʃ/
In the street, people walk. - 5À Paris ↑ / il pleut souvent ↑ / pendant l'automne ↓.
/a paʁi ↑ | il plø suvɑ̃ ↑ | pɑ̃dɑ̃ lotɔn ↓/
In Paris, it often rains during autumn. - 6Dans la petite rue ↑ / les gens marchent vite ↑ / pour rentrer ↓.
/dɑ̃ la pətit ʁy ↑ | le ʒɑ̃ maʁʃ vit ↑ | puʁ ʁɑ̃tʁe ↓/
In the small street, people walk quickly to go home.
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.
vite versus vide
/vit/ vs /vid/
Change the contrasting sound while keeping the other sounds steady.
temps versus tant
/tɑ̃/ vs /tɑ̃/
These reference readings sound the same. Use spelling and sentence context to tell the forms apart.
rythme versus rime
/ʁitm/ vs /ʁim/
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.
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