A2 · French pronunciation lesson

Rythme de la parole naturelle (Vitesse et élisions — synthèse): 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.

Combiner toutes les techniques de réduction pour atteindre une fluidité de niveau natif.

Six phrases for this web practice

French phrases with IPA and English meaning

  1. 1
    Il n'y a personne.

    /il nja pɛʁsɔn/

    There is no one.
  2. 2
    Y a personne.

    /ja pɛʁsɔn/

    There's no one.
  3. 3
    Tu as faim?

    /ty a fɛ̃/

    Are you hungry?
  4. 4
    T'as faim?

    /ta fɛ̃/

    Hungry?
  5. 5
    Il n'y a personne qui m'a dit que tu avais fini.

    /il nja pɛʁsɔn ki ma di kə ty avɛ fini/

    There is no one who told me that you had finished.
  6. 6
    J'te dis quoi dès que ch'suis à la maison.

    /ʃtə di kwa dɛ kə ʃɥi a la mɛzɔ̃/

    I'll tell you what as soon as I'm home.

    This shows one informal reading: j’te as /ʃtə/ and ch’suis as /ʃɥi/. Full forms and other reductions are also possible.

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.

1 · Spoken form

il n'y a personne versus y a personne

/il nja pɛʁsɔn/ vs /ja pɛʁsɔn/

The second form is one possible informal spoken reading. Reductions vary with speaker and context.

2 · Spoken form

je te rappelle versus j'te rappelle

/ʒə tə ʁapɛl/ vs /ʃtə ʁapɛl/

The second form is one possible informal spoken reading. Reductions vary with speaker and context.

3 · Spoken form

qu'est-ce que tu fais versus qu'est-ce tu fais

/kɛs kə ty fɛ/ vs /kɛs ty fɛ/

The second form is one possible informal spoken reading. Reductions vary with speaker and context.

4 · Spoken form

tu me manques versus tu m'manques

/ty mə mɑ̃k/ vs /ty mmɑ̃k/

The second form is one possible informal spoken reading. Reductions vary with speaker and context.

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.

  1. Read the English meaning so the line has a clear intention.
  2. Use the IPA to locate the target sound or connection.
  3. Repeat slowly without adding an English-style extra vowel.
  4. Follow the comparison card’s note and return to the complete phrase.
  5. 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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