parle versus parlent
/paʁl/ vs /paʁl/
These reference readings sound the same. Use spelling and sentence context to tell the forms apart.
A0 · French pronunciation lesson
Verbes au pluriel et terminaison -ent: 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.
Parle d'actions au pluriel en gardant la terminaison verbale -ent muette.
Six phrases for this web practice
French phrases with IPA and English meaning
- 1Ils parlent français.
/il paʁl fʁɑ̃sɛ/
They speak French. - 2Elles arrivent à huit heures.
/ɛlz‿aʁiv a ɥit‿œʁ/
They (feminine) arrive at eight o'clock.The z links elles to arrivent. Huit keeps its final t before heures; no extra liaison comes before huit.
- 3Mes amis habitent ici.
/mez‿ami abit isi/
My friends live here.Mes links to amis. The optional, more formal liaison between amis and habitent is omitted in this reading.
- 4Les trains partent à neuf heures.
/le tʁɛ̃ paʁt a nœv‿œʁ/
The trains leave at nine o'clock.Neuf is pronounced with v before heures. The verb partent ends in t, not a nasal ending.
- 5Mes parents travaillent demain.
/me paʁɑ̃ tʁavaj dəmɛ̃/
My parents work tomorrow. - 6Les enfants mangent ensemble.
/lez‿ɑ̃fɑ̃ mɑ̃ʒ ɑ̃sɑ̃bl/
The children eat together.
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. OQLF: sept and neuf. 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.
vend versus vendent
/vɑ̃/ vs /vɑ̃d/
Compare the complete words. This is not a one-sound minimal pair.
court versus courent
/kuʁ/ vs /kuʁ/
These reference readings sound the same. Use spelling and sentence context to tell the forms apart.
joue versus jouent
/ʒu/ vs /ʒu/
These reference readings sound the same. Use spelling and sentence context to tell the forms apart.
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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