Leçon 6
Lesson 6
Sound [k]
| French sound | Similar English sound | French letters and letter combinations | Notes |
consonant [k] |
[k] as in the word kit |
C, c Qu, qu |
The letter c is pronounced as [k] before all letters except e, i, y, h. The letter u is not pronounced after q. |
letter combination [ks] |
X, x |
The letter x is pronounced as [ks], if it is located not between two pronounced vowels. |
Exercise 1. Read and try to memorize the words:
café [kafe] — coffee; café
calme [kalm] — calm
capitale [kapital] — capital
climat [klima] — climate
écrire [ekri:r]— to write
carte [kart] — map
classe [klas] — class
clé [kle] — key
article [artikl] — article, item
quatre [katr] — four
qui [ki] — who
quitter [kite] — to leave
clinique [klinik] — hospital, clinic
explicable [ɛksplikabl] — explainable
extase [ɛksta:z] — ecstasy
Exercise 2. Read and translate:
les articles
quatre classes
écrire vite
quitter Paris
Pierre est calme
Quittez la clinique !
Qui est ta fille ?
Exercise 3. Read but remember the pronunciation of the letter c as [k] or as [s] depending on the next letter. Write the transcription of the words:
1. pièce
[]
6. clair
[]
2. ciel
[]
7. facile
[]
3. capitale
[]
8. caisse
[]
4. cahier
[]
9. merci
[]
5. difficile
[]
10. cesser
[]
Sound [g]
| French sound | Similar English sound | French letters and letter combinations | Notes |
consonant [g] |
[g] as in the word goose |
G, g |
The letter g is pronounced as [g] before all letters except for е, i, у. |
| Gu, gu | The letter u is not pronounced after g. | ||
letter combination [gz] |
X, x |
The letter x is pronounced as [gz] between two pronounced vowel sounds. |
Exercise 4. Read and try to memorize the words:
gare [ga:r] — (railway) station
garder [garde] — to guard
gai [gɛ] — cheerful (masc.)
grave [gra:v] — serious
guide [gid] — guide
guerre [gɛ:r] — war
guérir [geri:r] — to recover
grève [grɛ:v] — strike (walkout)
grammaire [gramɛ:r] — grammar
glace [glas] — mirror
fatigué [fatige] — tired (masc.)
exact [ɛgzakt] — exact (masc.)
Exercise 5. Read and translate:
1. La gare est là.
2. Yves est gai et Nana est grave.
3. Répétez la grammaire!
4. Gardez la gare!
5. Qui est Pierre ? — Il est guide. Il travaille. Il est très fatigué.
Sound [ɔ]
| French sound | Similar English sound | French letters and letter combinations | Notes |
vowel [ɔ] |
[ɔ] as in the word lot |
O, o |
The letter o sounds as [ɔ] before all the pronounced consonants, except for z. |
This sound is also a bit different than its English counterpart. Just round your lips and say the word “cot.” You will get the French [ɔ].
Exercise 6. Read the words and memorize them:
pomme [pɔm] — apple
homme [ɔm] — man
robe [rɔb] — dress
porte [pɔrt] — door
fort [fɔ:r] — strong (masc.)
la Sorbonne [sɔrbɔn] — the Sorbonne
(a Parisian university)
octobre [ɔktɔbr] — October
police [pɔlis] — police
bonne [bɔn] — good (fem.)
école [ekɔl] — school
téléphone [telefɔn] — (tele)phone
notre [nɔtr] — our
votre [vɔtr] — your (plural possessor or polite singular form)
donner [dɔne] — to give
porter [pɔrte] — to wear, to carry
sonner [sɔne] — to ring, to sound
apporter [apɔrte] — to bring
Exercise 7. Read and translate:
1. porter la robe
2. apporter la salade
3. fermer la porte
4. notre école
5. votre ami
6. La pomme est très bonne
Exercise 8. Translate into French (you may peep at the previous exercise):
1. to bring the letters
2. to wear the jackets
3. Close the door!
4. The dress is dirty
5. The salad is very good
6. Our school is there
7. Bring your (pl.) item!
