33 2.18: Structure – Prononciation – Les liaisons

On étudie !

In French, the final sound of a word sometimes links with the first letter of the following word. Consonants at the end of French words are generally silent but are usually pronounced when the word that follows begins with a vowel sound. This linking of sounds is called a liaison.

Like in the following examples the t at the end of a word is normally silent (tout, comment), but when it is followed by a vowel, we pronounce it.

À tout__à l’heure ! Comment__allez-vous ?

An s or x in a liaison sounds like the letter z:

trois__examens six__étudiants deux__hommes les__ordinateurs

Always make a liaison between a subject pronoun and a verb that begins with a vowel:

Nous__avons Ils________ont

Always make a liaison between an article and a noun that begins with a vowel:

un__étudiant les__évaluations

Never make a liaison after a proper name like Robert or Paris.

Robert est__anglais Paris est__incroyable

Never make a liaison with the word et (and).

Hélène et Anne Paul et Eric

Never make a liaison between a singular noun and an adjective that follows it.

un cours horrible un instrument élégant.

Never make a liaison between “est” and the number when telling time, but make a liaison between the number and heures.

Il est onze heures Il est une heure moins cinq. Il est six__heures.

On pratique !