7.4: Structure - La lettre « e »
- Page ID
- 248088
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)In this section, you will learn how to pronounce the letter e.
Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.
Let's study!
The Letter E
In French, the letter “e” is silent in the following instances:
- When it is at the end of a word and after another vowel.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une amie | a (female) friend |
| la rue | the street |
| la biologie | biology |
- When it is after a first “é” with an accent aigu.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une entrée | an appetizer |
| le lycée | the high school |
- At the end of the feminine spelling of adjectives that end with a consonant.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| intelligente | smart |
| heureuse | happy |
| sportive | athletic |
- When it at the end of a word and preceded by a consonant.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le livre | the book |
| J’habite | I live |
| Il demande | he is asking |
What is the “e” caduc? It is also a silent “e” but it is pronounced in certain regions or by certain Francophones and not by others. The “e” caduc is usually the one that appears in the middle of a word.
The first rule is that if the letter “e” appears in the middle of a word, and after two consonants, it is usually pronounced.
| Français | Anglais |
|---|---|
| gouvernement | government |
| mercredi | Wednesday |
| appartement | apartment |
But when the “e” appears in the middle of a word and after one consonant, it is pronounced by some and not by others, depending on the region, the language level, and diction.
| The regular spelling of the word | It can be pronounced... |
|---|---|
| petit | p’tit |
| maintenant | maint’nant. |
| au revoir | au r’voir |
Again, depending on the region, language level, and diction, when the “e” is preceded by the following consonants, it can be dropped: je, me, te, ne, se, de, ce.
| The regular spelling of the word | It can be pronounced... |
|---|---|
| Je vais bien. | J’vais bien. |
| Je me demande. | Je m’demande. |
| Je te donne. | J’t’donne. |
| Je ne sais pas. | Je n’sais pas. |
| Il se dépêche. | Il s’dépêche. |
| Pas de croissants. | Pas d’croissants. |
| C’est cela. | C’est ç’la. |
Let's practice!
Activity A
Prononcez ces phrases.
- Je vais habiter dans le treizième arrondissement.
- Tu me donnes un coup de main ?
- Justement, elle aime le Petit Prince.
- C’est sa dernière année de lycée.
- Je ne te le dis pas.
- Tu n’as pas de voiture ?
- Franchement, je ne sais pas !
Activity B
On prononce ou on ne prononce pas la lettre e ?
- livre
- craie
- gouvernement
- une
- musée
- active
- le
- revoir
- elle voyage
- vue