12.1: Linking Consonants and Vowels

Objectif

In this section, you will learn how to link consonants and vowels between syllables.

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Linking Syllables

In French, the vowel is the core of a syllable. A syllable can contain multiple consonants and semi-vowels, but only one vowel. In the word magasin, for example, we have 3 syllables: ma + ga + sin. As we see in this example, French generally favors open syllables, i.e., syllables that end with a vowel sound.

In French words and sentences, a consonant is almost always pronounced with the vowel that follows it. For example, when the single-syllables like il [il] or haute [ot] are followed by another syllable which is starting with a vowel, the ending consonants will attach themselves to the additional vowel:

 

il [il] → ilôt [i lo]

haute [ot] → hauteur [o tœr]

tombe [tɔ̃mb] → tomber [tɔ̃m be]

Silent consonants at the end of a syllable may be pronounced when followed by a vowel (called a liaison). For example:

 

un [ɛ̃] → un [ɛ̃] + arbre [aʁbʁ] = un arbre [ɛ̃ naʁbʁ]

petit [pəti] → petit [pəti] + homme [ɔm] = petit homme [pəti tɔm]

Consonantal Linking

As we've seen above, a consonant pronounced at the end of a word forms a syllable with the initial vowel of the following word:

 

entre elle [ɑ̃ trɛl]

où vont-ils ? [u vɔ̃ til]

pour eux [pu rœ]

Special case: the letter f in the word neuf (nine) will change pronunciation when linked to a vowel after it. For example:

 

neuf [nœf] →

neuf ans [nœ vɑ̃]

neuf heures [nœ vœʁ]

French vs. English

In French there are less "ruptures" - or pauses - between words than English. In certain cases, a strong division is required (as is the case with the aspirated h in la haine), but most words just flow together. In English, however, the duration of these ruptures (or pauses) can be very important. In the following table, the words in the right column have a longer pause between words, which helps the listener distinguish them from the words in the left column.

Differences in pauses between words

Column 1	Column 2
it stops	its tops
an A	a nay
that stall	that's all
it stank	it's tank

In French, the words on the left sound just like the ones on the right. Any differences between them are much more subtle than differences we see in the English examples above. Because of this, context (i.e., the words that come before and after them in a text) is needed to distinguished them.

 

Passages that sounds the same

Column 1	Column 2
il a mille pieds	Il a mis le pied
la croix	l’accroît
qui l’aime	qu’il aime
l’abouche	la bouche

Vocalic Linking

When two consecutive vowels appear in neighboring syllables, we have vocalic linking.

 

agréable → agré◠able.

géant→ gé◠ant.

aéroport → a◠éroport.

il va◠appeler

j'en veux◠un

Even though the vowels flow together, they must still be clearly pronounced to avoid confusion between passages that sound alike. Compare, for example:

 

j'ai◠été (I was) vs. j'étais (I used to be)

elle a◠accepté (she accepted) vs. elle acceptait  (she used to accept)

When a dieresis or tréma (¨) is placed on top of an vowel it means that that particular vowel must be pronounced distinctly and not merged or blended with surrounding vowels. For example:

 

Haïti, égoïste, Noël

In certain cases, two words will form an elision: the merging of two words — one ending with a vowel followed by one beginning with a vowel — joined by an apostrophe. A word like je (I) will merge with the verb ai (have) to form j'ai (I have). The e [ə] sound will disappear and the remaining j [ʒ] will be attached to ai [ɛ] to form [ʒɛ]

Some elisions appear in both oral speech and writing, while others are purely oral.

Examples of written & oral elisions include:

 

le + aime => l'aime

que + est => qu'est

ne + irons => n'irons

Examples of purely oral elisions (only written when trying to represent oral speech) include:

 

tu + as => t'as

je ne sais pas => j'n'sais pas

Structure : Élisions et contractions

Contractions

Contractions

contractions with de + definite article	contractions with à + defiinite article
de + le = du	à + le = au
de + les = des	à + les = aux

Élisions

Written and spoken elisions

Articles, pronoms	Élisions	Exemples
le, la	l'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Elle est à l’hôpital.
je	j'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	J’étudie le français.
me	m'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Ils m’ont dit.
te	t'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Je t’aime.
ne	n'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Il n’y a pas de papier.
de	d'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Un verre d'eau.
que	qu'[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
se	s’[a,e,i,o,u,y,h]	Il s'appelle Louis.

Pour en savoir plus.

Let's practice

Activity

Practice pronouncing the following.

1. toujours
2. chaleur
3. littérature
4. J'ai été malade / j'étais malade.
5. Naïf
6. Neuf oeufs.
7. aérobic
8. désagréable
9. Il a acheté des légumes. / il achetait des légumes.
10. Deux enfants