3.5: Phonétique
The vowel sounds /i/, /y/, and /u/ are transformed into the semi-vowels /j/, /ɥ/, and /w/ when followed by another vowel. The sound /j/, often referred to as the 'yod' may occur in final position, spelled -ille or -il (la fête du Travail). It can also occur before a vowel (bien, hier). The result is that two written vowels are pronounced as a single syllable.
Ecoutez et répétez:
| /j/ | le premier janvier | le 14 juillet | le premier mai | la fête nationale |
| Monsieur | vieille | vieux | famille | |
| Voyons | assiettes | sérieux | fille |
| /ɥ/ | je suis | huit | depuis | ensuite |
| le 14 juillet | suivre | lui | nuit |
| /w/ | moi | voir | Louis | François |
| Joyeux Noël | toi | quoi | droite |
Aknowledgment: some parts of this page are partially adopted from Francais Interactif .