In this lesson, you will learn the following letters and letter combinations: s, ss, c, z.
S, s, ss, C, c, Ç, ç = [s] (like in “see”)
The letter c is pronounced as [s] before e, i, y.
The special mark (cedilla) under the letter ç indicates that it is pronounced as [s] before a, o.
S, s, Z, z = [z] (like in “zip”)
The letter s is pronounced as [z] between two vowels.
sa, ça, ass, lai, lass, sev, pass, rass, cette
If a word ends with the sound [z], any stressed vowel before it is usually lengthened, for example: phase [fa:z] – phase.
pèse, slave, mer, frère, rêve, vase, avare, phrase, thèse, affaire, rare, mère, base, serre, brave, terre, père, faire, aire, fer, verre
phrase [fra:z] – phrase
vase [va:z] – vase
sa [sa] – his, her, its (possessive adjective used with feminine nouns)
sale [sal] – dirty
salle [sal] – hall; room
salade [salad] – salad
salaire [salɛ:r] – salary
sel [sɛl] – salt
cette [sɛt] – this, that (used with feminine nouns)
veste [vɛst] – jacket
stade [stad] – stadium
adresse [adrɛs] – address
trace [tras] – trace
place [plas] – place