In this French lesson, you will learn to read the letters c, qu, k, x, g, gu, o.
C, c, Qu, qu, K, k = [k] (like in “cook”)
The letter c is pronounced as [k] before all letters except e, i, y, h.
The letter u after q is silent.
X, x = [ks] (like in “ox”)
The letter x is pronounced as [ks] when it is not positioned between two pronounced vowels.
café [kafe] – coffee; café
calme [kalm] – calm
capitale [kapital] – capital city
climat [klima] – climate; weather
écrire [ekri:r] – to write
carte [kart] – map
classe [klas] – class
clé [kle] – key
article [artikl] – item
quatre [katr] – four
qui [ki] – who
quitter [kite] – to leave
clinique [klinik] – clinic
explicable [ɛksplikabl] – explicable
extase [ɛksta:z] – ecstasy, delight
les articles
quatre classes
écrire vite
quitter Paris
Pierre est calme
Quittez la clinique !
Qui est ta fille ?
pièce, ciel, capitale, cahier, difficile, clair, facile, caisse, merci, cesser
G, g, Gu, gu = [g] (like in “go”)
The letter g is pronounced as [g] before all letters except e, i, y.
The letter u after g is silent.
X, x = [gz] (like in “exact”)
The letter x is pronounced as [gz] between two pronounced vowel sounds.
gare [ga:r] – railway station
garder [garde] – to guard
gai [gɛ] – cheerful (for masculine nouns)
grave [gra:v] – serious
guide [gid] – guide
guerre [gɛ:r] – war
guérir [geri:r] – to recover
grève [grɛ:v] – strike
grammaire [gramɛ:r] – grammar
glace [glas] – mirror
fatigué [fatige] – tired (for masculine nouns)
exact [ɛgzakt] – exact (for masculine nouns)
La gare est là.
Yves est gai et Nana est grave.
Répétez la grammaire!
Gardez la gare!
Qui est Pierre ? — Il est guide. Il travaille. Il est très fatigué.
O, o = [ɔ] (like in “hot”)
The letter o is pronounced as [ɔ] before all pronounced consonants, except z.
pomme [pɔm] – apple
homme [ɔm] – man
robe [rɔb] – dress
porte [pɔrt] – door
fort [fɔ:r] – strong (for masculine nouns)
la Sorbonne [sɔrbɔn] – Sorbonne (Paris University)
octobre [ɔktɔbr] – October
police [pɔlis] – police
bonne [bɔn] – good; tasty (for feminine nouns)
école [ekɔl] – school
téléphone [telefɔn] – telephone
notre [nɔtr] – our
votre [vɔtr] – your
donner [dɔne] – to give
porter [pɔrte] – to carry
sonner [sɔne] – to ring
apporter [apɔrte] – to bring
porter la robe
apporter la salade
fermer la porte
notre école
votre ami
La pomme est très bonne