Learning to Read French, Lesson 9

eu, œu [ø] = (like in “book” but with more rounded lips)

The letter combinations eu, œu are pronounced as [ø] at the end of words (including before a silent final consonant), as well as before the sound [z].

[te — tø], [le — lø], [ne — nø], [ve — vø], [ke — kø], [de — dø].

deux [dø] – two
bleu [blø] m – blue
bleue [blø] f – blue
feu [fø] m – fire
jeu [ʒø] m – game
il veut [ilvø] – he wants
il peut [ilpø] – he can
paresseux [parɛsø] m – lazy
paresseuse [parɛsø:z] f – lazy

The letter x at the end of words is silent.

paix [pɛ] f – peace (reconciliation)
je veux [ʒəvø] – I want
je peux [ʒəрø] – I can
adieux! [adjø] – farewell!
monsieur [məsjø] m – mister, sir (pronunciation of this word doesn’t follow general reading rules)
messieurs [mesjø] – gentlemen
affreux [afrø] m, affreuse [afrø:z] f – horrible
capricieux [kaprisjø] m, capricieuse [kaprisjø:z] f – capricious
délicieux [delisjø] m, délicieuse [delisjø:z] f – delightful
fameux [famø] m, fameuse [famø:z] f – famous
heureux [œrø] m, heureuse [œrø:z] f – happy
merveilleux [mɛrvɛjø] m, merveilleuse [mɛrvɛjø:z] f – wonderful
nerveux [nɛrvø] m, nerveuse [nɛrvø:z] f – nervous
précieux [presjø] m, précieuse [presjø:z] f – precious, dear

Le ciel est bleu.
Il est gai et heureux.
Madame est très nerveuse et capricieuse.
Ce livre est rare et précieux.
Gérard a des idées merveilleuses.
Je peux quitter la clinique mercredi.
Il veut visiter Paris, cette fameuse capitale.

U, u, Û, û = [y] (like German ü)

[ti — ty], [li — ly], [vi — vy], [si — sy], [ki — ky], [ri — ry], [mi — my], [ni — ny], [ʃi — ʃy], [ʒi — ʒy].

une [yn] – a, an (indefinite article for feminine singular nouns)
tu [ty] – you (informal)
tu as [tya] – you have
musique [myzik] f – music
musée [myze] m – museum
revue [rəvy] f – review, magazine; revue
rue [ry] f – street
sur [syr] – on (preposition)
sûr [sy:r] m, sûre [sy:r] f – sure, certain
lune [lyn] f – moon
fumer [fyme] – to smoke

ui , ue , ua , ueu = [ɥ] (like “we”, “when”, “wonder”)

[y — a — ɥa], [y — ɛ — ɥɛ], [y — e — ɥe], [y — a — ɥa], [y — i — ɥi], [y — œ — ɥœ]

je suis [ʒəsɥi] – I am
je suis sûr [ʒəsɥisy:r] – I am sure
je suis prêt [ʒəsɥiprɛ] – I am ready
je suis surpris [ʒəsɥisyrpri] – I am surprised
nuit [nɥi] f – night
pluie [plɥi] f – rain
huit [ɥit] – eight
manuel [manɥɛl] m – textbook
nuage [nɥа:ʒ] m – cloud
fructueux [fryktɥø] m, fructueuse [fryktɥø:z] f – fruitful