VOWEL PAIRS or CLUSTERS

PAGE CONTENT:

  • The VOWEL CLUSTERS

Activity: The pronunciation of vowel pairs in the left column below, can be studied and practised at AntWise©

HEAR the AUDIO version

in Windows Media Player.

 

The COLUMN 1 vowel clusters MUST produce a SINGLE SOUND !!!

WARNING: However, the reversed order of COLUMN 1 vowel clusters, like the examples in COLUMN 2, must be read as separate alphabet vowel sounds, as well as all other vowel combinations.

So MEMORIZE THE 1ST COLUMN as they produce ONE/SINGLE sound but all other combinations are read as separate alphabet vowel sounds. I know, I am repeating myself but this is critical for you to remember if you want nice French sounds when you talk French.

 

COLUMN 1 COLUMN 2
Pronounce these as ONE vowel sound Pronounce these and any other combinations as SEPARATE vowel sounds
ai je vais .... like A in “bad” Exception: j’ai (like the a in cake) ia French eg.: mari-age
au / eau auto ua French eg. nu-age
ou douze, ou, où uo French eg.:du-o
oi moi io French eg.: idi-ot
eu / oeu / oe deux BUT neuf, soeur, oeuf, oeil ue French eg.: du-el
eilike AY in "he says". French eg.: seize, treize ie French eg.: ci-el

PRACTICE: The pronunciation of vowel pairs in the left column can be studied and practised at AntWise©

True-False Question
  1. Study COLUMN 1 above, when vowel clusters produce a SINGLE SOUND.
  2. Listen to the attached audio and
  3. visit the AntWise page to practise their pronunciation
before attempting the following self-check test.


OI is a one sound producing vowel pair in French.

True False     


UE vowel pair does also produce one sound in French

True False     


UE vowel pair does not produce a single sound.

True False     


AI vowel pair does not produce a single sound in French.

True False     


AI and AU French vowel pairs definitely produce a single sound but different ones, of course.

True False     


AI, OU, OI, EU, OE, OEU, AU, EAU, EI, all produce a single sound in French and any other vowel combination will have to be read as separate vowel sounds.

True False     
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