French Alphabets
A
(ah)
B
(bay)
C
(say)
D
(day)
E
(uh)
F
(eff)
G
(zhay)
H
(ash)
I
(ee)
J
(zhee)
K
(kah)
L
(ell)
M
(emm)
N
(enn)
O
(oh)
P
(pay)
Q
(koo)
R
(air – throat sound)
S
(ess)
T
(tay)
U
(oo – rounded lips)
V
(vay)
W
(doo-bluh-vay)
X
(eeks)
Y
(ee-grek)
Z
(zed)
Interesting Fun Facts about French Alphabets
1. Same letters, different sounds
French uses the same 26 letters as English, but many letters are pronounced very differently (especially G, J, R, U).
2. The famous French “R”
The French R is produced in the back of the throat, not the front like English. It is one of the most recognizable French sounds.
Example:
• rouge
• Paris
3. Silent letters are common
Many French words contain letters that are not pronounced, especially at the end.
Example:
• petit → “puh-tee”
• grand → “grahn”
4. Letter “H” is usually silent
In most French words, H is not pronounced.
Example:
• hôtel
• homme
5. “G” also has two sounds
• Before E, I, Y → soft “zh” sound
Example: girafe
• Before A, O, U → hard “g” sound
Example:
Gare
6. The letter “W” is rare
“W” is mostly used in foreign or borrowed words, which is why it is not very common in French vocabulary.
7. The letter “Y” has a special name
In French, Y is called “i grec” (Greek i), which many learners find interesting.
8. French accents are not new letters
Letters like é, è, ê, ç are the same letters with accents, they help show pronunciation but do not create a new alphabet.
9. Double letters are not strongly pronounced
In French, double letters (like ll, ss, tt) are usually not stressed the way they are in English.
Example:
• fille
• classe
10. The alphabet helps with spelling names
The French alphabet is very useful when spelling your name or email address.
Example:
– Comment ça s’écrit ?
– K-O-P-A-L
11. Accents can change meaning
Even though accents don’t create new letters, they can change meaning.
Example:
• ou (or)
• où (where)
12. Final consonants are often silent, except C, R, F, L
A helpful trick: Many final consonants are silent, but C, R, F, L are often pronounced.
Example:
• avec
• hiver
• neuf
• sel