Pronunciation Pairs #3 - Unrounded Front Vowels: ɛ vs a
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This is the /e/ sound and this is the /a/ sound. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tear them apart. Plus, you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation. I'm Doria and this is French pronunciation through minimal pairs. First is /e/. This is the /e/ sound in "elle", "les", "père" and other words. /a/ is the sound in "chat", "ami", "la" and other words.

"Ê" and "À" are called front vowels because they are pronounced with the highest part of the tongue positioned in the front part of the mouth. In lesson 2, we have learned how to make the "Ê" sound, the tongue touches the bottom row of teeth. The muscle of your mouth should be more relaxed and the mouth should be more open than "Ê". "Ê"

The French /a/ sound resembles the /a/ sound in the word cat. To make the /a/ sound, the lips and teeth part slightly. Your tongue should be in the central part of your mouth and the tip of your tongue should rest near your bottom teeth. The difference between these two sounds is also about how open your mouth is. It's pronounced with a more open mouth than /e/.

When you say the vowel "e" like in "el", your tongue is high up and towards the front of your mouth, and your lips are slightly stretched. For the vowel "a" like in "a mi", the highest point of your tongue is a bit lower, almost in the central part of your mouth, and your lower jaw moves a little bit away from the upper jaw, which makes the mouth more open than "e". So, listen to the difference and repeat after me: "e"

So try to focus on the openness of the mouth when you pronounce these two sounds. Listen and repeat or speak along with me. Ready? Let's review. Respond to the pronouns by speaking aloud. Then repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation.

Do you remember the sound that's more open? /a/ And the more closed sound? /e/ Let's practice! Compare the sounds in these two words. Which word has the relatively more closed sound and which has the more open sound? /p/ has the more closed sound, and /p/ has the more open sound. Let's try another!

S' has the more closed sound, and S' has the more open sound. Let's try one more. V' has the more closed sound, and V' has the more open sound. Now listen to the following sentences. Which words have the more closed sound, and which have the more open sound?

Elle ne trouve pas la paix. Paix, pas. Je sais ça. C'est ça. Read the following sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. Je vais bien et tu vas bien. Here's a special resource just for you. 30+ French PDF cheat sheets that will improve your French twice as fast. Yours free! Just click the link in the comment section.