Lesson 2 – Alphabet, Pronunciation & Spelling
What will you learn?
In this lesson, you will learn how to:
- Say the French alphabet correctly
- Pronounce important French sounds
- Spell your name and simple words
- Ask how to spell a word
1. The French Alphabet
The French alphabet has the same letters (A–Z) as English, but the pronunciation is different.
Alphabet with Pronunciation
| Letter | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| A | ah |
| B | bé |
| C | cé |
| D | dé |
| E | euh |
| F | ef |
| G | jé |
| H | ash |
| I | i |
| J | ji |
| K | ka |
| L | el |
| M | em |
| N | en |
| O | o |
| P | pé |
| Q | ku |
| R | er |
| S | es |
| T | té |
| U | u |
| V | vé |
| W | double vé |
| X | iks |
| Y | igrec |
| Z | zed |
Important notes
- Many letters end with a vowel sound (bé, cé, dé)
- H is silent
- R is pronounced from the throat
2. Important French sounds
A. U vs OU
| Sound | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| U | tu | you |
| OU | vous | you (formal/plural) |
Explanation:
- U is pronounced with rounded lips
- OU sounds like “oo” in English
B. Nasal sounds
| Sound | Example |
|---|---|
| ON | bon |
| AN | an |
| IN | fin |
Explanation:
- Air comes through the nose
- The final “n” is not pronounced
C. The French “R”
- Pronounced from the throat
- Stronger than English “r”
Example:
- rouge
3. Spelling words
Asking:
Ça s’écrit comment ?
Meaning: How is it written?
Answering:
Ça s’écrit…
Example:
Ça s’écrit: R-A-H-U-L
4. Asking for help
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Tu peux répéter ? | Can you repeat? |
| Parle plus lentement | Speak more slowly |
5. Mini dialogue
A: Bonjour
B: Bonjour
A: Comment tu t’appelles ?
B: Je m’appelle Sara
A: Ça s’écrit comment ?
B: S-A-R-A
6. Simple pronunciation rules
A. Final letters are often silent
- bon → nasal sound (no “n”)
- petit → final “t” is silent
B. Stress is at the end of the word
- bonjour
- étudiant
7. Common mistakes
1. Pronouncing letters in English
Incorrect: B = bee
Correct: B = bé
2. Confusing U and OU
Incorrect: tu = “too”
Correct: tu = different French sound
3. Pronouncing silent letters
Incorrect: bon (pronounce “n”)
Correct: bon (nasal sound)
8. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 – Match
- B → ___
- H → ___
- J → ___
a. ash
b. bé
c. ji
Exercise 2 – Write the Alphabet
Write A–Z and practice saying them aloud.
Exercise 3 – Spell your Name
Write:
- Je m’appelle ______
- Ça s’écrit: ______
Exercise 4 – Listen and write
- (Name) → ______
- (Name) → ______
9. Speaking task
Say aloud:
- The alphabet (A–Z)
- Your name (spell it clearly)
Repeat several times
10. Writing task
Write:
- Your name
- Your friend’s name
- Spell both
Lesson summary
You can now:
- Say the French alphabet
- Recognize key sounds
- Spell your name
- Ask how to spell words
Practice pronunciation daily by repeating the alphabet slowly and clearly.