Yours

11.4: Low Vowels (Open Vowels)

French OER - Pronunciation · LibreTexts

0%

Contents

    Text

    Size
    100%
    Theme
    Typeface
    Line length
    Spacing

    From LibreTexts, under CC BY, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Objectif

    In this section, you will learn about the pronunciation of low vowels (open vowels).

    Media Alternative

    Listen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.

    In the audio players, you can slow down the audio by clicking on the turtle and speed up by clicking on the rabbit. The turtle and rabbit are located at the bottom right corner of each audio player. 

    Let's get started!

    Low vowels ([ɑ], [a], [ɑ̃]

    Nasal low vowel [ɑ̃]

    The vowel [ɑ̃] is low, back, unrounded and nasal:

     

    plan, chanter, temps, penser

    How open or closed a vowel is pronounced is a question of degree: some are more open or closed than others.

    Here is a summary of high, mid and low vowels:

    High, Mid and Low Vowels

    Vowel type

    Low Vowels
    (Open vowels)

    Mid-vowels
    (Mid-open)

    Mid-vowels
    (Mid-closed)

    High Vowels
    (Closed vowels)

    Oral vowels

    [ɑ]

    [a]

    [ɔ]

    [ə]

    [œ]

    [ɛ]

    [o]

    [ø]

    [e]

    [u]

    [y]

    [i]

    Nasal vowels

    [ɑ̃]

    		  

    [ɔ̃]

    		  

    [œ̃]

    [ɛ̃]

    		            

    Semi-vowels

    		                  

    [w]

    [ɥ]

    [j]

    Whether or not a vowel is pronounced more or less openly also depends on context.

    Let's practice!

    Activity

    Low vowel à vs. mid vowel è. Listen and repeat.

     

    1. chat / bras / caisse / casse / salle / belle / glace / plage / neige
    2. guerre / repas / retard / beau-frère / fromage / prochaine / dommage
    3. elle / tasse / chère / beige / sage / mettre / règle / page / tête / fête
    4. gare / chef / chaise / bases / maître / été  / déjà  / promesse / courage

    This page titled 11.4: Low Vowels (Open Vowels) was last modified on Fri, 09 May 2025 22:22:43 GMT and is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by William J. Carrasco and Shahrzad Zahedi.