French: the letter "e" and its many different sounds

Ahhh, le français.... SO MANY PRONUNCIATIONSS!!!!

But, don't worry, I have a few rules and tricks to work on memorizing and internalizing the rules of when to use the different pronunciations....for now with the letter "E"

The three types of sounds:

1. Closed

2. Open

3. Mute (has two types)

Let's start out with the closed "E" ([e])

The sound it makes is like the Spanish "e" or the letter combination "AY" in English.

How to make the sound:

1. The tongue forward-relaxed

2. The lips opened from side to side (as if you are going to smile)

3. If it helps: put your thumb and pointing fingers together from either hand, place them on each side of your lips, and do a pulling motion from side to side - like a smile)

Now, when to make this sound:

1. If the word has these letter combinations (remember, you don't pronounce the last consonant):

-er, ef, es, ez

ex. Nez (nose), Ses (his/hers), Clef (key)

     (NEH)        (SEH)               (CLEH)

2. If the word has an "E" with an accent aigu:

 "É" (this accent will always make this sound, no matter where it is placed.

  ex. Été (summer), légal, répété (repeated)

3. The letter combination "ai":

This letter combination will only make this sound when it is placed at the beginning or at the end, it follows different rules if it is placed in the middle. 

  ex. J'ai (I have), finirai (I will finish), aider (to help)

4. The last way of making the closed "e" sound, is with this particular rule:

 When the letter combinations "ei" or "ai" are placed in the middle of a word, you can only make the closed "e" pronunciation if the word does not end with "E".

   ex. laid (here the sound in the middle will be a closed "e") 

         laide (here the sound in the middle will be an opened "e")

Let's continue with the opened "E": ([ɛ])

This "E" makes the same sound as the "E" from "PET"

-Notice that when you say this word (pet), your jaw drops, and your lips have an oval shape. This is exactly how you pronounce this "e".

Some tricks:

1. Tongue forward-relaxed

2. Jaw lowered, lips oval shaped.

Now, when to make this sound:

1. If the word has these letter combinations (remember, you don't pronounce the last consonant):

-et, es, ais, ay, ei, el, est, e, ait, ai, ep

     ex. Lettre (letter), Sel (salt), Mais (but)

...I know what you're thinking, "-ES" was in the one with the closed 'E"....don't worry, I got you...let me explain:

the "es" will sound like the open "E" when it is in the middle of the word, never at the end. :D :D

2. If the word has an "E" with any of the accents that are NOT l'accent aigu:

That means it can have:

-The accent circumflex: ê, 

-The accent grave: è

-The tréma: ë

      ex. Frère (brother), Tête (head)

3. The letter combination "ai" or "ei" (refreshing your memory)

  Remember that when:

- The words have the letter combination "ai" or "ei" in the middle, and the words end with "e" you must pronounce the middle letter combination as an opened "e"

   ex. Peiner (PEH-NEH) = it's closed pronunciation

         Peine (PE (from "pe-t") NN)= opened pronunciation

4. "E" plus two consonants ending with "E"

       ex. Dilemme = here the "e" in the middle is going to be opened sound, while the last one is silent.

(PS= the last "e" in French words, as long as it doesn't have an accent, will always be silent. Their only job is to emphasize the last consonant.....basically, the job of the accents is to bring sounds to the letter "E")

THE LAST ONE (WITH TWO SOUNDS)

Well, the last kind of "e" is called the silent "e"....it has a sound....but then it doesn't...

When it makes a sound:

The sound that it makes sounds similar to the "u" from the English word "KNUCKLE" 

-You see how your lips are very round...well, now make them even rounder...like almost making a kissy face...but not really....there you go...that's the sound that you want

PS = it will be a good idea to learn the sounds of the French alphabet, because this sound literally is the same sound that the "E" makes when it's by itself. 

OK, how do we know when to ignore the silent "e" and when it will make a sound...

When it will make a sound:

1. If the word is only a two letter word:

     ex. Me, Te, Se, Le, Ne....

2. There is such a thing called liquid letters in French, which are "R" and "L"

 They will make the "e" be pronounced if they are placed in the correct spot....meaning, if there is another consonant between the liquid letter and the letter "e", then the "e" will make a sound.

      ex.   Secrétaire (the first "e" makes a sound because there is a "C" between her and the letter "R")

    ex. Replacer (the first "e" will make a sound because there is a "P" between her and the letter "L")

Now, when not to pronounce them:

(Remember when they are completely silent, it means that you have to emphasize the sound of the consonants...remember that without the "e" at the end of the word, they would also be silent)

ex. Consonne

1. When the word has double consonants that are followed by the "e":

- The open "e" rule with double consonants has to be "e (double consonants) e"

     ex. Sagesse

-The silent "e" rule with double consonants has to be "whatever letters (double consonants) e"

    ex.  Homme

Reminders:

1. Closed "e" sound is made as if you were smiling

2. Accent aigu is the only accent that can be pronounced like the closed "e"

3. Remember when the letter combinations "ei" and "ai" will make either an opened or closed "E" sound.

4. Remember the letter combinations that you need to make an opened or closed sound (The list for the opened one is much larger than the closed one)

5. Remember the double consonant rules: 

      - e + double consonant + e = opened sound

      - any letter + double consonant + e = silent "e" sound