Common Pronunciation Patterns
It’s said that about a third of the English lexicon is borrowed from French. Although some of the words do sound or look alien (cul-de-sac or hors d’oeuvres), they’re routinely used in daily conversations. These are some of the most common pronunciation patterns of French Loanwords. (Do you know their meaning?)
/ch/ sounds as /sh/
chef
cliche
champagne
chic
chandelier
chalet
avalanche
chef
cliche
champagne
chic
chandelier
chalet
avalanche
quiche
/g/ sounds as /ʒ/
barrage
garage
espionage
massage
mirage
camouflage
sabotage
the final /t/ is silent
ballet
depot
fillet
bouquet
gourmet
cabaret
sorbet
beret
depot
fillet
bouquet
gourmet
cabaret
sorbet
beret
the final /ue/ are silent
boutique
fatigue
antique
unique
oblique
picturesque
plaque
opaque
fatigue
antique
unique
oblique
picturesque
plaque
opaque
the final /e/ is pronounced
attache
fiance(e)
resume
cafe
macrame
touche
souffle
matinee
-eau combination sounds as /əʊ/
bureau
bureaucrat
eau de toilette
bureaucrat
eau de toilette
final /s/ and /x/ are silent
Grand Prix
debris
chassis
Finally, listen to a VOA programme: "Mayday" and other English words with French origin.
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