French is renowned for its melodic allure and the complexity of its accents. These seemingly small details not only modify the way you pronounce words but can also change their meanings. To illustrate, take the words “ou” and “où”:
– “Ou” (without an accent) means “or” in English.
– “Où” (with the acute accent on the “u”) is an adverb that translates to “where” in English.
Although they can seem daunting at the start, it’s exactly these charming nuances that make French such acaptivating and fun language to learn. So, gear up for an exciting adventure into the world of French accents!
Let’s explore the different types of French accents, when to use them, and how to pronounce them. If you’re wondering how to type French accents – we’ve got that covered too.
The 5 accents in French are:
- L’accent aigu (acute accent) – é
- L’accent grave (grave accent) – à, è, ù
- La cédille (cedilla) – ç
- L’accent circonflexe (circumflex) – â, ê, î, ô, û
- L’accent tréma (trema) – ë, ï, ü
1. L’accent aigu (acute accent) – é
We use the French accent known as the acute accent on the letter “e.” This accent changes the way the vowel “e” sounds. You can see this in the word “école,” which means school.
To pronounce the é sound in French, imagine you’re saying “ay” (as in the English word “say”) while keeping your mouth relaxed and slightly open. It’s like you’re being pleasantly surprised!
Sometimes it can be easy to confuse é with è, but don’t worry! Here’s a little trick to keep in mind: Think of é sounding like “ay” and è sounding more like “eh.”
To make it even easier to remember, picture the é accent as a little arrow pointing up and to the right, showing you how your mouth opens when you say it. Pronouncing the é feels a bit like you’re breaking into a smile.
You can practice the “é” sound by saying these words:
- Café, which means “coffee”
- Lycée, which translates to “high school”
- Fiancé, the term for a man who’s about to get married
The accent “é” is commonly used when forming past participles, especially in verb tenses such as the passé composé in French. Including the “é” helps distinguish between verbs in the past and present tense, providing clarity in both written and spoken French.
For example, let’s take the verb “manger” (to eat):
- In the present tense: Je mange une pomme (I eat an apple)
- In the past participle form: J’ai mangé une pomme (I have eaten an apple)
By using the accent “é,” you indicate that an action has occurred in the past. This is why accents in French matter!
If you’re looking for a refresher on French letters, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide on the French alphabet.
2. L’accent grave (grave accent) – à, è, ù
The French accent grave (grave accent) is placed on “a,” “e,” and “u,” but it has the most notable effect on the letter “e.” This accent changes the pronunciation of “e” to [ɛ], such as the “e” in “best.”
The grave accent found on “à” and “ù” doesn’t change how these vowels sound.
For instance, “où” translates to “where,” but “ou” means “or.” Similarly, “à” typically stands for “to” or “at,” setting it apart from “a,” which is the third-person singular form of “avoir,” meaning “to have.”
3. La cédille (cedilla) – ç
Consider the French word “ça,” which translates to “that” or “it.” In this word, the “c” is pronounced like the English “s.” This quirky language facet ensures accurate pronunciation. Without it, one might say “garçon” or “leçon” as “garkon” or “lekson,” leaving listeners scratching their heads in confusion.
Another word that showcases the cédille is “français” (French), where omitting it could result in mispronouncing it as “frankais.”
4. L’accent circonflexe (circumflex) – â, ê, î, ô, û
Circonflexe, one of the most important French accents, is also fondly known as the “little hat” in French and is represented by the symbols â, ê, î, ô, and û.
Unlike some other accents, the circonflexe doesn’t usually affect the pronunciation. Instead, it often indicates historical spellings where an “s” used to follow the vowel. For example, the word “forêt” (forest) was previously spelled as “forest” in older French.
This accent is also extremely important in differentiating hom*ographs such as “du” (of the) and “dû” (had to).
5. L’accent tréma (trema) – ë, ï, ü
The diaeresis, known as the tréma in French, consists of two dots placed over a vowel, typically used over the letters “ë,” “ï,” “ü,” and “ÿ.”
The tréma has an important role: To ensure a vowel is pronounced separately when the accent is placed above an adjacent vowel. This is especially useful when two vowels are next to each other and could be mistaken for a single sound.
Take the word “naïve,” for example. The tréma above the “i” tells us to pronounce it separately from the “a.”
Here are a few more examples to help you understand:
- In “Noël,” the tréma above the “e” shows that it should be pronounced separately
- In “maïs,” the tréma above the “i” tells us to pronounce the “i” by itself
- In “naïve,” the tréma above the “i” separates it from the “a”
See a quick video on how to pronounce all 5 together here!
How to type French accents
On a Mac
If you need to type French accents on a Mac, you can use the “Option” key. To add an acute accent, grave accent, cedilla, circumflex, or trema, press “Option” along with an additional key (“e,” “`,” “c,” “i,” or “u,” respectively), release, and type the letter to be accented:
- To add an acute accent: Press “Option” + “e,” release, and type the letter to be accented
- To add a grave accent: Press “Option” + “`,” release, and type the letter to be accented
- To add a cedilla: Press “Option” + “c,” release, and type the letter to be accented
- To add a circumflex: Press “Option” + “i,” release, and type the letter to be accented
- To add a trema: Press “Option” + “u,” release, and type the letter to be accented
On a PC
Typing French accents on a PC uses the “Alt” key alongside numeric codes:
- To type “é”: Hold “Alt” and type “130” or “0233”
- For “à”: Hold “Alt” and type “133” or “0224”
- For “è”: Hold “Alt” and type “138” or “0232”
- For “ù”: Hold “Alt” and type “151” or “0249”
- To type the cedilla (“ç”): Hold “Alt” and type “135” or “0231”
- For circumflex accents (“â,” “ê,” “î,” “ô,” or “û”): Hold “Alt” and type “131” or “0226,” “136” or “0234,” “140” or “0238,” “147” or “0244,” and “150” or “0251,” respectively
- For trema accents (“ë,” “ï,” or “ü”): Hold “Alt” and type “137” or “0235,” “139” or “0239,” and “129” or “0252,” respectively
While you’re busy mastering shortcuts on your computer, why not take the opportunity to learn French online and put that newfound knowledge into practice?
Mastering French accents: Elevate your learning with Preply
To type accents quickly, you can use keyboard tricks and number codes. However, to truly master French accents, it’s crucial to receive hands-on guidance and practice actively listening and improving your pronunciation skills.
For better French skills, think about learning French with a skilled tutor on Preply. Our tailor-made lessons include rich insights into the culture behind the accents, making your learning more engaging and efficient.
Boost your French with Preply’s amazing tutors and discover the beauty of learning French! Get started today by booking French lessons online. From French lessons for beginners to conversational classes, Preply’s got you covered!
