If you grew up speaking French, you might find that English pronunciation brings its own set of challenges. Even fluent non-native speakers can feel self-conscious about their accent, especially when certain English sounds just do not exist in French. Over the years, I have supported many French clients who are articulate, expressive communicators in their own language, yet find themselves second-guessing their English pronunciation. The good news? With the right strategies and a bit of practice, these hurdles are absolutely surmountable. Let’s explore the most common difficulties for French speakers, why they happen, and how you can start to speak English with greater clarity and confidence.
Key Differences Between French And English Pronunciation
French and English differ in several fundamental ways. French features approximately 17 vowel sounds (including nasal vowels), while English has at least 12 vowels, plus a variety of diphthongs. English also relies on consonant clusters and sounds that are unfamiliar to French speakers. These contrasts can make English feel unpredictable and sometimes even intimidating. If you’re a French speaker aiming to communicate more naturally in English, our British English Programme can help you make rapid progress.
Vowel Sounds: The Most Common Pitfalls
Short And Long Vowel Confusion
French vowels tend to be shorter and more uniform in length: /a/ (as in “patte”), /e/ (as in “été”), /i/ (as in “si”), /o/ (as in “eau”), /u/ (as in “fou”). In English, however, both short and long vowels are crucial, and getting them mixed up can change the meaning of a word. For example, “ship” (short i sound /ɪ/ as in “sit”) and “sheep” (long ee sound /iː/ as in “see”) often get muddled, as do “full” (short oo sound /ʊ/ as in “book”) and “fool” (long oo sound /uː/ as in “food”).
Many French speakers do not hold long vowels for enough time or miss the subtle distinctions in English vowel quality. Minimal pair practice and exaggerating long vowels can help train your ear and mouth.
Diphthongs And Unfamiliar Vowels
English is full of diphthongs—vowel sounds that slide from one position to another. Words like “go” (oh sound /əʊ/), “say” (ay sound /eɪ/), and “my” (eye sound /aɪ/) all include these gliding sounds, which rarely appear in French. French speakers may pronounce “go” as /go/, missing the glide, or “say” as /se/. Listening closely to native speakers and practising the tongue and lip movement will help you master these new sounds.
The Schwa /ə/ (Uh Sound)
The schwa, written as /ə/ and pronounced as a relaxed “uh” sound, is the most common vowel sound in English. While French does have a schwa, it is much less frequent and often disappears in casual speech. In English, it appears in many unstressed syllables, such as the ‘a’ in “sofa” /ˈsəʊ.fə/ or the second ‘a’ in “banana” /bəˈnɑː.nə/. They often pronounce every vowel distinctly, which can make English sound over-enunciated or a bit stiff. Relaxing the mouth and “blurring” unstressed vowels is essential for sounding more natural.
Consonant Sounds: The Trickiest Challenges
The “H” /h/ (H Sound)
In French, the letter “h” is always silent. In English, it is a breathy sound /h/, as in “house” /haʊs/. French speakers sometimes leave out the h or substitute it with a vowel, so “hair” /heə/ can sound like “air” /eə/. Practising a soft exhale before the vowel will help you master this sound.
The “TH” Sounds: /θ/ (Th as in “think”) and /ð/ (Th as in “this”)
English’s “th” sounds voiceless /θ/ (as in “think” /θɪŋk/) and voiced /ð/ (as in “this” /ðɪs/) are not present in French. French speakers often use the s sound /s/ or t sound /t/ for /θ/, and the z sound /z/ or d sound /d/ for /ð/. As a result, “think” might sound like “sink” or “tink,” and “this” may come out as “zis” or “dis.” Try gently placing your tongue between your teeth and blowing air for /θ/, or adding your voice for /ð/.
The “R” /r/ (R Sound)
French has a uvular r, pronounced at the back of the throat, while English uses a smooth, retroflex r /r/ (as in “red” /red/). Many French speakers substitute their native r, which can make their English sound distinctly French. Try curling your tongue slightly back in your mouth to create the English r sound.
Ending Consonants And Clusters
French words rarely end in multiple consonants, so English words like “world” (ending with ld cluster /ld/ as in /wɜːld/) or “text” (ending with xt cluster /kst/ as in /tekst/) can be difficult. It’s common to drop the final consonant or simplify the cluster, so “world” might come out as “wor” and “text” as “tes.” Practising these endings slowly and breaking them down can make your speech much clearer.
Rhythm And Intonation
French is a syllable timed language, meaning each syllable is pronounced with equal time and emphasis, think of the steady pattern in “pa-ri-si-en.” English, by contrast, is stress timed: only certain syllables (the stressed ones) are emphasised, and the rest are spoken more quickly, as in “COM-put-er SCI-ence” (where “COM,” and “SCI” are stressed and the other syllables are lighter and faster). If you are a French speaker, your English may sound flat or robotic at first because you give every syllable equal time. Practising English stress patterns, making some syllables stronger and others lighter will help your speech sound more fluent and expressive.
Next Steps
These common pronunciation issues are absolutely fixable. Start by focusing on one sound at a time, record yourself, and listen back for progress. Consistent practice and targeted feedback make a huge difference.
If you are ready to take your accent and confidence to the next level, sign up for my online accent membership for expert guidance, practice materials, and a supportive community. Or, if you prefer a more personalised approach, book a call with me for 1:1 coaching tailored to your unique goals.