Sample Lesson 1: Alphabet, Accents & Pronunciation
Learn French vowel sounds, silent final letters, and the five essential accent marks.
Audio-Guided Study Mode
Read through the structured notes below and click any "Listen" button to hear Canadian French pronunciation. Admins can also attach an MP4 video anytime in the Lesson Editor.
Lesson Explanation
Welcome to your first Sample Lesson at agilefrench! French spelling uses 26 familiar letters, plus five accent marks that guide how vowels sound and clarify meaning:
- Accent aigu (é): Pronounced like the ay in "say" — e.g., café, étudiant.
- Accent grave (è, à, ù): Opens the e sound — e.g., père, très.
- Accent circonflexe (ê, â, î, ô, û): Often marks a historical letter — e.g., hôtel, forêt.
- Tréma (ë, ï, ü): Separates two vowels so both are heard — e.g., noël, naïf.
- Cédille (ç): Softens c before a, o, u into an s sound — e.g., français, garçon.
Silent Final Letters Tip: Most final consonants (especially s, t, d, x, z) are silent at the end of a French word unless followed by a vowel liaison. Keep C-R-F-L ("careful") in mind as consonants that are more frequently pronounced at word endings.
Key Examples
Lesson Vocabulary
Grammar Takeaways
When a word ending in a silent -s or -t precedes a vowel, it links softly: les amis sounds like lay-zah-mee.
Practice Activity
Read each greeting aloud using the Audio Pronunciation buttons below, paying special attention to the silent final consonants and the soft ç in français.