Learning the basics of French/Introducing Yourself

This lesson contains the basic French alphabet and pronunciation guide, along with common phrases used for introductions.

French alphabet
This is the French alphabet with approximate pronunciation and IPA (see also: IPA for French and French phonology).


 * {| class="wikitable"

! rowspan=2 | Letter || colspan=2 | Pronunciation ! IPA || Approximate
 * A || || ah
 * B || || bay
 * C || || say
 * D || || day
 * E || || euh (like Am. English "look")
 * F || || eff
 * G || || jay
 * H || || ash
 * I || || ee (like English "e")
 * J || || gee (Warning: Don't confuse with "g")
 * K || || kah
 * L || || ell
 * M || || emm
 * N || || enn
 * O || || oh
 * P || || pay
 * Q || || kooh
 * R || || air
 * S || || ess
 * T || || tay
 * U || || ooh
 * V || || vay
 * W || || doobluh vay
 * X || || eeks
 * Y || || ee grek
 * Z || || zed
 * }
 * N || || enn
 * O || || oh
 * P || || pay
 * Q || || kooh
 * R || || air
 * S || || ess
 * T || || tay
 * U || || ooh
 * V || || vay
 * W || || doobluh vay
 * X || || eeks
 * Y || || ee grek
 * Z || || zed
 * }
 * U || || ooh
 * V || || vay
 * W || || doobluh vay
 * X || || eeks
 * Y || || ee grek
 * Z || || zed
 * }
 * Y || || ee grek
 * Z || || zed
 * }
 * Z || || zed
 * }

It is important to realize that several sounds greatly differ in French:
 * the letter a is only pronounced "ah"
 * the letter e (by itself) is only pronounced "euh" (when it takes the accent ´like é it is pronounced "ay")
 * the letter i is only pronounced "ee"
 * the letter h is normally silent, and rarely pronounced

There are five accents within French:

In Romance Languages, it is common to have a formal and informal way to say "you." In French, we have tu (informal) and vous (formal), and each is conjugated differently, as you will see later on. To help determine which form of "you" should be used, one must consider the other person's age, profession, and overall relationship.

If the other person is a minor, very close personally, or a family member, "tu" should be used. If the other person is an adult, not very well known, or a stranger, "vous" should be used.

You will see demonstrations in the dialogues below.

Être and avoir
Être and avoir are the first two important verbs you will need. Before you can use them, you need to understand the available targets within French:

Être means to be, and avoir means to have.

Exercises
Exercises