Pronouncing [a], [ã], [o] and [õ]
The tilda over a letter such as ã denoted the use of the nasal form. For instance in the word papa the a is said differently to the first ã sound in maman.
Consider these words,
| [a] | [ã] | [o] | [õ] |
| journaliste | comment | volontiers | volontiers |
| artiste | longtemps | coordoneés | mon |
| champagne | attends | numero | non |
| attends | presenté | bureau | bonsoir |
| fiancee | bonbon | ||
| enchanteé | bonjour |
A short play
| Person | French | English |
| T | Martin! | Martin! |
| M | Non, je m’appelle Michael. | No, I am called Michael. |
| T | Je suis désolé. | Sorry. |
| M | C’est bon. | It’s fine. |
| W | Tiens. Les garçons. | Here they are. The boys. |
| T+M | C’est Martin! | It’s Martin! |
| W | Non. C’est encore Marianna. | No. It is still Marianna. |
| T | Voici ma carte, Martin. | Here is my card,Martin. |
| M | Ah ! Tu es dentiste. | Ah! You are a dentist. |
| T | Oui, et toi ? | Yes, and you? |
| M | Je suis éducateur. | I am a teacher. |
| T | Tu as un numéro de portable ? | Do you have a mobile number? |
| W | Moi ? C’est 06 07 08 08 09 10. | Me. It is 06 07 08 08 09 10. |
| T | Et toi Martin? | And you, Martin? |
| M | 06 07 08 09 10 | 06 07 08 09 10 |
| T | Mais, c’est la meme choose? | But, it is the same? |
| M | Bien sur… | Of course… |
| T | Ahhh, OK. Au revoir. | Ahhh, OK. Goodbye. |