Crépieux, G. Massé, O. Rousse, J. (2013) Interactions 1: Méthode De Français (Course material for Français langue étrangère at Lycée d’Adultes, Paris)
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. |