Un 6.2
Pronunciation – The Letter ‘r’
The letter ‘r’ represents two very different sounds in English and French. This difference is an obstacle common for all learners of French, but, with some practice, this can be overcome to further develop a more francophone pronunciation.
The Letter ‘r’ – La lettre ‘r’
There are several different pronunciations of the letter ‘r’ in French. This depends on its place in the word, the francophone region, as well as on social aspects such as age and education (similar to the example of ‘Received Pronunciation’ in English). The two most common pronunciations are referred to as the ‘guttural R’ and the ‘rolled R’.
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Guttural R /ʁ/ (voiced uvular fricative) |
The front of the tongue is lowered, to just behind the lower teeth, while the back of the tongue is raised to the top of the mouth. Air is then forced through a small gap between the back of the tongue and top of the mouth, creating a vibration. |
Gargling water requires a very similar action toward the back of the mouth |
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Rolled R /r/ (voiced alveolar trill) |
The tip of the tongue is raised to the alveolar ridge (the ridge at the top of the mouth just behind the front teeth). Air is then forced between the tip of the tongue and the top of the mouth, causing the tip of the tongue to vibrate. |
The alveolar flap /ɾ/, heard in many North American pronunciations in words like ‘butter’ (“budder”), occurs in the same place and with a very similar shape of the tongue |
Exercices
Un 6.2 - Ex. 1
Répétez (repeat) chaque combinaison avec le son ‘r’ (/ʁ/).
- RI – RO – RA – ROU – RU
- BRU – BRI – BRA – BRO – BROU
- CRO – CRÈ – CRI – CRA – CRU
- DRU – DRO – DRA – DRI – DROU
- PRO – PRI – PRA – PRÉ – PROU
- FRA – FRO – FROU – FRI – FRU
- GRO – GRI – GRA – GRÉ – GROU
- TRI – TRA – TRÉ – TRO – TROU
Un 6.2 - Ex. 2
Répétez (repeat) chaque mot.
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rapide |
brise |
crabe |
drône |
|
rôti |
brûlant |
criblé |
druide |
|
rouler |
bras |
crudités |
dribbler |
|
rue |
bricoler |
craquer |
dragon |
|
rigoler |
cabré |
sucré |
dressé |
|
praline |
fraternel |
grossir |
tracas |
|
précédé |
fraude |
griffe |
tricoter |
|
esprit |
affreux |
agraphé |
bistro |
|
profession |
francophone |
agrume |
traité |
|
prudent |
frigo |
congrès |
troupeau |
Un 6.2 - Ex. 3
Lisez à haute voix (read aloud) ces phrases et ensuite écoutez leurs prononciations.
- Robert a roulé sur l’autoroute rapidement.
- Ma grand-mère a tricoté une écharpe grise.
- Il a écrit un paragraphe criblé d’erreurs.
- Le bistro se trouve près du centre francophone.
- Je prends des crudités et du riz.
- Ton frère a vraiment grossi.
- Nous roulons près du troupeau.