Understanding Accent Marks and Stress in French Pronunciation

What Are Accent Marks in French?

Accent marks in French, known as "diacritics," modify the pronunciation and sometimes the meaning of words. There are five types, each critical for proper pronunciation and understanding.

The Five French Accent Marks

• Accent aigu (é)
• Accent grave (è, à, ù)
• Accent circonflexe (ê, â, î, ô, û)
• Tréma (ë, ï, ü)
• Cédille (ç)

Accent Aigu (é)

The accent aigu /e/ is placed over an 'e' and indicates a closed and clearer pronunciation, as in 'été' (summer).

Accent Grave (è, à, ù)

This accent can appear over 'e', 'a', and 'u'. For 'e', it creates an open sound /ɛ/, as in 'père' (father). On 'a' and 'u', it often distinguishes words like 'a' (has) from 'à' (at).

Accent Circonflexe (ê, â, î, ô, û)

Commonly found over all five vowels, the circonflexe often denotes historical changes in spelling, such as 'forêst' becoming 'forêt'. It can also signify a longer vowel sound.

Tréma (ë, ï, ü)

The tréma is used to indicate that two vowels must be pronounced separately, as in 'Noël' /nɔ.ɛl/.

Cédille (ç)

The cédille changes a hard 'c' into a soft 'c', pronounced as /s/, seen in 'garçon' (boy).

French Word Stress

Unlike English, French word stress is consistent, typically placed on the final syllable of words. This uniform stress pattern simplifies French pronunciation once understood.

How Stress Affects Meaning

Stress doesn't alter the meaning of French words as significantly as in English, but incorrect stress can impact clarity. Make sure to listen and replicate native speakers.