Nasal vowels
When a vowel is followed by 'n' or 'm', it becomes a nasal vowel. This just means that the 'n' and 'm' are not really pronounced and the vowel is pronounced nasally, like you have a cold. As a result, the sound in each pair below (ex. 'an' and 'am') are pronounced exactly the same.
It might sound complicated but don't worry, it's not! Just listen to the recordings below and when you repeat them, pretend that your nose is stuffy.
| A | E | I | O | U | Y | |
| N | banc |
lent |
matin |
bon |
un |
syndicat |
| M | ampoule |
temps |
impôt |
nom |
parfum |
symptôme |
When the sound is followed by another vowel, then it’s not nasal.
Compare the sounds below:
| bon |
bonne |
| un |
une |
| coquin |
coquine |
