How to Say French First Names

There's no need to be fluent to pronounce French first names correctly.

A first name in your native tongue could sound completely different in another language. This is often the case with English and French, as the pronunciation of many letters is different. Probably the most obvious difference between the two languages is the French use of accented letters that gives vowels a completely new sound. Fortunately, even beginning French speakers can master the basics of French name pronunciation by memorizing a few linguistic rules.

Things You'll Need

• French phonetics guide

Instructions

1. Read the French first name in question, paying attention to any accented letters. Many French first names use the common sharp accent: a rightward, upward slant often used to accent the letter e (é). This accent is pronounced "ay" like in the English word "say." So for the French first name Noémie, for example, you would pronounce it, "No-ay-mee."

2. Check the written version of the French first name for the letter "e" with an accent grave, which is slanted upward and to the left (è ), as in the word "très". Pronounce this accented "e" similarly to the "e" with the sharp accent but with a more open sound. When saying the name Helène, for example, you would pronounce the second "e" much like the "e" in "red."

3. Pronounce unaccented vowels in the middle of the name correctly. Say the French "i" as "ee," pronouncing the popular girls' name "Michelle" as "Mee-shell," with an emphasis on the "i." How to pronounce an unaccented "e" in French first names depends on the consonant that follows. In many names, for example, the "e" is pronounced just as it would be in the English word "red," as in French names including Danielle, Adrien or Lizette. When the "e" is followed by the letter "r," however, such as in the names "Roger" or "Didier," pronounce the "er" as "ay."

4. Look at how the first name is written to see if it ends with a consonant. If so, do not pronounce this or these last letters, as this is not done in French. Examples of some common French names that end in consonants are Thibault, Vincent and Robert. Instead of pronouncing the last consonant, pronounce the name up until the last vowels. For example, the name Thibault is pronounced "Tee-bow," the name Vincent "Van-sahn" with only a slight emphasis on the "n" and "Robert" is pronounced "Row-bear," with a slight emphasis on the "r."

Tips & Warnings

• Pick up a French phonetics guide that includes a listening CD to help accustom your ear to common pronunciations in the language. Over time, this should help you pronounce French names and other words more naturally.

References

• Jump-Gate: Lesson 1 - Pronunciation Guidelines

Resources

• Hear-Names: French Names