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Easy French Lesson 7: Spelled DifferentlyEasy French Lesson 7: Spelled DifferentlyFRENCH WORDS SPELLED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY THAN ENGLISH There are often differences in spelling between French words and their English relatives. French Spelled Somewhat Like English are words similar to English, but spelled somewhat differently than English -- although easily recognizable as related to English. After French Spelled Exactly Like English, the next easiest for English speakers are these French Words Spelled Somewhat Like English. Because these French words are spelled somewhat differently than English, they are easier to recognize as foreign words than the ones spelled exactly like English. This lesson will show you French words increasingly different from their English relatives, although clearly recognizable as related to the words you already know. ------------------- In these Easy French Lessons are letters written by someone taking a first trip to France -- and discovering that many French words are similar to English words. Read French Words In English Sentences The following letter in English has a few French words mixed in. This starts you reading a few French words in the easiest way – in a context of familiar English words in English sentences. Reading French words in English sentences is the very easiest way to begin to read some French. In the following story, the FRENCH WORDS are IN CAPITAL LETTERS. -------------------- Letter about French Spelled Somewhat Differently Than English MON CHER Billy Bob, This is my fifth day in Paris, and JE T'AIME! (I love it!). I like being UN TOURISTE over here. Note the extra -e at the end of tourist -- it's like in English we call a great artist an ARTISTE, and pronounce it “ahr-TEEST” like the French do. It seems the French not only add accent marks freely, they also add extra letters to the ends of some English-looking words -- often adding -e. So yesterday I went for UN VISITE RAPIDE to LA CATHÉDRALE, my SECONDE one. But PAS DE PROBLÈME (no problem). Afterwards I ate LA SOUPE ET LA SALADE ET LE CRABE. ÇA VA (I like it.) Except seemingly everyone smokes BEAUCOUP DES CIGARETTES in LES RESTAURANTS here, and a man drove me out with the smoke and odor from his CIGARE. CE NE VA PAS (I don't like it.) Not only does French add letters to some English-looking words -- it also leaves off letters at the ends of others. For example, LE CLIMAT (climate) seems to have affected MON APPÉTIT -- I'm hungry all the time. I had UN DESIR (desire) for LE CHOCOLAT. The salesgirl said BON APPÉTIT and put it in UN SAC. Then back at L'HÔTEL on my BALCON (balcony), I found UN ROC (rock) and UN BAL (ball). I felt FATIGUÉ (fatigued). I have SUCCES (success) -- I feel I am in PARADIS (paradise). So French adds some letters and leaves off some letters, and it also changes the spelling at the ends of other English-looking words. Like earlier today I saw some historical sites of great L'ANTIQUITÉ and LA BEAUTÉ that arroused MA CURIOSITÉ. This evening in LE BAR DANS L'HÔTEL, I met UN DOCTEUR, ET UN PROFESSEUR, ET UN ACTEUR. Later I went to UN PHARMACIE, then I went to UN PARTIE. At night the streets by L'UNIVERSITÉ were full of LA GAIETÉ ET LA FRIVOLITÉ. BON NUIT (good night), MON CHER. Love, Candy ============ PATTERNS OF SPELLING DIFFERENCES Some of the differences in spelling between French and English cognates fall into the patterns shown below. This is a selection of just some of the many French words spelled somewhat like English. Whenever the foreign version is placed first, it is done to encourage you to look for and recognize foreign words similar to ones in English -- and deduce what the foreign words mean by yourself without being given the translation first. French words spelled somewhat like English may have some of the same meanings in both languages, or may have some slightly different but related meanings. --------------- French Cognates With an ADDED FINAL -E FRENCH -- ENGLISH -- SAY adulte -- adult -- [‘adult’] aide -- aid (n) -- [‘aid’] aire -- air -- [‘air’] architecte -- architect -- [ahr-shee-TEHKT] artiste -- artist -- [ahr-TEEST] aspirine -- aspirin -- [ahs-pee-REEN] balle -- ball -- [bahl] cabine -- cabin -- [‘cabin’] caresse -- caress -- [‘caress’] cathédrale -- cathedral -- [kah-tay-DRAHL] chaîne -- chain -- [shehn] cigare -- cigar -- [see-GAHR] classe -- class -- [‘class’] contrôle -- control -- [‘control’] cousine -- cousin (f) -- [koo-ZEEN] crabe -- crab -- [‘crab’] crampe -- cramp -- [‘cramp’] dentiste -- dentist -- [dawng-TEEST] différente -- different -- [‘different’] digitale -- digital -- [dee-zhee-TAHL] excepte -- except -- [‘except’] groupe -- group -- [‘group’] guitare -- guitar -- [‘guitar’] hélicoptère -- helicopter -- [ay-lee-kop-TEHR] ibuprofène -- ibuprofen -- [ee-bew-proh-fehn] insecte -- insect -- [‘insect’] juste -- just -- [zhewst] lampe -- lamp -- [lahngp] limite -- limit -- [‘limit’] liste -- list -- [‘list’] locale -- local -- [loh-KAHL] minérale -- mineral -- [‘mineral’] musicale -- musical -- [‘musical’] optométriste -- optometrist -- [ohp-toh-may-TREEST] orthodoxe -- orthodox -- [‘orthodox’] ovale -- oval -- [‘oval’] oxygène -- oxygen -- [‘oxygen’] paire -- pair -- [‘pair’] paragraphe -- paragraph -- [‘paragraph’] passe -- pass (n) -- [‘pass’] pédale -- pedal -- [‘pedal’] pénicilline -- penicillin -- [pay-nee-see-LEEN] permanente -- permanent -- [‘permanent’] pinte -- pint -- [‘pint’] plante -- plant -- [‘plant’] postale -- postal -- [‘postal’] presse -- press (media) -- [‘press’] problème -- problem -- [proh-BLEHM] rapide -- rapid -- [‘rapid’] récente -- recent -- [ray-SAWNGT] reste -- rest (remainder) -- [‘rest’] rhubarbe -- rhubarb -- [‘rhubarb’] ruine -- ruin (n) -- [rween] salade -- salad -- [‘salad’] sandale -- sandal -- [sawng-DAHL] seconde -- second (time) -- [seh-GAWNGD] sexe -- sex -- [‘sex’] socialisme -- socialism -- [soh-see-yah-LEES-muh] soliste -- soloist -- [so-LEEST] sorte -- sort -- [‘sort’] soupe -- soup -- [‘soup’] spécialiste -- specialist -- [spay-see-yah-LEEST] superbe -- superb -- [‘superb’] symbole -- symbol -- [‘symbol’] système -- system -- [sees-TEHM] tarte -- tart (pie) -- [‘tart’] taxe -- tax -- [‘tax’] tente -- tent -- [tawngt] tombe -- tomb -- [tawngb] topaze -- topaz -- [‘topaz’] totale -- total -- [‘total’] tourisme -- tourism -- [too-REES-muh] touriste -- tourist -- [too-REEST] vaginale -- vaginal -- [vah-zhee-NAHL] victime -- victim -- [‘victim’] visite -- visit (n) -- [‘visit’] ---------------------- French Cognates WITHOUT FINAL -E French cognates without the final letter -E of their English counterparts: This type of different spelling makes these words a little harder to recognize as French cognates of English words. (The previous group in which French with an added -e is more quickly recognized as a relative of English.) ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- SAY abuse -- abus -- [ah-BEW] appetite -- appétit -- [ahp-pay-TEE] attribute -- attribut -- [at-tre-BEW] case -- cas -- [kah] certificate -- certificat -- [sehr-tee-fee-KAH] chocolate -- chocolat -- [shoh-koh-LAH] climate -- climat -- [klee-MAH] compromise -- compromis -- [kohng-proh-MEE] concourse -- concours -- [kohn-KOOR] consulate -- consulat -- [kohn-sew-LAH] debate -- débat -- [day-BAH] decline -- déclin -- [day-KLEE] degree -- degré -- [deh-GRAY] desire -- désir -- [day-ZEER] discourse -- discours -- [dees-KOOR] institute -- institut -- [an-stee-TEW] magistrate -- magistrat -- [mah-zhee-STRAH] paradise -- paradis -- [pah-rah-DEE] recourse -- recours -- [reh-KOOR] revenue -- revenu -- [reh-veh-NOO] sense -- sens -- [sangs] statute -- statut -- [stah-TOO] substitute -- substitut -- [sewb-stee-TOO] tissue -- tissu -- [tee-SOO] ---------------- French Cognates WITHOUT CONSONANT AT END
ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- SAY at -- à -- [ah] sack -- sac -- [‘sack’] rock -- roc -- [‘rock’] block -- bloc -- [‘block’] balcony -- balcon -- [bahl-KAWNG] radish -- radis -- [rah-DEE] series -- série -- [say-REE] angel -- ange -- [ahnzh] interpreter -- interprète -- [ang-tehr-PREHT] ancient -- ancien -- [ahng-see-EHNG] --------------- French Cognates WITHOUT SECOND -S AT END abcess -- abcès -- [ahb-SEH] access -- accès -- [ahk-SEH] excess -- excès -- [ehk-SEH] progress -- progrès -- [proh-GREH] success -- succès -- [sook-SEH] ----------------- French Cognates WITHOUT SEVERAL LETTERS AT END ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- SAY beautiful -- beau -- [boh] linen -- lin -- [lang] tobacco -- tabac -- [tah-BAH] television -- télé -- [tay-LAY] adolescent (teenager) -- ado -- [ah-DOH] ------------------ Some English ending -ER are -EUR in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] boxer -- boxeur -- [box-UR] miner -- mineur -- [mee-NUR] porter -- porteur -- [pohr-TUHRR] skier -- skieur -- [‘skier’] scanner -- scanneur -- [skah-NUHR] -------------- English ending -OR is -EUR in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] actor -- acteur -- [ak-TUR] ambassador -- ambassadeur -- [ahm-bahs-sah-DUR] conductor -- conducteur -- [kohn-dewk-TUR] director -- directeur -- [dee-rek-TUR] docteur -- Doctor -- [dok-TUR] inspector -- inspecteur -- [an-spehk-TUR] professor -- professeur -- [pro-fehs-SUR] sculptor -- sculpteur -- [skewl-TUR] visitor -- visiteur -- [vee-see-TUR] --------- color -- coleur -- [koo-LUR] liquor -- liqueur -- [lee-KUR] motor -- moteur -- [moh-TUR] radiator -- radiateur -- [rah-dee-ah-TUR] carburetor -- carburateur -- [kahr-bew-rah-TUR] refrigerator -- réfrigérateur -- [‘refrigerator’] ---------- error -- erreur -- [ehr-RUR] horror -- horreur -- [ohr-RUR] terror -- terreur -- [tehr-RUR] ---------------------- English ending -OR / -OUR (Br.) is -EUR in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] ardor / ardour (Br.) -- ardeur -- [ar-DUR] candor / candour (Br.) -- candeur -- [can-DUR] favor / favour (Br.) -- faveur -- [fah-VUR] fervor / fervour (Br.) -- ferveur -- [fer-VUR] odor / odour (Br.) -- odeur -- [oh-DUR] rumor / rumour (Br.) -- rumeur -- [rew-MUR] splendor / splendour (Br.) -- splendeur -- [splehn-DUR] ---------------------- Some English ending -ER are -RE in French (In both American and British English) ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] September -- septembre -- [sehp-TAWNG-br] October -- octobre -- [ohk-TOH-br] November -- novembre -- [noh-VAWNG-br] December -- décembre -- [day-SAWNG-br] amber -- ambre -- [‘amber’] filter -- filtre -- [‘filter’] letter -- lettre -- [‘letter’] member -- membre -- [MAWNG-br] (Some ending -RE in French are -RE in British English words -- but -ER in American English) AMERICAN / BRITISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] center / centre -- centre -- [SAHNG-tr] fiber / fibre -- fibre -- [FEE-br] kilometer / kilometre -- kilomètre -- [kee-loh-MEH-truh] liter / litre -- litre -- [‘liter’] meter / metre -- mètre -- [MEH-tr] millimeter / millimetre -- millimètre -- [‘millimeter’] theater / theatre -- théâtre -- [tay-AH-tr] ----------------- Some English ending -ER are -IER in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] paper -- papier -- [pah-pee-YAY] quarter -- quartier -- [kahr-tee-YAY] river -- rivière -- [ree-vee-YEHR] --------------- English ending -Y is -IE in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] battery -- batterie -- [baht-teh-REE] biography -- biographie -- [bee-oh-grah-FEE] comedy -- comédie -- [ko-may-DEE] copy -- copie -- [koh-PEE] democracy -- démocracie -- [‘democracy’] economy -- économie -- [‘economy’] gallery -- galerie -- [gah-le-RREE] industry -- industrie -- [an-dews-TREE] malady -- maladie -- [mah-lah-DEE] pharmacy -- pharmacie -- [fahr-mah-SEE] photography -- photographie -- [foh-toh-grah-FEE] symphony -- symphonie -- [sym-foh-NEE] ------------------ English ending -TY is -TÉ in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] beauty -- beauté -- [boh-TAY] curiosity -- curiosité -- [kew-ree-oh-see-TAY] difficulty -- difficulté -- [deef-fee-kewl-TAY] electricity -- électricité -- [ay-lehk-tree-see-TAY] hospitality -- hospitalité -- [oh-spee-tah-lee-TAY] nationality -- nationalité -- [nah-see-ohn-ah-lee-TAY] possibility -- possibilité -- [poh-see-bee-lee-TAY] publicity -- publicité -- [pewb-lee-see-TAY] quantity -- quantité -- [kahn-tee-TAY] quality -- qualité -- [kah-lee-TAY] specialty -- spécialté -- [spay-see-ah-lee-TAY] university -- université -- [ew-nee-vehr-see-TAY] ---------------- English Ending –ic is –ique in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] allergic -- allergique -- [ah-lehr-ZHEEK] antibiotic -- antibiotique -- [ahng-tee-bee-yoh-TEEK] antiseptic -- antiseptique -- [awng-tee-sehp-TEEK] automatic -- automatique -- [oh-toh-mah-TEEK] Catholic -- catholique -- [kah-toh-LEEK] classic -- classique -- [‘classic’] dramatic -- dramatique -- [‘dramatic’] elastic -- elastique -- [‘elastic’] electric -- électrique -- [ay-lehk-TREEK] electronic -- électronique -- [ay-lehk-troh-NEEK] music -- musique -- [mew-ZEEK] picnic -- pique-nique -- [peek-NEEK] romantic -- romantique -- [roh-mawng-TEEK] --------------- Some English Ending –ed are – é in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] arrived -- arrivé -- [ah-ree-VAY] divorced -- divorcé -- [dee-vohr-SAY] infected -- infecté -- [ang-fehk-TAY] prepared -- preparé -- [preh-pah-RAY] -------- Some English Ending –ed are – ée in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] accepted -- acceptée -- [ahk-sehp-TAY] braised -- braisée -- [breh-ZAY] imported -- importée -- [ehng-pohr-TAY] ----------------- Some English ending -AL are -EL in French ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] heterosexual -- hétérosexuel -- [ay-tay-roh-sehk-soo-EHL] homosexual -- homosexuel -- [oh-moh-sehk-soo-EHL] natural -- naturel -- [‘natural’] material -- matériel -- [‘material’] traditional -- traditionnel -- [trah-dee-see-yohng-NEHL] ------ A Few Words Ending -ION Spelled Somewhat Differently in French than English Although over 1,200 words ending -ION in French are spelled the same as in English, a few cognates ending -ION in English are spelled differently in French, but are similar enough to be recognizable as related to their English cognate. ENGLISH -- FRENCH -- [SAY] translation -- traduction -- [trah-dewk-SYOHNG] explanation -- explication -- [ehks-plee-kah-SYOHNG] vacation -- vacances -- [vah-KAHNS] ------- Summary: French Cognates with DIFFERENT LETTERS AT THE END Besides added or dropped final letters, there are often other differences in endings between French words and their English parallels. The following table indicates some of the more frequent equivalents between English and French. ------- EQUIVALENTS ------- ENGLISH...............FRENCH Example...............Example ------- -or......................... -eur actor..................... acteur ------- -y.......................... -ie, or –e copy..................... copie ------- -c.......................... -que music.................... musique ------- -er......................... -re or –ier letter.................... lettre ------- -ed........................ -é, or -ée divorced................ divorcé ------- -al...........................-el natural...................naturel ------------- Most French words related to English are spelled differently than English, but are still easy to recognize as related to English. [Fewer French words are spelled exactly like English.] But you will be able to readily recognize and read French words related to English even though they are spelled differently than in English. This lesson includes only common examples of French Spelled Somewhat Differently Than English. Many more exist because words spelled differently are the largest group of French-English cognates. This lesson focuses on common patterns of French Spelled Somewhat Differently Than English. Many more French spelling variations exist that may be somewhat more difficult to recognize as related to English. ----------- Jumbled English The following example of Jumbled English shows that you will be able to readily recognize and read French words related to English even though they are spelled quite a bit differently than in English. This can be demonstrated by the following fascinating sentences written in Jumbled English, that you will be able to read: “It deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer are in the rghit pcale. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit pobelrm. Tihs is buseace the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.”At first it would seem that a single word jumbled like this would be easier to decipher. But it helps that these jumbled words are in phrases and sentences that are meaningful. Surrounding words make it quicker to understand any single word. For example: It deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod you can sitll raed it wouthit pobelrm “…our brains can recognize a word and its meaning even if the letters within the word are jumbled. Like a detective, our brains take many aspects of the word into account and formulate an educated guess as to what the word may be. In thsee cseas, it is anzaimg how sarmt our bainrs rlaely are…” This is one reason that a thousand foreign words similar to English are easier to remember than ten foreign words unrelated to English. ---------------------------------- So the point to gain from this jumbled English is that you will be able to readily recognize and read French words related to English even though they are spelled differently than in English. You already are familiar with spelling variations in English -- Noun Plural Variations add S or ES: cat, cats -- Noun Possessive Variations add ‘S or S’: cat’s, cats’ -- Verb Variations: go, goes, going, gone. So think of different foreign spelling of English words as just some more spelling variations that you will begin to remember. ================ FRENCH SPELLED SOMEWHAT LIKE ENGLISH IN VARIOUS WAYS: French -- English -- [Say French] à -- at -- [ah] abandonner -- abandon -- [ah-ban-doh-NAY] abbaye -- abbey -- [ah-ba-YEE] abréviation -- abbreviation -- [ah-bray-vee-ah-see-YOHNG] abricot -- apricot -- [ah-bree-KOH] absolument -- absolutely -- [ahb-soh-loo- MAWNG] accélérer -- accelerate -- [ahk-say-lay-RAY] accepter -- accept -- [ahk-sehp-TAY] accès -- access -- [ahk-SEH] accessoire -- accessory -- [ahk-sehs-SWAHR] accessoires -- accessories -- [ahk-sehs-SWAHR] accompagner -- accompany -- [ah-kom-pah-NYAY] accordéon -- accordion -- [ah-kor-day-OHNG] accuser -- accuse -- [ah-koo-ZAY] acte -- act (n) -- [ahkt] acteur -- actor -- [ahk-TEWR] activité -- activity -- [ahk-tee-vee-TAY] activités -- activities -- [ahk-tee-vee-TAY] actrice -- actress -- [ahk-TREESS] adjectif -- adjective -- [ahd-zhehk-TEEF] admettre -- admit -- [ahd-MEH-tr] admirer -- admire -- [ahd-mee-RAY] ado -- adolescent (teenager) -- [ah-DOH] adopter -- adopt -- [ah-dop-TAY] adorer -- adore -- [ah-doh-RAY] adresse -- address -- [ah-DREHS] adulte -- adult -- [ah-DEWLT] adverbe -- adverb -- ahd-VEHRB] adversaire -- adversary -- [ahd-vehr-SEHR] aéroport -- airport -- [ah-ay-roh-POHR] agence -- agency -- [ah-ZHAWNGS] aggraver -- aggravate -- [ah-grah-VAY] aigle -- eagle -- [EH-gl] air conditionné -- air-conditioning -- [‘air’ kon-dee-see-yoh-NAY] alarme -- alarm -- [‘alarm’] alcool -- alcohol -- [ahl-KOL] alerte -- alert (n) -- [‘alert’] allergie -- allergy -- [ah-lehr-ZHEE] allergique -- allergic -- [ah-lehr-ZHEEK] allô -- hello -- [ah-LOH] alphabétique -- alphabetical -- [ahl-fah-bay-TEEK] amandes -- almonds -- [ah-MAWNGD] ambassade -- embassy -- [ahm-bah-SAHD] ambitieux -- ambitious -- [ahm-bee-YEW] américain -- American -- [ah-may-ree-KEHNG] Amérique -- America -- [ah-may-REEK] amusant -- amusing -- [ah-mew-ZAHNG] anchois -- anchovies -- [ahng-SHWAH] ancien -- ancient -- [ahng-see-EHNG] ancre -- anchor -- [AHNG-kr] ange -- angel -- [ahnzh] anglais -- English -- [awng-GLEH] animaux -- animals -- [ah-nee-MOH] annoncer -- announce -- [ah-nong-SAY] annuel -- annual -- [ah-nyew-EHL] antenne -- antenna -- [ahng-TEHN] antibiotique -- antibiotic -- [‘antibiotic’] antiquités -- antiques -- [ahng-tee-kee-TAY] anxieux -- anxious -- [ahng-see-EW] août -- August -- [oot] appart -- apartment, flat UK -- [ah-PAHRT] appartement -- apartment, flat UK -- [ah-pahrt-MAWNG] appendicite -- appendicitis -- [ah-pang-dee-SEET] applaudir -- applaud -- [ah-ploh-DEER] applaudissements -- applause -- [ah-ploh-dees-MAHNG] arche -- arch -- [arsh] armée -- army -- [ahr-MAY] arranger -- arrange -- [ah-rahn-ZHAY] arrivées -- arrivals -- [ah-ree-VAY] arriver -- arrive -- [ah-ree-VAY] arthrite -- arthritis -- [ahr-TREET] artichaut -- artichoke -- [ahr-tee-SHOH] artificiel -- artificial -- [ahr-tee-fee-see-EHL] artiste -- artist -- [ahr-TEEST] asperges -- asparagus -- [ah-SPEHRZH] aspirine -- aspirin -- [ahs-pee-REEN] asthme -- asthma -- [ahsm] attaque -- attack -- [‘attack’] australien(ne) -- Australian -- [oh-strah-lee-EHNG(EHN)] auteur -- author -- [oh-TEWR] autographe -- autograph -- [‘autograph’] automatique -- automatic -- [‘automatic’] automne -- autumn -- [oh-TON] avantage -- advantage -- [ah-vahn-TAHZH] aventure -- adventure -- [ah-vehn-TEWR] avez -- have -- [ah-VAY] avril -- April -- [ah-preel] bagages -- baggage -- [bah-GAHZH] banane -- banana -- [bah-NAHN] banque -- bank -- [bahnk] basilic -- basil -- [bah-zee-LEEK] batterie -- battery -- [‘battery’] bébé -- baby -- [bay-BAY] Belge -- Belgian -- [behlzh] bicyclette -- bicycle -- [bees-see-KLEHT] bière -- beer -- [bee-YEHR] bilingue -- bilingual -- [bee-LAHNG] bip -- beep -- [‘beep’] bleu -- blue -- [bluh] bloquer -- block (v) -- [bloh-KAY] bœuf -- beef -- [buhf] bol -- bowl -- [‘bowl’] bottes -- boots -- [boht] boucle -- buckle -- [BOO-kl] bouillir -- boil -- [boo-YEER] bouteille -- bottle -- [boo-TEHY] bouton -- button -- [boo-TAWNG] branche -- branch -- [brawnsh] bref -- brief -- [brehf] brillant -- brilliant -- [bree-YAHNG] brique -- brick -- [breek] broche -- brooch -- [brohsh] broderie -- embroidery -- [broh-DREE] brocoli -- broccoli -- [‘broccoli’] brosse -- brush -- [bross] brun -- brown -- [brewng] caisse -- cashier -- [kehs] calendrier -- calendar -- [kah-lahng-dree-YAY] câpres -- capers (food) -- [‘caper’] carotte -- carrot -- [‘carrot’] carte -- card -- [kahrt] céleri -- celery -- [‘celery’] cemetière -- cemetery -- [see-mer-TYEHR] centre -- center -- [SAHNG-tr] céréales -- cereal -- [‘cereal’] chaise -- chair -- [shayz] châle -- shawl -- [‘shawl’] chapelle -- chapel -- [shah-PEHL] chef -- chief -- ['chef'] chèques -- checks -- [shehk] chikorée -- chickory -- [‘chickory’] chinois(e) -- Chinese -- [sheen-WAH(Z)] chiropracticien -- chiropractor -- [kee-roh-prahk-tees-YEHNG] ciseaux -- scissors -- [see-ZOH] collègue -- colleague -- [‘colleague’] comprends -- comprehend -- [kohng-PRAWNG pah] compte -- account -- [kawngt] concombre -- cucumber -- [kawng-KAWNG-br] connexion -- connection -- [koh-nek-see-YOHNG] constipé -- constipated -- [kohng-stee-PAY] corail -- coral -- [ko-RAH-y] coriandre -- coriander -- [‘coriander’] coton -- cotton -- [koh-TOHNG] coûte -- cost (n) -- [koot] crampes -- cramps -- [krahmp] crème -- cream -- [krehm] cristal -- crystal -- [‘crystal’] croisière -- cruise (n) -- [krwah-zee-EHR] croix -- cross -- [krwah] cyclisme -- cycling -- [see-KLEESM] danser -- dance -- [dawng-SAY] dattes -- dates -- [daht] décaféiné -- decaf -- [day-kah-fay-ee-NAY] décaféiné -- decaffeinated -- [day-kah-fay-ee-NAY] dentier -- denture -- [dahng-tee-AY] dermatologue -- dermatologist -- [dayr-mah-toh-LOHG] désinfectant -- disinfectant -- [day-zang-fehk-TAHNG] diamant -- diamond -- [dee-yah-MAWNG ] diarrhée -- diarrhea -- [dee-yah-RAY] dictionnaire -- dictionary -- [deek-see-ohn-NEHR] difficile -- difficult -- [dee-fee-SEEL] douzaine -- dozen -- [‘dozen’] drible -- dribble (soccer) -- [DREE-bluh] écarlate -- scarlet -- [ay-kahr-LAHT] échalote -- shallot -- [ay-shah-LOT] échanger -- exchange -- [ay-shawng-ZHAY] effet -- effect -- [eh-FEH] endommagée -- damaged -- [awng-doh-mah-ZHAY] emeraude -- emerald -- [ay-mehr-ROHD] en -- in -- [ahng] enfant -- infant -- [awng-FAWNG] enregistrement -- registration -- [ahng-reh-zhee-streh-MAHNG] entrée -- entry -- [awng-TRAY] enveloppe -- envelope -- [‘envelope’] épicé -- spicy -- [ay-pee-SAY] épingle -- pin -- [ay-PANG-gl] éponge -- sponge -- [ay-PAWNGZH] equipée -- equipped -- [eh-kee-PAY] est -- east -- [ehst] estomac -- stomach -- [ehs-to-MAH] étrange -- strange -- [ay-TRAWNGZH] étudiant -- student -- [ay-tew-dee-YAWNG] faisan -- pheasant -- [feh-ZAHNG] famille -- family -- [fah-MEE-yuh] ferme -- farm -- [fehrm] février -- February -- [fay-vree-YAY] fièvre -- fever -- [fee-YEH-vruh] figue -- fig -- [‘fig’] flanelle -- flannel -- [‘flannel’] fleur -- flower -- [flurr] fleuriste -- florist -- [flur-REEST] fontaine -- fountain -- [‘fountain’] forêt -- forest -- [foh-REH] formul -- form -- [for-MEWL] formulaire -- form -- [for-mew-LEHR] forteresse -- fortress -- [for-te-RREHSS] fourchette -- fork -- [foor-SHEHT] frais / fraîche -- fresh -- [fray / ‘fresh’] français -- French -- [frawng-SAY] frange -- fringe -- [frahnzh] frit -- fried -- [free] gaz -- gas -- [gahz] gelée -- jelly -- [‘jelly’] gingembre -- ginger -- [zhang-ZHAHNG-br] grec -- Greek -- [grehk] gris -- gray / grey -- [gree] gymnase -- gym(nasium) -- [zheem-NAHZ] gynécologue -- gynecologist -- [zhee-nay-koh-LOHG] handicapé -- handicapped -- [awng-dee-kah-PAY] hareng -- herring -- [ah-RAHNG] heure -- hour -- [uhr] hindouiste -- Hindu -- [ehng-doo-EEST] histoire -- history -- [ees-TWAHR] hôpital -- hospital -- [oh-pee-TAHL] huile -- oil -- [weel] identité -- identification -- [ee-dawng-tee-TAY] illimité -- unlimited -- [ee-lee-mee-TAY] importée -- imported -- [ehng-pohr-TAY] individuelle -- individual -- [‘individual’] ingenieur -- engineer -- [ehng-zhay-NYEWR] insérer -- insert -- [ang-say-RAY] intéressant -- interesting -- [ehng-teh-reh-SAWNG] italien -- Italian -- [ee-tah-lee-YEHNG] ivoire -- ivory -- [ee-VWAHR] jaquette -- jacket (woman’s) -- [zhah-KEHT] janvier -- January -- [zhawng-vee-YAY] japonaises -- Japanese -- [zhah-poh-NEHZ] jardin -- garden -- [zhahr-DEHNG] joindre -- join -- [ZHWEHNG-druh] juillet -- July -- [zhwee-YAY] juin -- June -- [zhwehng] jus -- juice -- [‘juice’] kasher -- kosher -- [kah-SHEHR] kiosque -- kiosk -- [‘kiosk’] lac -- lake -- [lahk] lacets -- laces -- [lahs-SEH] laitue -- lettuce -- [leh-TEW] laxatif -- laxative -- [lahks-ah-TEEF] leçon -- lesson -- [luh-SOHNG] lentilles -- lentils -- [lahng-TEEY] lesbienne -- lesbian -- [‘lesbian’] limonade -- lemonade -- [lee-mo-NAHD] lin -- linen -- [lang] longue -- long -- [‘long’] ma -- my -- [mah] magnifique -- magnificent -- [mah-nee-FEEK] mai -- May (month) -- [‘May’] manucure -- manicure -- [mah-new-KEWR] maquereau -- mackerel -- [mah-ker-ROH] marché -- market -- [mahr-SHAY] marié -- married -- [mah-ree-YAY] mariné -- marinated -- [mah-ree-NAY] mars -- March -- [mahrss] matelas -- mattress -- [mah-teh-LAH] mécanicien -- mechanic -- [may-kah-nees-YANG] médicament -- medicine (remedy) -- [may-dee-kah-MAHNG] menthe -- mint -- [‘mint’] miroir -- mirror -- [meer-WAHR] mon -- my -- [mawng] monastère -- monastery -- [mo-nah-STEHR] montagne -- mountain -- [mohng-TAH-nyuh] moutarde -- mustard -- [moo-TAHRD] mouton -- mutton -- [‘mutton’] musée -- museum -- [mew-ZAY] nausée -- nausea -- [noh-ZAY] neveu -- nephew -- [nur-VUR] nez -- nose -- [nay] nom -- name -- [nohng] non -- no -- [nohng] nouilles -- noodles -- [noo-Y] nuit -- night -- [nwee] numéro -- number -- [new-may-ROH] nuque -- neck -- [newk] occupée -- occupied -- [oh-kew-PAY] oignon -- onion -- [‘onion’] oncle -- uncle -- [‘uncle’] operatrice -- operator -- [oh-pay-rah-TREESS] ou -- or -- [oo] palais -- palace -- [pah-LAY] papier -- paper -- [pah-pee-YAY] paquet -- pack -- [pak-KAY] par -- per -- [pahr] parc -- park -- [‘park’] parquer -- park (v) -- [pahr-KAY] paquet -- packet -- [pah-KEH] parfum -- perfume -- [pahr-FANG] parti -- party -- [‘party’] partir -- depart -- [pahr-TEER] partnaire -- partner -- [‘partner’] passeport -- passport -- [pahs-POHR] pâtes -- pasta -- [paht] pâtisserie -- pastry -- [pah-tees-ser-REE] pêche -- peach -- [pehsh] peintre -- painter -- [‘painter’] peinture -- painting -- [pang-TEWR] pendentif -- pendant -- [pahng-dahng-TEEF] perle -- pearl -- [pehrl] persil -- parsley -- [pehr-SEE] personne -- person -- [pehr-SOHN] pilule -- pill -- [pee-LEWL] pique-nique -- picnic -- [peek-NEEK] pisse -- piss -- [‘piss’] platine -- platinum -- [plah-TEEN] poche -- pocket -- [posh] politique -- political -- poh-lee-TEEK] porc -- pork -- [por] poterie -- pottery -- [pot-ter-REE] poudre -- powder -- [POO-dr] pour -- for -- [poor] pour -- per -- [poor] prescrire -- prescribe -- [prehs-KREER] privé -- private -- [pree-VAY] prix -- price -- [pree] pruneaux -- prunes -- [prew-NOH] pyjama -- pajamas -- [pee-zhah-MAH] quartier -- quarter -- [kahr-tee-YAY] raquette -- racket -- [‘racket’] rasoir -- razor -- [rahz-WAHR] réceptionnaire -- receptionist -- [ray-sehp-see-oh-NEHR] recommander -- recommend -- [reh-koh-mawng-DAY] rectangulaire -- rectangular -- [rehk-tahng-gew-LEHR] réduite -- reduced -- [ray-DWEET] rejetée -- rejected -- [ruh-zhuh-TAY] réparer -- repair -- [ray-pah-RAY] répéter -- repeat -- [ray-pay-TAY] responsable -- responsible -- [‘responsible’] rivière -- river -- [ree-vee-YEHR] riz -- rice -- [ree] rond -- round -- [rawng] rosbif -- roast beef -- [rohz-’BEEF’] rôti -- roasted -- [roh-TEE] rubis -- ruby -- [‘ruby’] ruhm -- rum -- [‘rum’] safran -- saffron -- [sah-FRAHNG] saison -- season -- [seh-ZAWNG] salé -- salty -- [sah-LAY] saucisse -- sausage -- [sohs-SEESS] sauge -- sage -- [sohzh] saumon -- salmon -- [‘salmon’] secondaire -- secondary -- [suh-kohng-DEHR] secrétaire -- secretary -- [sehk-ray-TEHR] shampooing -- shampoo -- [shawng-poo-WEENG] sirop -- syrup -- [‘syrup’] socialisme -- socialism -- [soh-see-yah-LEES-muh] soliste -- soloist -- [so-LEEST] sommet -- summit -- [soh-MAY] soustitres -- subtitles -- [soo-TEE-truh] spaghettis -- spaghetti -- [‘spaghetti’] spécialiste -- specialist -- [spay-see-yah-LEEST] spécialisé -- specialized -- [spay-see-yah-lee-ZAY] spécialités -- specialties -- [spay-see-yah-lee-TAY] sportif -- sports (adj) -- [spor-TEEF] stade -- stadium -- [stahd] stéroïdes -- steroids -- [stay-roh-EED] sucre -- sugar -- [SOO-kr] Suisse(sse) -- Swiss -- [‘Swiss’] supérieure -- superior -- [‘superior’] supermarché -- supermarket -- [soo-pehr-mahr-SHAY] suppositoires -- suppositories -- [soo-poh-zee-TWAHR] synogoge -- synogogue -- [‘synogogue’] taileur -- tailor -- [tah-YUHR] tante -- aunt -- [tahngt] télé -- television (set) -- [tay-LAY] téléviseur -- television (set) -- [tay-lay-vee-ZURR] thé -- tea -- [tay] thon -- tuna -- [tawng] thym -- thyme -- [tang] toilettes -- toilets -- [twah-LEHT] tomate -- tomato -- [to-MAHT] tombe -- tomb -- [tawngb] topaze -- topaz -- [‘topaz’] traditionnel -- traditional -- [trah-dee-see-yohng-NEHL] traitement -- treatment -- [treht-MAHNG] tranquillisants -- tranquilizers -- [trahng-kee-lee-ZAHNG] trop -- too -- [troh] truite -- trout -- [trweet] un -- one -- [ang] vacances -- vacation -- [vah-KAWNGS] valeur -- value -- [vah-LURR] vallée -- valley -- [vah-LAY] veau -- veal -- [voh] végétarien -- vegetarian -- [vay-zhay-tah-ree-YEHNG] venaison -- venison -- [‘venison’] vertiges -- vertigo -- [vehr-TEEZH] vin -- wine -- [vehng] vinaigre -- vinegar -- [‘vinegar’] visiter -- visit (v) -- [vee-zee-TAY] vous -- you -- [voo] vue -- view -- [vew] yeux -- eyes -- [yuh] yaourt -- yogurt / yoghurt -- [yah-OORT] ------------------ DIFFERENT SPELLING OF FRENCH COGNATES ON SIGNS On a trip to France, you will be able to read signs in French spelled somewhat differently than English. English -- French -- [Say] ARRIVALS -- LES ARRIVÉES -- [lay ah-ree-VAY] BANK -- BANQUE -- [bahnk] DEPARTURES -- LES DEPARTS -- [lay day-PAHR] ENTRANCE -- ENTRÉE -- [ahn-TRAY] HOSPITAL -- HÔPITAL -- [oh-pee-TAHL] PHARMACY -- PHARMACIE -- [fahr-mah-SEE] PHOTOGRAPHY SHOP -- PHOTOGRAPHIE -- [foh-toh-grah-FEE] POST OFFICE -- POSTES -- [pohst] PRIVATE -- PRIVÉ -- [pree-VAY] PUSH -- POUSSER -- [poo-SAY] SANDWICHES -- SANDWICHS -- [sand-WEECH] TOILETS -- TOILETTES -- [twah-LEHT] VEGETARIAN -- VÉGÉTARIEN -- [vay-zhay-tah-ree-ANG] ---------- Different Spelling of French Phrases on SIGNS English -- French CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED -- CARTES ACCEPTÉES INSERT CARD -- INSÉREZ LA CARTE FIXED-PRICE -- PRIX FIXE PASSPORT CONTROL -- CONTRÔLE DE PASSEPORT PRODUCTS TO DECLARE -- PRODUITS À DÉCLARER ======
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