Accent aigu vs accent grave in French

The French language uses several accent marks, with the accent aigu (´) and accent grave (`) being two of the most common. Understanding the difference between these accents is crucial for proper pronunciation and spelling in French.

Accent Aigu (´)

The accent aigu only appears on the letter 'e' in French. It changes the pronunciation of 'e' to a closed, tense sound, similar to the 'ay' in "say" in English.

Examples:

• été (summer)
• café (coffee)
• répéter (to repeat)

Accent Grave (`)

The accent grave can appear on 'e', 'a', or 'u'. On 'e', it indicates an open 'e' sound, similar to the 'e' in "bed" in English. On 'a' and 'u', it doesn't change the pronunciation but is used to distinguish between words that would otherwise be spelled the same.

Examples:

• père (father)
• où (where)
• à (to, at)

Key Differences

1. Pronunciation: The main difference is in how they affect the pronunciation of 'e'.

2. Usage: Accent aigu is only used on 'e', while accent grave can be used on 'e', 'a', and 'u'.

3. Function: Accent aigu always changes pronunciation, while accent grave may serve to distinguish between words (on 'a' and 'u').

Common Words

Accent aigu:

• éducation (education)
• médecin (doctor)
• préférer (to prefer)

Accent grave:

• très (very)
• après (after)
• première (first - feminine)

Remember, practice and exposure to French text will help you become more familiar with these accents and their usage.