French Accent Marks: A Quick Guide
French accent marks play a crucial role in the language, affecting both pronunciation and meaning. This guide will introduce you to the five French accents and their uses.
The Five French Accents
- Accent aigu (é)
- Accent grave (è)
- Accent circonflexe (ê)
- Tréma (ë)
- Cédille (ç)
Accent Aigu (é)
The accent aigu only appears on the letter 'e' and creates a sharp 'ay' sound.
Example: été (summer)
Accent Grave (è, à, ù)
This accent appears on 'e', 'a', and 'u'. On 'e', it creates an 'eh' sound.
Examples:
- père (father)
- où (where)
Accent Circonflexe (â, ê, î, ô, û)
This "hat" accent can appear on any vowel. It often indicates that an 's' was historically present after the vowel.
Example: forêt (forest) - previously 'forest'
Tréma (ë, ï, ü)
The tréma indicates that two vowels should be pronounced separately rather than as a diphthong.
Example: Noël (Christmas)
Cédille (ç)
The cédille appears only under the letter 'c' and gives it an 's' sound before 'a', 'o', or 'u'.
Example: français (French)
Importance in Meaning
Accents can change the meaning of words:
- ou (or) vs où (where)
- sur (on) vs sûr (sure)
Understanding and using French accents correctly is essential for proper pronunciation and avoiding misunderstandings in written communication.