1. Home
  2. French for Kids
  3. Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!
  4. The Alphabet — L'alphabet

The Alphabet — L'alphabet by Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.

You know the English alphabet, right? Then you know the French one, too! The letters are the same, but they work a little differently than they do in English. When you say the letters in French, you want them to sound like French. That means you need to learn how to pronounce, or say, the letters the way French speakers do.

Most letters in French sound like their names. But some, such as the w, don't. Like the English name for “w” (“double-u”), the French w has a name that is different than it sounds. And some French letters have special marks, called “accents,” that tell you how to pronounce the letter.

MISTAKES TO AVOID Fautes à éviter

In French, the words all run together when we say them out loud. Making a link between sounds in a word or between words is called a “liaison.” For example, je ne sais pas (“I don't know”) really sounds like jenesaispas. When you speak French, try not to put too much of a pause between words.

<tgroup cols="3" align="left"> <colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colsep="0" rowsep="0" colwidth="30%" align="left"/> <colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colsep="0" rowsep="0" colwidth="30%" align="left"/> <colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colsep="0" rowsep="0" colwidth="40%" align="left"/> <thead> <row rowsep="1"> <td><p>Letter</p></td> <td><p>Name sounds like</p></td> <td><p>Example</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>A</p></td> <td><p>ah</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>aller</emphasis> (to go)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>B</p></td> <td><p>bay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>bébé</emphasis> (baby)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>C</p></td> <td><p>say</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>céréale</emphasis> (cereal)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>D</p></td> <td><p>day</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>décembre</emphasis> (December)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>E</p></td> <td><p>er</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>effacer</emphasis> (erase)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>F</p></td> <td><p>eff</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>fleur</emphasis> (flower)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>G</p></td> <td><p>jay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>geyser</emphasis> (geyser)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>H</p></td> <td><p>osh</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>hauteur</emphasis> (height)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>I</p></td> <td><p>e</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>idée</emphasis> (idea)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>J</p></td> <td><p>gee</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>jouet</emphasis> (toy)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>K</p></td> <td><p>ka</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>kangourou</emphasis> (kangaroo)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>L</p></td> <td><p>el</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>miel</emphasis> (honey)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>M</p></td> <td><p>em</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>mouton</emphasis> (sheep)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>N</p></td> <td><p>en</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>nid</emphasis> (nest)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>O</p></td> <td><p>oh</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>olivier</emphasis> (olive tree)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>P</p></td> <td><p>pay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>pélican</emphasis> (pelican)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Q</p></td> <td><p>kew</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>queue</emphasis> (tail)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>R</p></td> <td><p>air</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>raton</emphasis> (raccoon)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>S</p></td> <td><p>es</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>santé</emphasis> (health)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>T</p></td> <td><p>tay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>thé</emphasis> (tea)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>U</p></td> <td><p>ew</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>univers</emphasis> (universe)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>V</p></td> <td><p>vay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>végétarien</emphasis> (vegetarian)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>W</p></td> <td><p>DO-bluh-vay</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>wagon</emphasis> (train car)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>X</p></td> <td><p>eex</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>xylophone</emphasis> (xylophone)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Y</p></td> <td><p>e-GRECK</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>yaourt</emphasis> (yogurt)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Z</p></td> <td><p>zed</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>zéro</emphasis> (zero)</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <div class="npsb"> <h2>Alphabackwards</h2> <div class="npmo"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/kids-french/p4-001.jpg"></div> <p>Somebody put the letters up backwards. Can you make out the French words here?</p> <p>The French word for “mirror” is miroir.</p> <p>*Hold the page up to the mirror to read the words.</p> </div> <p>Now that you know the French alphabet, you have to repeat it to learn it. Because the French alphabet has the same twenty-six letters as the English alphabet, you can recite the “alphabet song” you learned in kindergarten. Keep the same melody, but use the French pronunciation.</p> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/getting-to-know-french-a-la-rencontre-du-franais.htm" title="Getting to Know French — A la rencontre du français">Getting to Know French — A la rencontre du français</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/essential-vocabulary-vocabulaire-de-base.htm" title="Essential Vocabulary — Vocabulaire de base">Essential Vocabulary — Vocabulaire de base</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/the-alphabet-lalphabet.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> The Alphabet — L'alphabet - French for Kids </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/spelling-and-pronunciation-orthographe-et-prononciation.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Spelling and Pronunciation — Orthographe et prononciation - Fren... </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/lessons/a/pronunciation.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Tips to Improve your French Pronunciation </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/pronunciation/a/beginningpronunciation.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Beginning French Pronunciation </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/pronunciation/a/r.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> R - French Pronunciation of R </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/getting-to-know-french-a-la-rencontre-du-franais.htm">Getting to Know French — A la rencontre du français</a></li> <li class="btO">The Alphabet — L'alphabet</li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/essential-vocabulary-vocabulaire-de-base.htm">Essential Vocabulary — Vocabulaire de base</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/spelling-and-pronunciation-orthographe-et-prononciation.htm">Spelling and Pronunciation — Orthographe et prononciation</a></li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/numbers-les-chiffres.htm">Numbers — Les chiffres</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/nouns-les-noms.htm">Nouns — Les noms</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/verbs-les-verbes.htm">Verbs — Les verbes</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/kids-french/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">THE EVERYTHING KIDS' LEARNING FRENCH BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">By Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">French for Kids Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/">Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/time-and-dates-lheure-et-les-dates/">Time and Dates — L'heure et les dates</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/all-about-me-tout-sur-moi/">All About Me — Tout sur moi</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/social-life-la-vie-sociale/">Social Life — La vie sociale</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/">What Should We do? — Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/">I'm Hungry! — J'ai faim!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/going-to-town-aller-en-ville/">Going to Town — Aller en ville</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-go-outdoors-allons-dehors/">Let's Go Outdoors — Allons dehors</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/getting-along-bien-sentendre/">Getting Along — Bien s'entendre</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-a-english-french-dictionary/">English-French Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-b-glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-c-puzzle-answers/">Puzzle Answers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-d-exercise-answers/">Exercise Answers</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/">French for Kids</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/">Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!</a></li><li>The Alphabet — L'alphabet</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" rel="nofollow">ConsumerSearch</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"><p>Netplaces.com, a part of <a href="http://www.nytco.com/">The New York Times Company</a>.</p><p>All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- zPxA[zPxC]=new Image();zPxA[zPxC++].src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6036459&c7=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enetplaces%2ecom%2fkids%2dfrench%2flets%2dget%2dstarted%2dallons%2dy%2fthe%2dalphabet%2dlalphabet%2ehtm&c8=The%20Alphabet%20%26%238212%3b%20L%27alphabet&c9=&cv=2.0&cj=1"; adclose() //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>