French pronunciation: Voyelles orales - /ə/

Sample pronunciation audio

Start with one sample audio file for voyelles orales - /ə/.

Quick tip

Oral vowels are produced with air flowing only through the mouth.

Letters and IPA

Practice words

• le

• petit

• cheval

• demander

• fenêtre

Minimal pairs

• le / la
• petit / petite
• cheval / cheville
• demander / demande
• fenêtre / fenêtres

How to produce this sound

Relax your tongue and lips. The sound is short and unstressed, like the 'a' in 'sofa'.

Common mix-ups

• le / la
• petit / petite
• cheval / chevalier
• demander / demande
• fenêtre / fenêtres

Closest comparison

sofa, banana, ago, support, problem