Circumflex: â, ê, î, ô, û
The circumflex, aka "little hat," is the only French accent that may be found on any of the five vowels. In any given word, the circumflex may serve one or more purposes. spelling
Learn some of the particularities of French spelling.
The circumflex, aka "little hat," is the only French accent that may be found on any of the five vowels. In any given word, the circumflex may serve one or more purposes. Contractions
Contractions occur when two words are combined into one, sometimes with a distinctly different spelling. In English, contractions like "won't" are optional and indicate informality. In French, however, contractions are required, regardless of the register you're speaking or writing in. A1 - Beginning French • spelling
Dictées at PwLF
A1 - Beginning French • A2 - Low-Intermediate French • B1 - Intermediate French • B2 - Upper-Intermediate French • C1 - Advanced French • spelling
Dieresis: ë, ï, ü
The dieresis, le tréma, is a French accent found only on three vowels: ë, ï, and ü. The dieresis usually indicates that the accented vowel must be pronounced distinctly from the vowel that precedes it. Elision
An elision is a type of contraction that occurs when two words are combined: one or more letters are dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. In French, written elisions are required, regardless of the register you're speaking or writing in. A1 - Beginning French • spelling
Euphonic Adjectives
French grammar is sometimes trumped by pronunciation, as in the case of euphonic adjectives. Because French does not like the hiatus created when a word ending with a vowel precedes a word that begins with a vowel or mute h, a few adjectives change their spelling—and thus their pronunciation—for purely euphonic reasons. A2 - Low-Intermediate French • adjectives • spelling
Fractions
adjectives • adverbs • B1 - Intermediate French • French Abbreviations - Acronyms - Apocopes • spelling
Grave Accent: à , è, ù
Only three French vowels can take the grave accent: à , è, and ù, and the purpose of the accent depends on the letter in question. H aspiré
Despite the name, the H aspiré is not aspirated or otherwise pronounced. A1 - Beginning French • spelling
H muet
The French H muet is not just silent, but essentially non-existent: words that begin with H muet act as if they begin with a vowel.