How Do You Pronounce The Word ‘Mother’ In French?

Let’s break down the pronunciation of the word “mère” (which means “mother” in French) in more detailed steps:

1. The “m” sound

• This is just like the English “m” in the word “mother.” It’s a simple /m/ sound made by pressing your lips together.

2. The “è” sound

• The “è” in “mère” is pronounced like the “e” in the English word “bed.”
• The sound is more open than a typical “e” sound in English. The tongue is positioned slightly lower and towards the front of the mouth.
• You should aim for a mid-open, short “e” sound, but the mouth stays relaxed.

3. The “r” sound

• The French “r” is different from the English “r.” It’s a guttural sound, produced from the back of the throat.
• The tongue should be slightly rolled or vibrated against the soft palate (the back roof of your mouth), but it’s not a strong, rolling “r” like in Spanish. It’s softer and more breathy.
• It’s important not to pronounce the French “r” as the English “r,” which is pronounced with the tongue near the front of the mouth. The French “r” requires more air and a little bit of throat tension.

4. No final vowel sound

• The word ends with the “e,” but in this case, it’s not pronounced. It’s silent. This is common in many French words that end in an “e” (like “mère”).
• The “e” does affect the pronunciation of the “r” though, as it softens the sound.

Putting it together:

• “Mère” sounds like “mehr”, where:
  • “m” is the same as in English.
  • The “è” is a short, open “e,” similar to “bed.”
  • The “r” is soft and pronounced from the back of the throat.
  • The final “e” is silent, which means it’s more like a single syllable.

Phonetic notation:

• /mɛʁ/ (IPA transcription)

The key to pronouncing this word accurately is focusing on the soft French “r” and the specific “è” sound. With practice, you’ll be able to say it smoothly!