5 Essential Tips to Sound Like a Native French Speaker

1. Don’t Pronounce All Letters 🗣️

The first common mistake for new learners is to pronounce all letters in a word. In French, most ending letters are actually silent, with only a few exceptions.

Examples:

• long (pronounced ‘lon’)
• temps (pronounced ‘tan’)

2. Don’t Exaggerate Your French ‘R’ 🇫🇷

Another mistake I often hear is the exaggeration of the French ‘R’. French has different variations for the ‘R’ sound depending on its position in the word:

3. Avoid Pronouncing Familiar Words Like in English 📚

Some French words look similar to English, and most learners will try to pronounce them as they would in English. The most challenging part is giving up our English pronunciation habits and fully embracing French pronunciation.

Examples:

• un collègue
• l’architecture
• un train

4. Expose Yourself More to French Culture and Sounds 🎧

To sound more like a native French speaker, immerse yourself in French media. Passive learning will help you develop a better grasp of French pronunciation and colloquial expressions.

Great resources include:

• Netflix French TV series
• French podcasts
• BFM TV (news)
• French YouTube channels

5. Use Colloquial Expressions and Fillers 💡

The French language has many colloquial expressions and fillers that native speakers use frequently. Using these will make you sound more authentic.

Examples:

• _____, quoi ! (at the end of a sentence)
• Euh, ________ (when you hesitate)
• Du coup, _______ (so, therefore: when telling a story)