Read three dimensions of a vowel chart
A chart can show how open the mouth is, how far forward or back the tongue is, and whether the lips are rounded. IPA symbols label the sounds, while French spelling supplies examples. The two systems serve different purposes.
The interactive sound chart includes model audio, spellings and cues. Its 35-sound inventory includes more than vowels; it is Parle’s bounded learning map rather than a universal count of French sounds.
Compare a small set first
| Reference | Example | Comparison to try |
|---|---|---|
| /i/ | si | Start from a forward, unrounded vowel. |
| /y/ | tu | Keep the tongue forward while rounding the lips. |
| /u/ | tout | Compare the back rounded vowel with /y/. |
| /e/ and /ɛ/ | été, mère | Listen for the difference in openness. |
Use the vowel trainer to hear these references. Replaying a clip is a listening activity; the website trainer does not record or assess your pronunciation.
A chart-to-phrase practice routine
Choose one contrast, listen to each reference and say an example word. Record both words in the same quiet setting. If you cannot hear a difference, return to listening before making more recordings. If you can make the difference in words, choose a short phrase from the phrase library and try it there.
Common mistakes when using a chart
Do not read IPA letters as English spelling. Do not assume a vowel has the same quality in every accent or that one spelling always gives one sound. Nasal vowels also need their own comparison; they are not simply oral vowels followed by an added n.
For spelling questions, use the French pronunciation overview. For an ordered course that connects sounds to recorded responses, see Parle.