Languages and literacy
French sound chart: spelling and pronunciation
Connect common French letter patterns with pronunciation, example words and English meanings. A second page asks pupils to sort words by six spellings, add examples from memory or a dictionary and check which sounds they can say aloud.
Connect French spellings, sounds and picture words. Read the pronunciation examples in the full chart.
Read the complete materialRead the material
Connect common French letter patterns with pronunciation, example words and English meanings. A second page asks pupils to sort words by six spellings, add examples from memory or a dictionary and check which sounds they can say aloud.
Complete resource. Use the preview for diagrams and layout.
Page 1
eau /o/ le bateau boat ALSO l’eau, le gâteau ou /u/ la poule hen ALSO rouge, jour ch /ʃ/ le chat cat ALSO le chien, la chaise on /ɔ̃/ le ballon balloon ALSO la maison, le bonbon in /ɛ̃/ le lapin rabbit ALSO le jardin, le matin oi /wa/ le poisson fish ALSO l’oiseau, moi ai / ei /ɛ/ le lait milk ALSO la neige ill /ij/ la fille girl ALSO la famille (la ville, mille: exceptions) an / en /ɑ̃/ la dent tooth ALSO l’orange gn /ɲ/ la montagne mountain Say it and spell it u /y/ la lune moon ALSO la rue eu /œ/ la fleur flower Say it and spell it Nasal vowels (on, in, an/en): do not say the n. Silent letters: many final letters are silent, as in le chat and le lait. French sound chart · Modern languages Page 1 of 2 MODERN LANGUAGES AGES 11 TO 14 FRENCH SOUNDS AND SPELLING French sound chart Spell it, say it, picture it.
Page 2
LEARNING GOAL Match French spellings to the sounds they make. SUCCESS CRITERIA I can sort words by the sound I hear. I can read each sound aloud. I can find my own word for each sound. Sort the sixteen words Say each word aloud. Listen for the sound at the top of a column, then write the word in that column. maison chat jour lapin moi bateau chaise nous bonbon matin oiseau chien rouge jardin gâteau poisson eau /o/ ou /u/ ch /ʃ/ on /ɔ̃/ in /ɛ̃/ oi /wa/ MY OWN WORD FOR EACH SOUND, FROM MEMORY OR A DICTIONARY I can say eau I can say ou I can say ch I can say on I can say in I can say oi French sound chart · Modern languages Page 2 of 2 MODERN LANGUAGES AGES 11 TO 14 FRENCH SOUNDS AND SPELLING Sort the sounds NAME CLASS DATE 1 16 words
A teaching sequence
Recognise selected French spelling patterns, match them to example words and practise saying them.
Connect French spellings, sounds and picture words. Read the pronunciation examples in the full chart.
Read the complete materialNotice spelling and sound cues
Scan the first-page chart and notice the French spelling, phonetic cue, illustrated example and English gloss in each box. Practise the nasal-vowel reminder for on, in and an/en, and notice that the chart marks some final letters as silent.
Which chart example helps you hear the selected spelling?
Sort the sixteen words
On page 2, say each of the 16 French words and sort it under eau, ou, ch, on, in or oi. Use the chart to check the sound you hear.
Which sound in the word places it in this column?
Check an extra example
Add one more word for each of the six spellings from memory or a dictionary. Check its pronunciation before adding it.
What reliable French model confirms the pronunciation of your added word?
Revisit a difficult pattern
Use the six-sound self-check to select one difficult spelling for further practice in a word or phrase. Compare it with the chart or a checked French model.
Which spelling clues you to the sound you want to practise?
Before you teach
Look for the thinking behind an answer, choose the support your class needs and leave room for an independent response.
What to look for
Check that a pupil can link each selected spelling with an example and attempt the word aloud. Listen for the target sound rather than accent imitation. Where a word contains more than one relevant sound, explain which pattern the sorting task is asking pupils to notice.
Give a little support
Practise a small set of sounds at a time and let pupils listen before repeating. Use a teacher model or reliable audio, point to the matching spelling and say the word in context. Avoid presenting one English approximation as an exact equivalent for every speaker.
Take the idea further
Ask pupils to find words that contain two of the featured sounds or a spelling exception. They can record a short phrase, mark the target pattern and explain how listening helped distinguish it.
Things to keep in mind
The chart selects common patterns and examples; it is not a complete guide to French pronunciation. Phonetic approximations and accent can vary. Check examples with a French specialist or reliable audio, especially before treating the chart as an authoritative pronunciation model.
Keep the idea. Make it yours.
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Ideas to try with your class
Sample teaching perspectives on what to try, what to adapt and what to watch for.
Meet The Creators
Meet a creator whose teaching interests connect with this template.
Pencil Case Pal
The two-page chart pairs selected spellings with example words, then asks pupils to sort sixteen words by sound. It explicitly notes that nasal vowels do not pronounce the n and that ill has exceptions such as ville and mille.
One More Question
For ages 11 to 14, the chart moves from reading examples to listening and sorting, then finding a word independently. The second page repeats selected sound columns and includes self-check statements for reading aloud.
Tea at Breaktime
Keep the example words beside the phoneme as pupils sort; this makes eau, ou, ch, on, in and oi easier to revisit. An adult can model one word and ask which sound the pupil hears before the remaining cards are placed.
Page-Turner Planner
The chart covers selected patterns and acknowledges exceptions, so it is not a complete French pronunciation guide. Confirm model pronunciations with the course reference and keep the silent-letter and nasal-vowel notes visible.