Vocabulary list
French final c: sac and lac have /k/, blanc and tabac do not
Sort common French words with final c into pronounced /k/ and silent endings. Learn picture words, compare blanc/blanche and try four questions.
- A2
- 7 words
- Gender marked
- With examples
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
Final c is pronounced /k/ in avec, sac, lac and parc. It is silent in blanc, banc, tabac and estomac. Learn the ending with the whole word: the final letter alone cannot tell you which group it belongs to.
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Final /k/: say it
Silent c: keep the spelling
Seven things to name
Find:
Is the c in avec pronounced?
Je viens avec Léa.
I’m coming with Léa.
Avec is /avɛk/, including before a consonant.
Je viens avec elle.
I’m coming with her.
The same /k/ connects to the next vowel: /a.vɛ.kɛl/.
That connection is enchaînement. The /k/ was already there in avec. Likewise, le sac est ouvert carries the /k/ of sac into the next syllable. By contrast, le banc est vide leaves the c silent; a following vowel does not turn it on.
Why is the c in blanc silent?
| Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|
| un mur blanc · /blɑ̃/ | une porte blanche · /blɑ̃ʃ/ |
The feminine form adds the sound /ʃ/ in blanche. Keep the pair as a word family. For the masculine word on its own, use blanc /blɑ̃/.
You may meet the mnemonic ‘CaReFuL’, which highlights final letters that are often pronounced. Use the two groups above as your reference for c: lac and tabac already show why the mnemonic needs exceptions.