Les consonnes finales · fiche
1 · Silent endings are common
Final -s, -t, -d and -p are often silent. In these sentences, finish the target word on its vowel.
Le chat dort.The cat is sleeping.
Le repas est prêt.The meal is ready.
Il arrive trop tard.He arrives too late.
2 · CaReFuL is a reminder
Final c, r, f and l are often pronounced. Think of the consonants in “CaReFuL”. Each word still has its own pronunciation.
| avec /avɛk/ | with: keep /k/ |
| bar /baʁ/ | bar: keep /ʁ/ |
| neuf /nœf/ | nine, said alone: keep /f/ |
| fil /fil/ | thread: keep /l/ |
3 · Keep the useful exceptions beside the reminder
Blanc /blɑ̃/ has a silent c. A regular -er infinitive such as parler /paʁle/ ends in /e/. Fusil /fyzi/ has a silent l. These everyday counterexamples stop the reminder becoming a rigid rule.
Je voudrais parler.I would like to speak.
4 · A new form can reveal the consonant
Compare petit /pəti/ and petite /pətit/. The feminine form has /t/. Keep both spellings: a silent letter can help you recognise a related form.
Le sac est petit. La boîte est petite.The bag is small. The box is small.
5 · A phrase can change the ending
In un petit enfant, a linking /t/ appears between the adjective and its noun. In avec elle, /k/ was already part of avec: it simply joins the next syllable. After a singular noun, a vowel alone does not trigger liaison.
Le chat attend.The cat is waiting.
Nora vient avec elle.Nora is coming with her.
6 · Verb -ent stays silent
In ils parlent /il paʁl/, the verb ending -ent adds no syllable. The /l/ belongs to the stem. Keep the final sound you hear in il parle.
Ils parlent français.They speak French.