When is French ‘ent‘ pronounced differently?106

The French language is full of complexities and nuances that can trip up even the most experienced learners. One of the most common stumbling blocks is the pronunciation of the letter combination "ent". In most cases, it is pronounced as [ɑ̃], but there are a few exceptions where it is pronounced as [ɑ̃t].

When is "ent" pronounced as [ɑ̃]?

The vast majority of the time, "ent" is pronounced as [ɑ̃]. This is the case in words such as:
Enfant (child)
Parent (parent)
Argent (money)
Vent (wind)
Present (present)

When is "ent" pronounced as [ɑ̃t]?

There are a few exceptions to the general rule of pronouncing "ent" as [ɑ̃]. In the following cases, it is pronounced as [ɑ̃t]:
When "ent" is followed by a consonant, such as in the words "dent" (tooth) and "sent" (smell).
When "ent" is at the end of a word, such as in the words "agent" (agent) and "accident" (accident).

Examples

Here are some examples of words that illustrate the different pronunciations of "ent":
Enfant (child) - pronounced [ɑ̃fɑ̃]
Parent (parent) - pronounced [pɑ̃ʁɑ̃]
Argent (money) - pronounced [ɑ̃ʁʒɑ̃]
Vent (wind) - pronounced [vɑ̃]
Present (present) - pronounced [pʁe.zɑ̃]
Dent (tooth) - pronounced [dɑ̃t]
Sent (smell) - pronounced [sɑ̃t]
Agent (agent) - pronounced [ɑ̃ʒɑ̃]
Accident (accident) - pronounced [ɑ̃.dɑ̃]

Conclusion

The pronunciation of "ent" in French can be tricky, but it is important to master if you want to speak the language correctly. By following the rules outlined in this article, you can avoid making common mistakes and improve your overall pronunciation.

2024-11-15

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