The French R and U Sounds, and How to Make Them

If there are two sounds that give away an English speaker in French, they're the R and the U. Both are learnable with a few physical tricks.

The French R

English "r" is made with the tongue curled back or bunched. French R is made much further back, in the throat, where the back of the tongue approaches the soft palate (or uvula). It's often described as a gentle gargle or a soft scraping sound.

How to find it:

1. Say the English word "car" slowly, and notice where your tongue is. Then say "ka" and let the back of your tongue rise toward the roof of your mouth, as if you were about to cough gently.
2. Or try gargling water, and note the position. Then do the same without water.
3. Start with words where R follows a "k" or "g" sound, which naturally pulls the tongue back: gare, garage, cri, gris.
4. Practise in different positions: at the start (rue, rouge), middle (merci, par), and end (mer, cœur).

Don't worry about perfection. Speakers across the French-speaking world pronounce R in different ways: some roll it, some use a very light version. A soft, relaxed R is fine.

Practice words: rire, rouge, trois, travail, Paris, merci, garçon, très, vraiment, regarder.

The French U

The French letter u is a sound that doesn't exist in English. It's made by combining two positions:

• Say "ee" (as in see), with your tongue forward and high.
• Keep your tongue in that position, and round your lips as if to say "oo".

The result is French u. Notice that in "ee" your lips are spread, and in "oo" your tongue is back. French u has the tongue forward and the lips rounded.

Practice words: tu, rue, lune, sur, une, musique, utile, salut, plus, dur.

U versus OU

U and ou are different sounds, and mixing them up changes meaning. Compare:

• tu (you) / tout (all)
• rue (street) / roue (wheel)
• dessus (above) / dessous (below)
• sur (on) / sourd (deaf)
• vu (seen) / vous (you)
• pu (been able) / pou (louse)

U with other vowels

• ui as in nuit and huit: the u glides into ee, like a quick "wee" made with rounded lips.
• eu as in peu: the tongue is forward, lips are rounded, like a French é with rounded lips.
• eu in peur: more open.

Practice routines

1. Mirror work. Check that your lips are rounded for u, and spread for i.
2. Slow motion. Say i-u-i-u-i-u, moving only your lips.
3. Minimal pair drills. Say each pair above out loud, five times.
4. Tongue twisters. Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien, or Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches ?
5. Shadowing. Repeat sentences right after a native speaker.

Be patient

Muscle habits take time to change. A few minutes a day for a few weeks makes a difference.

Dictionary link

A French dictionary helps you check spelling, which in turn signals the sound: u versus ou is a spelling distinction, and seeing it correctly builds accuracy.

Look up French words with accurate spelling using English French Dictionary →