Language/French/Pronunciation/Liaisons

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When should we pronounce the French "Liaisons" between words?

Unlike some other languages, in French what you read is often different from what you pronounce.

"Une liaison" in French means "a link" or "a relationship". 2 words with "a liaison" are 2 words linked together. The last letter of the first word is pronounced under certain conditions.

According to Wikipedia, "the liaison is the pronunciation of a final consonant immediately before a following word starting with a vowel".

There are 3 types of liaisons: mandatory optional and forbidden liaisons. Here we describe only mandatory liaisons and prohibited liaisons.

Mandatory Liaisons[edit | edit source]

The sign _ means "pronounce the liaison". For example "les_amis" is pronounced "LeZami" with a liaison.

Between a determinant and the word it determines: "les_amis", "quels_amis", "ces_amis", "les_uns et les_autres", "de bons_amis".
Between a verb and its subject and object pronouns: "ils_ont", "les_ont_ils", "nous_en_avons".
With adverbs, prepositions and monosyllabic conjunctions: "en_avion", "très_intéressant", "quand_elle parle".
With the auxiliary verb to be (although this is a very frequent rather than obligatory link): "il est_ici", "ils sont_arrivés".
Between the words constituting certain fixed expressions: "tout_à l’heure", "quand-est-ce que", "tout_à coup", "de temps_en temps", "un sous-entendu", etc.

Prohibited Liaisons[edit | edit source]

They are at the border of two important rhythmic and syntactic groups.

In this logic, the liaison is not pronounced between, for example:

The sign % means "do not pronounce the Liaison". For example "en % haut" is pronounced "en haut" without liaison.

A nominal group and a verbal group: "les enfants % écoutent"
A noun and an adjective postposed: "un étudiant % américain"
After the proper names: "Jean % est parti"
With conjunctions "et" and "ou" : "du pain % et % un bon fromage", "du pain % ou un croissant"
After the interrogative adverbs : "Quand % est-il arrivé?", "Combien % en as-tu?"
After the personal pronouns subject in an inversion : "vont-ils % arriver ?"
With the words beginning with an aspirated "h" (« h » aspiré): "un % héros", "en % haut"

Here are a few words starting with a « h » aspiré:

French	English
hache	axe
haie	hedge
haine	hatred
haïr	hate
haleter	gasp
hall	lobby
halte	halt
hamac	hammock
hameau	hamlet
hamster	hamster
hanche	hip
handicap	handicap
hanneton	cockchafer
hanter	haunt
harceler	harass
harem	harem
hareng	herring
haricot	bean
harnais	harness
harpe	harp
harpon	harpoon
hasard	hazard
hâte	haste
hausse	rise
haut	top
hautain	haughty
hautbois	oboe
Havane	Havana
hérisson	hedgehog
héron	heron
héros	hero
herse	harrow
hibou	owl
hiéroglyphe	hieroglyph
hochet	rattle
hockey	hockey
Hollande	Holland
homard	lobster
Hongrie	Hungary
honte	shame
hoquet	hiccough
houblon	hop
hublot	porthole
huit	eight
hurler	to scream