LA LIAISON


 1) What is “la liaison” ?


La liaison is a rule in French pronunciation.


When a word that ends with a silent consonant (like Mon = my where n is “silent”) is placed before a word that starts with a vowel (like Ami = friend), we sometimes pronounce the silent consonant. That’s la liaison.




Mon + ami → Mon ami (sounds like “mon nahmee,” where “mon” has a French nasal sound.)


The most common consonants for la liaison are:


s → sounds like “z” in la liaison.

For example: Des enfants (= some children) sounds like “deyz anfants”, where “an” is a nasal vowel.

n → sounds like “n”

d and t → both sound like “t” in la liaison.

For example: Mon grand ami (= my great friend.) sounds like “gran tahmee.” Mon petit ami (= my boyfriend, or “small friend” literally) sounds like “puh tee tahmee.”

The liaison with s is the most common, by far.

But you can’t use it every time!


…So when exactly should you use la liaison? 


2) Liaisons you have to make

We have some liaisons obligatoires (the “mandatory” liaisons) in French pronunciation.


There are 5 most common examples of this.


1) After a determiner


This is the most common case for la liaison in everyday spoken French!


A determiner is a small word used before a noun, like “the,” or numbers, or possessives… And here, we’ll focus on those that end with a consonant.


Or in French, words such as:



Un (= a / one in the masculine)

Des (= some)

Les (= plural the)

Ces (= These)

Deux (= Two, where the “x” sounds like “z” in the liaison)

Trois (= Three)…

Or possessives:


Mon / Ton / Son (= my / your / his-her in the singular)

Mes / Tes / Ses (= my / your / his-her in the plural)

Nos / Vos / Leurs (= our / plural “your” / their in the plural)


Blossom éducational Centre

After such a determiner, if there’s a noun or an adjective that starts with a vowel, you need to pronounce the liaison.


For example (the liaison is underlined):


Un_enfant = a child

Les_ arbres = the trees

Deux_ amis = two friends (“x” sounds like “z”)

Ton_ excellent vin = your excellent wine

Ces_ autres voyages = These other travels.


https://asekasilas.blogspot.com/2022/01/h-muet-vs-h-aspire.html

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