This document summarizes the relationship between sounds and spellings in French. It provides a table showing the phonetic symbols [U] and [y] and how they can be spelled in French as "u", "r", or "ou". It then lists vocabulary words containing these sounds with their different spellings. Finally, it describes three interactive games to help train the ability to distinguish between the [U] and [y] sounds in French words.

1. The relationship between the
sounds and their spelling in French
Produced with assistance from the Association of Independent Schools of NSW

2. The sounds
[U] [y]

3. Observe the following table to better understand the
relationship between these sounds and their possible
spellings in French:
Phonetic symbols Ways it can be spelt Examples
[y] u rue
salut
[U] ou poulet
rouge

4. Vocabulary
Below is a list of words associated with these sounds. Observe the different
possible spellings. Perhaps attempt to pronounce them.
[y] [U]
rue vous
salut bonjour
vu beaucoup
Jules boutique
tu cousine
supermarché douze
amusant ou
nul rouge
culture trousse
huit mouton
suis moustache
musique mousse
numéro souris
perdu poule
super cousin
tortue brouillard

5. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERACTIVE GAMES
Now you should be ready to start training your ears to these sounds. We suggest doing it in
this order, but you don’t have to do it that way.
1. Game [u] versu [y] :
You have to match the word you hear with its corresponding
spelling in French.
2. Game [u] vs [ou] medium:
You have to match the sentences you hear with the spelling of the
sounds [u] and [ou] included in the sentence. They need to be
matched in the order in which you hear them.
SUGGESTION: write the words on a separate piece of paper before
answering.
2. Game [u] vs [ou] hard:
You will hear sentences this time and you have to match them
with their corresponding word (containing a [u] or [ou] sound).