1. NASAL SOUNDS IN FRENCH
Explanations and instructions for interactive games
Produced with assistance from the Association of Independent Schools of NSW

2. Understanding the phonetic symbols
We have created for you three interactive games that
should allow you to better understand the
relationship between nasal sounds and their spelling
in French. But before you play them, let us explain
how it works.
Sometimes, for an untrained ear (and even for some
trained ones!) it can be difficult to hear the
differences between the three French nasal sounds
represented by these symbols: (listen to them by clicking on the
sound icons underneath each of them)

3. Observe the following pictures to better understand
how they are related to various spellings in French:

4. As you can see, several combinations of letters can
create the same nasal sound in French.
Although this might seem complicated and / or
confusing, think that it is at least consistent (whether
in English two combinations of letters might sound
differently!)
Thus, the combinations:
• an, am, em and en will always sound
• ain, ein, aim and im*, in* will always sound
• on and om will always sound
* These two must be followed by a consonant.

5. A poem… Chanson d’automne
Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l'automne
Blessent mon coeur
D'une langueur
Monotone.
Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l'heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure;
Et je m'en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m'emporte
Deçà, delà
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.
Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)
Find the words containing the three
different nasal sounds.
.http://apprendre.over-blog.fr/article-16906990.html
You might want to listen and read this poem to check
that this is all clear. Otherwise, just go to the next
slide for instructions on how to play the games.

6. vérification
Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l'automne
Blessent mon coeur
D'une langueur
Monotone.
Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l'heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure;
Et je m'en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m'emporte
Deçà, delà
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.
Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERACTIVE GAMES
Now you should be ready to start training your ears to these nasal
sounds. We suggest doing it in this order, but you don’t have to do it
that way.
1. Nasal words symbols game :
You have to match the words you hear with the symbol of its
corresponding nasal sound.
2. Nasal words easy game :
You have to match the words you hear with its
corresponding spelling in French.
3. Nasal words sentences game :
You will hear sentences this time and you have to match
them with their corresponding word (containing nasal
sound).