Intonation : déclarative, interrogative, expressive
Learn the three main French intonation contours.
| Français | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
🔊ce soir | tonight | [sə swaʁ] |
🔊
Elle vient ce soir ? Elle vient ce soir. Elle vient ce soir !
Is she coming tonight? She is coming tonight. She is coming tonight!
Pronunciation Notes
French relies heavily on pitch movement. Yes/no questions typically rise at the end. Statements fall; exclamations rise then fall.
Say each with correct pitch: Tu viens.
Tu viens.
Say each with correct pitch: Tu viens ?
Tu viens ?
Say each with correct pitch: Tu viens !
Tu viens !