See and Say

Un mot. Je le vois. Je le lis dans ma tête. Je le dis. A haute voix.
Trouble is, it's still not sounding très français. Soupir...

Say what you see. It's not easy unless you've already broken all the codes of pronunciation.

Normally the ultimate suggestion for learning vocabulary in languages that have gendered nouns is to learn the gender of the nouns with the nouns. A rose is not just a rose but LA rose.

Oui, but if I cannot say it correctly what use is knowing the gender?

rosé adj rose
la rosée dewdrop
roser to make pink
la roseraie rose garden
la rosace rose-window

Figuring out the pronunciation when you've never heard the word can be quite a thorny issue. At least I'd rather attempt breaking the French pronunciation code than the dictionary's official pronunciation key. These three are the pronunciation for the above five words. Can you guess which?

ro'ze roz'rɛ ro'zas

For me, French isn't "say what you see" so flash cards or lists aren't going to help me unless they can speak. Which, on your computer- they can:

Before You Know It Flash Card Software Program (free version available)

French.About.Com Audio Dictionary

Phonétique Learning your ABCs to pronunciation (in depth!)

Ma France - BBC French Video Course Truly "see and say"


Un mot. Je le vois. Je le lis dans ma tête. Je le dis. A haute voix.
A word. I see it. I read it in my head. I say it. Aloud.

très français very french
soupir sigh

Sébastien says what we see:


La photo: Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farm, à Cairns.
Novembre 2004 En Australie.