Minimal pair · French (France)
French /ɑ̃/ vs /ɔ̃//ɑ̃/ / /ɔ̃/
Learn to hear the difference between ɑ̃ and ɔ̃ in French words.
Practice these sounds/ɑ̃/
A nasal vowel
Nasal quality belongs to the vowel itself. There is no separate final n in these isolated words.
As inbanc
/ɔ̃/
A rounded nasal vowel
Listen to the vowel quality and nasal resonance together, without adding a final n.
As inbon
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Banc/bon, pan/pont and tant/ton keep their first consonant and contrast two nasal vowels. The silent endings do not create extra sounds in these isolated forms.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
Do not identify a separate n at the end of these words. The nasal quality belongs to the vowel. French nasal vowels also vary by region.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordbanc
/bɑ̃/benchpan
/pɑ̃/section; paneltant
/tɑ̃/so muchtemps
/tɑ̃/time; weathergens
/ʒɑ̃/peoplechamp
/ʃɑ̃/fielddent
/dɑ̃/toothgant
/ɡɑ̃/glovebon
/bɔ̃/goodpont
/pɔ̃/bridgeton
/tɔ̃/your; tonepoisson
/pwasɔ̃/fishpoison
/pwazɔ̃/poison13 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.