Minimal pair · French (France)
French /e/ vs /ɛ//e/ / /ɛ/
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ in French words.
Practice these sounds/e/
A close-mid, unrounded vowel
A front vowel without rounded lips. Compare it with the other complete vowel.
As inpré
/ɛ/
An open-mid, unrounded vowel
The tongue is toward the front, with a more open vowel position than /e/.
As inprêt
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Pré/prêt, thé/taie and dé/dais keep the consonants while changing the final vowel. The first category is close-mid /e/ and the second open-mid /ɛ/.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
A common trap
This is a northern reference distinction. Some speakers merge these categories, including in parts of northern France. That regional pattern is not a pronunciation mistake. Spelling remains hidden during audio-only practice.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordpré
/pʁe/meadowthé
/te/teadé
/de/a die; one of a pair of dicefée
/fe/fairynez
/ne/noseré
/ʁe/the musical note Dprêt
/pʁɛ/readytaie
/tɛ/pillowcasegeai
/ʒɛ/jay, a birdchai
/ʃɛ/wine storehouselait
/lɛ/milkraie
/ʁɛ/stripe; ray fish12 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.