Minimal pair · French (France)
French /e/ vs /ɛ̃//e/ / /ɛ̃/
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ̃ 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 indé
/ɛ̃/
A nasal-vowel quality
The whole vowel is nasal. Compare its quality across the different word beginnings.
As indaim
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ̃ in French words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each worddé
/de/a die; one of a pair of dicefée
/fe/fairythé
/te/teapré
/pʁe/meadownez
/ne/noseré
/ʁe/the musical note Ddaim
/dɛ̃/fallow deerfaim
/fɛ̃/hungerteint
/tɛ̃/complexioncoussin
/kusɛ̃/cushioncousin
/kuzɛ̃/male cousinbain
/bɛ̃/bathpin
/pɛ̃/pine treepain
/pɛ̃/bread14 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.