French · Difficult words
How to pronounce bientôt in French
bientôt
Soon
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
bientôt is pronounced /bjɛ̃.to/ in French. In bientôt: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /bjɛ̃.to/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in bientôt
Read bientôt in these IPA segments: bjɛ̃ · to. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. French prominence belongs to the spoken phrase. Do not impose a heavy English-style stress on every isolated word.
1.The final written t
In bientôt: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /bjɛ̃.to/.
Watch out: Connected speech can differ, especially where liaison is possible. Do not generalize this word’s ending to every French word.
2.Nasal vowels
In bientôt: Let some air pass through the nose while keeping the vowel continuous. The tilde /̃/ marks nasalization.
Watch out: Do not automatically add a separate n or m after the nasal vowel.
3.A steady /o/ vowel
In bientôt: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
4.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In bientôt: Keep the vowel open, like the vowel in many pronunciations of English “bed”, without a final glide.
Watch out: Avoid turning this vowel into English “ay”.
Hear it in context
Le colis arrive bientôt.
The parcel is arriving soon.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
bientôt is presented using French of France. Regional accents and connected speech can change details. The isolated word and the example let you compare the dictionary form with a short spoken context.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about bientôt
How do you pronounce bientôt?
bientôt is pronounced /bjɛ̃.to/ in French. In bientôt: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /bjɛ̃.to/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In bientôt: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /bjɛ̃.to/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
