French · Difficult words
How to pronounce clé in French
clé
Key
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
clé is pronounced /kle/ in French. In clé: Keep /e/ steady from beginning to end. Listen for a clear vowel without the movement at the end of English “day”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in clé
The reference transcription for clé is /kle/. Read adjacent consonants together without inserting extra vowels. French prominence belongs to the spoken phrase. Do not impose a heavy English-style stress on every isolated word.
1.A steady /e/ vowel
In clé: Keep /e/ steady from beginning to end. Listen for a clear vowel without the movement at the end of English “day”.
Watch out: The English-style “ay” respelling is only a guide; avoid its final y-like glide.
Hear it in context
Tu as pris la clé ?
Did you take the key?
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
clé 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 clé
How do you pronounce clé?
clé is pronounced /kle/ in French. In clé: Keep /e/ steady from beginning to end. Listen for a clear vowel without the movement at the end of English “day”. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In clé: Keep /e/ steady from beginning to end. Listen for a clear vowel without the movement at the end of English “day”. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
