French · Difficult words
How to pronounce épaule in French
épaule
Shoulder
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
épaule is pronounced /e.pol/ in French. In épaule: 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 épaule
Read épaule in these IPA segments: e · pol. 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.A steady /e/ vowel
In épaule: 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.
2.A steady /o/ vowel
In épaule: 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”.
Hear it in context
J'ai mal à l'épaule droite.
My right shoulder hurts.
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
épaule 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 épaule
How do you pronounce épaule?
épaule is pronounced /e.pol/ in French. In épaule: 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 épaule: 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.
