French · Difficult words
How to pronounce maintenant in French
maintenant
Now
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
maintenant is pronounced /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/ in French. In maintenant: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in maintenant
Read maintenant in these IPA segments: mɛ̃t · nɑ̃. 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 maintenant: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/.
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 maintenant: 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.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In maintenant: 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”.
4.An open vowel
In maintenant: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position.
Watch out: Do not substitute the English diphthong in “day”.
Hear it in context
Maintenant je suis prêt.
Now I am ready.
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
maintenant 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 maintenant
How do you pronounce maintenant?
maintenant is pronounced /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/ in French. In maintenant: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In maintenant: The final written t is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /mɛ̃t.nɑ̃/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
