French · Difficult words
How to pronounce nous in French
nous
We
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
nous is pronounced /nu/ in French. In nous: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /nu/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in nous
The reference transcription for nous is /nu/. 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.The final written s
In nous: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /nu/.
Watch out: Connected speech can differ, especially where liaison is possible. Do not generalize this word’s ending to every French word.
2.Back rounded vowels
In nous: Round your lips and keep the tongue toward the back. Follow the closer /u/ or more relaxed /ʊ/ quality written in the IPA.
Watch out: Avoid inserting a y sound before the vowel unless the IPA includes /j/.
Hear it in context
Nous partons demain matin à huit heures.
We're leaving tomorrow morning at eight.
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
nous 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 nous
How do you pronounce nous?
nous is pronounced /nu/ in French. In nous: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /nu/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In nous: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /nu/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
