French · Difficult words
How to pronounce sans in French
sans
Without
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
sans is pronounced /sɑ̃/ in French. In sans: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /sɑ̃/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in sans
The reference transcription for sans is /sɑ̃/. 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 sans: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /sɑ̃/.
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 sans: 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.An open vowel
In sans: 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”.
4.A clear /s/
In sans: Let air pass through a narrow groove near the front of the mouth. Keep the sound unvoiced.
Watch out: Do not add voicing and turn /s/ into /z/.
Hear it in context
Un thé sans sucre, s'il te plaît.
A tea without sugar, please.
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
sans 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 sans
How do you pronounce sans?
sans is pronounced /sɑ̃/ in French. In sans: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /sɑ̃/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In sans: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /sɑ̃/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
