French · Difficult words
How to pronounce téléphone in French
téléphone
Phone
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
téléphone is pronounced /te.le.fɔn/ in French. In téléphone: 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 téléphone
Read téléphone in these IPA segments: te · le · fɔn. 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 téléphone: 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.The open /ɔ/ vowel
In téléphone: Round the lips and keep a relatively open jaw. Sustain one vowel rather than moving toward a w sound.
Watch out: English “oh” often moves during the vowel; follow the steadier sound in the recording.
Hear it in context
Le téléphone sonne encore.
The phone is ringing again.
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
téléphone 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 téléphone
How do you pronounce téléphone?
téléphone is pronounced /te.le.fɔn/ in French. In téléphone: 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 téléphone: 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.
