French · Difficult words
How to pronounce toujours in French
toujours
Always
French of France · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
toujours is pronounced /tu.ʒuʁ/ in French. In toujours: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /tu.ʒuʁ/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in toujours
Read toujours in these IPA segments: tu · ʒuʁ. 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 s
In toujours: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /tu.ʒuʁ/.
Watch out: Connected speech can differ, especially where liaison is possible. Do not generalize this word’s ending to every French word.
2.The French r /ʁ/
In toujours: Use gentle friction toward the back of the mouth. Keep the tongue tip relaxed while connecting r to its neighboring vowel.
Watch out: Avoid a strong English curled r or adding a vowel before the consonant.
3.Back rounded vowels
In toujours: 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
Il prend toujours un café au réveil.
He always has a coffee on waking.
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
toujours 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 toujours
How do you pronounce toujours?
toujours is pronounced /tu.ʒuʁ/ in French. In toujours: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /tu.ʒuʁ/. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In toujours: The final written s is not sounded in this isolated-word reference. Finish with the last sound shown in /tu.ʒuʁ/. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
