French · A2 · Pronunciation & alphabet
French Liaison: When a Silent Consonant Is Heard
A liaison happens when a normally silent final consonant is pronounced before the next word’s vowel sound. In les amis, the s of les sounds like z. Start with common pairs such as articles and nouns, or subject pronouns and verbs. Some liaisons depend on register and others are forbidden.
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Examples
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les amis | the friends, with a z link |
| vous avez | you have, with a z link |
| et après | and afterwards, without a t link |
Learn whole sound groups
Say les amis as one sound group, with a z before amis. In vous avez, the s of vous also sounds like z. Notice that you are not simply pronouncing the final spelling as written. In un ami, the link uses an n sound.
When to leave it out
Keep et separate in et après. The t of et is not pronounced as a liaison. Also contrast les hommes, with liaison, and les héros, without it. The type of initial h has to be learned with the word. Listen to the article and noun together.
Try it
Which phrases have a liaison: les enfants, et elle, ils arrivent?
Show answer
Les enfants and ils arrivent. Et elle has no liaison.
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