Education

French Accents

There are four different types of "accents" which are relevant to anyone learning French: the accent marks on letters, non-native accents, regional accents, and the accentuation of French words. This page on French accents includes links to resources pertaining to all of these meanings.

Typing French Accents
You don't need special software or even a new keyboard to type French accents - this page explains how to type accents on any computer: old or new, PC or Mac.

French Accents - Diacritical Marks
There are 5 different French accents which denote pronunciation changes on the letters they modify. Learn about the purpose and uses of each French accent.

Accented Capitals
You may have heard that capital letters are not supposed to be accented, when in fact whether or not to use accents on capital letters is entirely up to you. Most of the time they are not essential, and thus most French speakers leave them off. However, there are two instances where I recommend always using accents on capital letters.

French Accentuation - Rhythm
The French language is considered very musical, because all syllables in each word are pronounced at the same intensity. However, French sentences are divided into rhythmic groups, the last syllable of which is accentuated in two ways.

La Révolte des Accents
"La Révolte des Accents" is a fictional tale about a problem that's all too real: the disappearance of accents in written French. Learn about this wonderful book, its author, and his linguistic crusade in this listening comprehension exercise, or by reading the transcript.

French Accents + Dialects - Regional French Variations
There are many regional variations in French pronunciation, both within France and throughout the world. These dialect pages can help you understand the different regional French accents.

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