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.

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.

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.

Think accents don't matter when writing or typing in French? Think again! There are dozens of French word pairs which are spelled (though not always pronounced) the same other than accents. To avoid confusion, you should always distinguish between these "accent homographs" by using the correct accents.

Speaking French is more than just knowing the vocabulary and grammar rules - you also need to pronounce the letters correctly. Unless you started learning French as a child, you're unlikely to ever sound like a native speaker, but it's certainly not impossible for adults to speak with a decent French accent. Here are some ideas to help you improve your French pronunciation.

I love the beautiful accent that the French have when they speak English, and it can be fun or even useful to imitate it. If you're an actor, comedian, or grand séducteur, learn how to fake a French accent with this in-depth look at how the French speak English.

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" 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.

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.