AI / AIS - French Pronunciation of AI and AIS

The letters AI in French can be pronounced in one of three ways. The following are general guidelines to the pronunciation of AI (though there are, as always, exceptions):

1. AI is usually pronounced like È (like the E in "bed"), including when it is followed by S.
    
2. When a verb ends in AI, it is pronounced like É (more or less like the A in "gave").
    
   It is important to distinguish between these two sounds, because they can change the meaning. Je parlai (passé simple) is not pronounced like je parlais (imparfait). The same phenomenon occurs with je parlerai (futur) and je parlerais (conditionnel). You must be able to hear and pronounce the difference.
    
3. When AI is followed by a double L, the AI is pronounced like the normal French A (like the A in "father")

Click on the links below to hear the words pronounced in French:

   frais   (fresh, cool)

   lait   (milk)

   je parlerai   (I will talk)

   je parlerais   (I would talk)

   je t'aime   (I love you)

   tailleur   (tailor)


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