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The following graphemes indicate a nasal a: en, an, em, am
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an |
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an
= year |
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mourant
= dying |
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trancher
= to cut through |
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paysan
= peasant |
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manger
= to eat |
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demander
= to ask |
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am |
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ambigüe
= ambiguous |
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jambon
= ham |
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en |
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(une) dent
= tooth |
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entendre
= to hear, to understand |
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envahir
= to invade |
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entrer
= to enter |
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vendre
= to sell |
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tenter
= to try |
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em |
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embarrassé
= embarrassed |
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embêtant
= unpleasant, annoying |
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empêcher
= to hinder |
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This does not apply (as said before) when after am / an / en / em follows a vowel or another m or n . Then the vowels are spoken like an open a and e.
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Examples |
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ami
= friend |
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lame
= blade |
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gamin
= boy, rascal |
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Also here with the nasal a we suggest to first form a normal, open a and then change it to a nasal one by using the nose as a resonance room.
Try to repeat the following:
It is important that you understand that the sounds are different. The nasal o is formed with cuspidal lips, the tongue is pressed down in the back part of the mouth. The nasal a is formed with the lips more stilted. There are words only differing in this one sound. However, do not give up quite yet. With a bit of practice you will manage. And, never to forget. People will understand you from the context. Therefore, do not worry too much about it.
Following some more examples that show you the difference in the two sounds. Repeat them and get a feeling for the creation of these sounds. .
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