Mastering the 4 French Nasal Sounds: A Guide for TEF/TCF Speaking

Introduction: The "Vocal" Signature of French

French is a beautifully melodic language, and nothing defines its sound more than the nasal vowels. For many English speakers, these sounds (where air flows through both the mouth and the nose) are the hardest to pronounce.

Wait! If you get these wrong in the Speaking section of the TEF or TCF, the examiner may struggle to understand you, even if your grammar is perfect.

In this guide, we’ll break down the four distinct nasal sounds and give you the "finger-to-nose" trick for perfect pronunciation.