NASAL SOUNDS.
The nasal syllables are: aim, ain, am, an, aon; ean, eim, ein, em, en, eon, eun; im, in; om, on; um, un; ym.
Am, an, ean, are pronounced like an, without exception; as ambition, vendant, songeant. Em and en are also pronounced like an, as in emploi, empire, envie; but not always. In words derived from foreign languages, they are pronounced liked ème, ène; as Jerusalem, hymen. In words terminating in en or ein, and in their derivatives, en is pronounced like in; as mien, Chrétien, Chrétienté; and in the verbs tenir, venir, and their derivatives, en is sounded like in; as tiens, viens.
In femme, em is pronounced like am.
Im, in, aim, ain, ein, are all pronounced like in. The i, however, keeps its natural sound in words taken from foreign languages, as in Sélim, Ephraim, which are pronounced as if the m were followed by a silent e; in all words in which in is followed by a vowel; as in-animé, in-octavo, in-odore, in-humain; and in the beginning of words commencing with imm and inn.
Om, on, are pronounced like on; as in pont, tombe; complet, donjon. Automne is pronounced ôtonn.
Aen, aon, ean are sounded as an in the following words: Caen, Laon, taon, faon, paon, Jean.
Eon is sounded on when following g: mangeons, plongeon.
Um, un, eun, are pronounced like un; as in parfum, importun, à jeun.
Un is, however, sounded on in a few words of foreign origin: punch, de profundis.