- In oi there are two sounds, ou and a, with the first pronounced quickly.
2. oin, like the English w followed by the French nasal in: loin, moins, soin.
3. ui, the French u and i with the first vowel pronounced quickly: suis, lui, nuit.
4. ien, like the English y in yell followed by the French nasal in: bien, rien, italien.
5. y, preceded by a vowel, has the value of ii, the first i pronounced at the end of one syllable, the second i at the beginning of the next syllable: pays = pai + is; ayant = ai + iant; joyeux = joi + ieux.
6. ill, il (preceded by a vowel) have the liquid sound of l, pronounced like the y in yes.
- ill = French i + y: fille.
- ail and aill = French a + y: détail, travaille.
- eil and eill = è + y: soleil, vieille.
- euil and euill = French eu (open) + y: fauteuil, feuille.
- ouill = French ou + y: grenouille.
- The vowel sound is very long and the liquid l very short.
- In mille, ville, tranquille, and words derived from them, the ll is sounded like the English l.
Consonant Sounds
Final consonants are usually silent.