Linking Words In Spoken French

La liaison refers to the action of linking words together when you speak French, as if they sound like a single word. You link the end of a word finishing with a consonant and link it with the next following word provided it starts with a vowel. This is done with certain words only. Ideally it helps to know the nature of the words you link so you get to understand how it works and you then know with practice when it is supposed to be done and when it is best not to.

La liaison was created for euphonic reasons. By linking some words together, they sound nicer and it is also easier to pronounce them but equally an impression of rythm and fluidity is created as a result.

Being aware of " la liaison" and how it works does give you an edge on understanding French people in general.

Do not worry too much about it though. If you do not feel confident enough to link words, people will understand you in general but the idea of this document is that you understand French people more quickly and therefore participate in conversation with them more confidently.

Finally, some French people do not ever «& faire la liasion »&, that is linking words together . It is a sign that French people are being less strict than before or in some cases, that they do not really care of the way they express themselves. The people who use la liasion the best is probably the Acadé&miciens de l`Acadé&mie Franç&aise…& and also classical actors and actresses playing Moliè&re and Racine for instance.

1) After words such as :

un, des, les, ces, mon, ton, son, mes, tes,

ses, nos, vos, leurs, aux, aucun, tout, quels,

quelles, quelques + all the numbers.

Examples :

Nathalie passe un_examen.

Ce sont des_é&tudes difficiles.

Je dois deux_euros à& Paul.

2) After an adjective followed directly by a noun :

Elle monte les vieilles_affaires au grenier.

Quels_idiots !

3) After subject pronouns :

je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles:

So this is found when a subject is just before a verb:

On_a tout compris.

Vous_avez le té&lé&phone ?

Vous vous_ê&tes bien reposé&.

Ils_ont de l`é&nergie.

Le train / arrive demain.

Quelqu`un / est entré&.

Les é&tudiants / arrivent à& huit heures.

Vincent / est arrivé& en avance.

4) Generally after EST from the verb Ê&TRE :

Quelqu`un est_entré&.

C`est_une ville qui est magnifique.

5) Generally after ONT from the verb AVOIR :

Ils ont_une voiture

6) After a short adverb :

Marc est plus_occupé& que Luc.

Il a é&té& trè&s_é&tonné& de voir ç&a !

Hier, on s`est bien_amusé&s.

7) After QUAND and COMMENT [t] :

quand + est-ce que : Quand_est-ce qu`on arrive ?

quand + voy. : Quand_il est là&, je suis contente.

The following is an exception : Bonjour, comment_allez-vous ?

You do not link «& comment = how»& to another word in other contexts.

8) After prè&s dans, chez, sans, en :

Elle vit dans_un vieux châ&teau.

Ils rentrent chez_eux en voiture.

Vincent est arrivé& en_avance.

9) In front of an aspirated H:

Il habite en / haut de cette rue. (if a word starts with an aspirated H, the word that precedes it will not be affected:

Le hibou, un beau hibou, un vieux hibou

To find out if a word starting with a H has an aspirated H, check in a dictionnary. An asterix or an apostrophe near the word indicates that the H is aspirated)

10) In some expressions:

avant-hier= before yesterday

c`est-à&-dire= that is to say

de temps en temps= from time to time

plus ou moins= more or less

un sous-entendu= an inuendo, an implication

tout à& coup= suddenly

tout à& l`heure…& just now or soon depending on the context

Even though the introduction is my own and the comments on aspirated H are also my work, I inspired myself from Hé&lè&ne Weinatcher ( Le Point du FLE) for the examples-sentences quoted in this document after each heading.

Annie Marrec 18/06/2016