French Nasal Vowels: an, on and in
Vocalyra teaching team · Last updated:
Nasal vowels are one of the sounds that make French sound French. Air passes through both the mouth and the nose, and, importantly, there is no full n or m pronounced at the end. This guide shows the three main nasal vowels, the spelling rule, and practice pairs.
The Three Main Nasal Vowels
| Sound | Common spellings | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| [ɑ̃] as in vent | an, am, en, em | enfant, chambre, temps, lent |
| [ɔ̃] as in vont | on, om | bonjour, nom, long, son |
| [ɛ̃] as in vin | in, im, ain, ein, un | matin, important, pain, plein, lundi |
A fourth nasal vowel, [œ̃] in un and brun, is still distinct in Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec. In most of France it now sounds the same as [ɛ̃]. Both pronunciations are correct.
When Is a Vowel Nasal?
A vowel followed by n or m becomes nasal when that n or m is at the end of the word or followed by another consonant. If the n or m is followed by a vowel, or doubled, the vowel is usually not nasal and the n or m is pronounced.
- bon (nasal) vs bonne (not nasal, n pronounced)
- plein (nasal) vs pleine (not nasal)
- un (nasal) vs une (not nasal)
- américain (nasal) vs américaine (not nasal)
This rule is useful for adjectives: the masculine form often ends in a nasal vowel and the feminine form adds a clear n sound.
Practice With Minimal Sets
| [ɑ̃] | [ɔ̃] | [ɛ̃] |
|---|---|---|
| vent | vont | vin |
| lent | long | lin |
| sans | son | saint |
| temps | ton | teint |
Common Mistakes by Native Language
- English speakers often add an n or ng at the end (bon said like "bone" or "bong"). Stop the sound before your tongue touches the roof of your mouth.
- Brazilian Portuguese speakers already have nasal vowels, which helps. Avoid turning French [ɔ̃] into the Portuguese diphthong ão, and don't nasalize vowels before a pronounced n, as in bonne.
- Spanish speakers tend to pronounce a full n (son said like Spanish son). Keep the tongue low and let the air go through the nose.
Quick self-check
Is the vowel in bonne nasal?
Show answer
No. The n is followed by another n and a vowel, so you say a clear n.
Which nasal vowel is in pain?
Show answer
[ɛ̃], the same as in vin.
Should you pronounce the n in bon?
Show answer
No. Bon ends in the nasal vowel [ɔ̃] with no n sound.
Which word has [ɑ̃]: vent, vont or vin?
Show answer
Vent.
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