You are a beginner who can read French words but often hesitate when you need to say them aloud. This workshop gives you three focused speaking scenarios where you ask how a word is pronounced, repeat it back, and check that you got it right. You will use only the phrases from the source lesson, so every line you practise is one you can trust. The goal is to make the exchange automatic: ask, listen, repeat, confirm. You will start with a simple classroom moment, move to a busy market stall where the word matters for a purchase, and finish with a social situation where getting a name right shows care. Each scenario adds one small complication so you build flexibility without leaving beginner territory.
Prepare the four moves before you speak
Every exchange in this workshop follows the same four moves. First, ask. Use the neutral question about a written word when you are looking at a menu, sign, or list. Use the shorter casual question when the word is already clear from context. Second, listen for the speaker's model. Third, repeat the word back using the phrase that introduces your attempt, then pause briefly where the colon appears in the source example. Fourth, check with the short confirmation question. Practise these four moves aloud in order until you can do them without reading. The phrases are short, so your main job is timing: do not rush from the repeat into the check. Let the speaker hear your attempt clearly before you ask if it is right. If you blank, return to the first move and start again. That is normal and it keeps the conversation moving.
When the speaker gives you more than one word
The harder turn in this topic is not the question itself. It is what happens after you ask. A helpful speaker may pronounce the word slowly, then repeat it at normal speed, then add a related word or a short comment. You may hear the target word inside a longer stretch of speech and lose track of which part you are supposed to repeat. When that happens, do not try to repeat the whole sentence. Pick the single word you asked about, repeat only that word with the phrase that introduces your attempt, and use the confirmation question. If you are still unsure, ask the same pronunciation question again about the same word. Repeating the question is not rude; it signals that you are listening carefully. Keep your voice calm and your pause short. The speaker will usually slow down and isolate the word for you.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Comment se prononce ce mot ?
How is this word pronounced?
koh-mahn suh pro-nohns suh moh
Comment on prononce ce mot ?
How do you pronounce this word?
koh-mahn ohn pro-nohns suh moh
Comment ça se dit ?
How do you say it?
koh-mahn sah suh dee
Je répète : ... ?
I'll repeat: ... ?
zhuh ray-pet ...
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Comment se prononce ce mot ?
How is this word pronounced?On dit « mercredi » : mer-cre-di.
You say 'mercredi': mer-cre-di.Je répète : mercredi. C'est bien ça ?
I'll repeat: mercredi. Is that right?Oui, c'est ça !
Yes, that's it!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Asking about a word on a classroom handout
You are in a beginner French class on a Tuesday morning. The teacher, Mme Lefèvre, has handed out a worksheet with the word for Wednesday printed at the top. You have seen the word before but you are not sure how to say it. You want to ask her, repeat it back, and check that you are right.
Your task: Say aloud the neutral question about how the written word is pronounced. After Mme Lefèvre models it, repeat the word back using the phrase that introduces your attempt, then ask the short confirmation question. Speak clearly enough that she can hear both your attempt and your check.
Checking a pastry name at a market stall
It is Saturday morning at a market in Lyon. You are at a stall that sells pastries. You see a small label with a word you do not recognise next to a tray of apple pastries. The seller, Karim, is friendly but there are two people waiting behind you. You want to know how the word is pronounced before you decide whether to buy one.
Your task: Ask how the written word on the label is pronounced. When Karim says it, repeat it back with the phrase that introduces your attempt and add the confirmation question. Then indicate with a gesture that you would like one, keeping your French turns short so the queue keeps moving.
Getting a new colleague's name right
You are at a small team lunch on a Thursday in Montreal. A new colleague, Sophie, has just introduced herself. Her name is short but you are not certain whether the final letter is pronounced. You want to ask her how her name is pronounced, repeat it back, and confirm, because you will be working with her every week.
Your task: Ask how her name is pronounced using the source question for a name. When she says it, repeat her name back with the phrase that introduces your attempt, then use the confirmation question. If she corrects you, repeat her name once more and check again. Keep your tone warm and brief so the table conversation can continue.
Common questions
What if I ask how a word is pronounced and the person answers in English instead of French?
That often means they think they are helping. Repeat your question in French using the source phrase 'Comment se prononce ce mot ?' or 'Comment on prononce ce mot ?', then repeat the word back with 'Je répète : ...' and the confirmation question 'C'est bien ça ?'. Staying in French signals that you want the French sound, not a translation.
Should I use the neutral question or the casual one when I ask about a word?
Both are correct in the source lesson. The neutral question 'Comment se prononce ce mot ?' fits a written word you are looking at. The shorter casual question 'Comment ça se dit ?' fits when the word or idea is already clear from context. Choose based on whether you are looking at the word or talking about it.
How many times should I repeat a word back before I stop?
Two clear attempts are usually enough. Repeat once with 'Je répète : ...' and check with 'C'est bien ça ?'. If the speaker corrects you, repeat once more and check again. After that, thank the person and move on. More repetitions can slow the conversation without adding much.
Sources and further reading
- french: asking how to pronounce a wordChecked September 2026
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