LingoDrop
French · Pronunciation Guide
How do you pronounce "avant" in French?
ah-VAHN — an open first syllable and a nasal second one, with the "t" silent.
a-VANT, weight on the second syllable, ending in an open nasal. The word can also stand alone as "en avant" (forward), and the pronunciation never changes.
Listen: avant
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Hear it in a sentence
Appelle-moi avant midi.
Call me before noon.
Listen: Appelle-moi avant midi.
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"Appelle-moi avant midi" is an imperative with the stressed pronoun "moi" attached by a hyphen — imperatives require "moi" rather than "me". "Appelle" has a doubled "ll" that keeps the vowel open: a-PEL. Note that "avant" plus a noun needs no extra word, but "avant" plus a verb needs "de": "avant de partir".
Where English speakers slip
As with "devant", the nasal comes out as a real "n" and the "t" gets released. Nothing should touch, and the word ends in air. The grammar trap is separate: learners say "avant partir" when French requires "avant de partir". And do not confuse "avant" (before, in time) with "devant" (in front of, in space) — the sentence above is about the clock, not about standing anywhere.