French · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "ensemble" in French?

ahn-SAHN-bluh — two identical nasal vowels and a fading "bl" cluster at the end.

ensemble /ɑ̃.sɑ̃bl/

en-SEM-ble, with the weight on the middle syllable, since the trailing "-ble" has no real vowel. Two matching nasals bracketed by an "s" and a fading cluster.

Listen: ensemble

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Sound it out

en The nasal vowel /ɑ̃/, open and through the nose.

sem An "s" plus the same nasal vowel again — written with "m" here because a "b" follows, but the sound is unchanged.

ble A "b" into a light "l", with the final "e" silent or barely breathed.

Hear it in a sentence

On y va ensemble.

We're going there together.

Listen: On y va ensemble.

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"On y va ensemble" carries an obligatory liaison at the start: "on y" is /ɔ̃.n‿i/, so the nasal releases into a real "n". Then "va ensemble" simply runs together across the vowels. Note that "on" here means "we", which is what French speakers actually say in conversation.

Where English speakers slip

English borrowed "ensemble" for musical groups, complete with real "n" and "m" consonants and a full "-bull" ending. French has two nasal vowels with nothing touching, and an ending that fades to almost nothing. The two nasals are identical, which helps — get one right and you have got both. Then let the "bl" trail off rather than resolving it.