French · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "la chaussure" in French?

la sho-SÜR — "ch" is "sh", the doubled "ss" hisses, and the last vowel is the tight French "u".

la chaussure /la ʃo.syʁ/

la chaus-SURE, weight on the second syllable. Two rounded vowels of different kinds: the back "oh" first, the front /y/ second.

Listen: la chaussure

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Sound it out

chau "sh" plus a closed "oh" from the "au" spelling.

ss A voiceless "s", the doubling blocking the voicing a single "s" between vowels would trigger.

ure The vowel /y/ — tongue in the "ee" position, lips rounded — then a final uvular "r" kept audible by the silent "e".

Hear it in a sentence

Ces chaussures sont trop petites.

These shoes are too small.

Listen: Ces chaussures sont trop petites.

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"Ces chaussures sont trop petites" uses the plural demonstrative "ces" and the feminine plural "petites", where the "t" is audible thanks to the feminine "-e" — the masculine "petit" would end in silence. The plural "s"s are all silent, so "ces" and "sont" carry the number.

Where English speakers slip

The "ch" gets an English "ch" and the final vowel gets the back "oo", producing "chow-SOOR". French wants "sh" and the front-rounded /y/. Learners also voice the "ss". And the feminine plural agreement on "petites" is audible — dropping that "t" is a common slip that changes the sound noticeably.