French · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "le fromage" in French?

luh fro-MAHZH — a throat "r" after the "f" and the soft "zh" of "measure" at the end.

le fromage /lə fʁɔ.maʒ/

le fro-MAGE, weight on the second syllable of the noun. The final consonant is a fricative rather than a stop, so the word ends with a buzz rather than a click.

Listen: le fromage

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Sound it out

fr An "f" straight into a uvular "r", with the tongue tip staying down.

o A short open "o" as in "cot", unstressed.

mage An "m", an open "ah", then the soft "g" — the buzz of "measure" — kept audible by the silent final "e".

Hear it in a sentence

Ce fromage est délicieux.

This cheese is delicious.

Listen: Ce fromage est délicieux.

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"Ce fromage est délicieux" ends on the adjective, which has four syllables and the rounded /ø/ vowel with a silent "x": day-lee-SYUH. "Fromage est" runs together across the vowels. Note the masculine agreement — a feminine noun would take "délicieuse", adding an audible "z" and a syllable.

Where English speakers slip

The final "-age" gets an English "j" as in "garage" the American way, or worse, a hard "g". French wants the soft buzz of "measure", with no stop in front. The "fr" cluster also picks up an American "r". And English speakers reduce the middle vowel to a schwa; keep it a clear open "o".