Features of /ø/ and /œ/
The vowels /ø/ and /œ/ are characterized by the following features:
/ø/ is mid-closed, front, rounded and oral, e.g.: peu [pø] , eux [ø] , deux [dø] .
/œ/ is mid-open, front, rounded and oral, e.g.: seul [sœl] , coeur [kœʁ] , leur [lœʁ] .
As you can see, these vowels are identical, except that the tongue is a little higher for /ø/ than it is for /œ/.
Articulation of /ø/ and /œ/
Like all French vowels, /ø/ and /œ/ are short and tense. Since they are both rounded vowels, the lips must be rounded AND advanced during articulation. In order to arrive at a correct pronunciation of these vowels, it is advisable to begin with their unrounded counterparts, e.g.:
/e/ → /ø/
des [de] → deux [dø]
fée [fe] → feu [fø]
/ɛ/ → /œ/
sel [sɛl] → seul [sœl]
père [pɛʁ] → peur [pœʁ]
Distribution
The vowels /ø/ and /œ/ tend to follow the Loi de position, i.e.: /ø/ is usually found in open syllables (affreux = [afʁø]) and /œ/ is usually found in closed syllables (seul = [sœl]). Note also that, as far as the Loi de position is concerned, the semi-consonant /j/ functions as a consonant. In other words, it is preceded by /œ/, e.g.: feuille [fœj] , orgueil [ɔʁgœj].
Exceptions to the Loi de position involve the presence of /ø/ in closed syllables. For the most part, spelling conventions will help (see below).
There are very few minimal pairs that are distinguished only by the alternation between /ø/ and /œ/. They do exist, however, e.g.: jeune/jeûne ([ʒœn] , [ʒøn] ), veulent/veule ([vœl], [vøl]).
Spelling of /ø/
The vowel /ø/ is represented by the letters "eu" or "oeu" in certain contexts. Namely:
a) in open syllables, e.g.: feu [fø], affreux [afʁø]
b) in syllables closed by /z/ or /t/, e.g.: menteuse [mãtøz], neutre [nøtʁ].
Note that the past participle of avoir, i.e.: eu, is an exception since it is actually pronounced /y/.
Spelling of /œ/
The vowel /œ/ is represented by the letters "eu" or "oeu" followed by a pronounced (semi-)consonant other than "z" or "tr", e.g.: peur [pœʁ], veulent [vœl], deuil [dœj], aveugle [avœgl]. There are some instances where /œ/ is represented by "ue", e.g.: accueil [akœj]. Here, the "u" comes first to indicate that the "c" is pronounced /k/ and not /s/ (see here).
/ø/ and /œ/ in unaccented position
When "eu" occurs at the beginning or in the middle of a word, the vowel is usually /ø/, e.g.: Europe [øʁɔp], jeudi [ʒødi]. That said, if the syllable is closed, use /œ/, e.g.: seulement [sœl-mã].
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)
- The word monsieur is pronounced [møsjø]
- The singular, l'oeuf, is pronounced with /œ/, e.g.: [lœf] while the plural, les oeufs, is pronounced with /ø/, i.e.: [lezø] (this is in keeping with the Loi de position).
- The word oeil is pronounced [œj], while yeux is pronounced [jø] (in with the Loi de position).
- The second syllable of the word déjeuner has a mid-open front rounded vowel [deʒœne].
- When pronouncing the sequence [œj], make sure you do not replace it with the English diphthong [oi] (e.g.: the one in the word boy).