Pronunciation

Consonants, endings and liaison

Li counsono, li finalo e la liesoun

Beta version. The pronunciations given here are indicative: they aim at a quick, intelligible reading and will be refined. Provençal is spoken with nuances that writing renders poorly, and the ear remains the best guide. Watch the video, listen to speakers, and tell us what sounds wrong to you.

Final consonants are silent, except l, r and s

Final consonants generally stay silent, except for l, r and s, the last one especially in verb endings or to keep the meaning of a one-syllable word clear.

eisil« eisil »exile
amar« amar »bitter
debas« debas »the stocking

Of two final consonants, only the first is pronounced

When a word ends in two consonants in a row, only the first is pronounced, the second staying silent.

dins« din »in
aploumb« aploum »poise
vist« vis »seen
estang« estan »the pond

After a final diphthong or triphthong, the consonant is silent

When a final consonant immediately follows a diphthong or a triphthong, it is not pronounced.

pèis« pèï »the fish
biais« biaï »the way
cacalaus« cacalaou »the snails

A silent final s becomes voiced, softened to z, before a vowel

Final s, silent in invariable words, prepositions and adverbs, becomes voiced again, softened to z, when the following word starts with a vowel.

sus uno plaço« su-z-uno plaço »on a square
dins acò« din-z-acò »in that