# French pronunciation rule for "-ient" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-pronunciation-rule-for-ient/763612 "2016-08-22T09:43:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-pronunciation-rule-for-ient/763612/1 "2016-08-22T09:43:19Z")
Hi what is the rule when it comes to pronouncing -ient ending of verbs (i.e. the nasal sound) eg. In the case of “vient”, the verb (venir) ends in -ent. I would pronounce the ending with a nasal sound . eg. Ils se marient. I would not pronounce the ending. I would ignore the -ent ending. It’s obvious with “soient” that the -ent is not pronounced. I haven’t been able to find a rule of thumb regarding the pronunciation of the -ent. When is it required? I look forward to your answer. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-pronunciation-rule-for-ient/763612/2 "2016-08-22T10:17:41Z")
It is pronounced in all instances EXCEPT the third-person-plural form of verbs. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-pronunciation-rule-for-ient/763612/3 "2016-08-22T10:27:01Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > It is pronounced in all instances EXCEPT the third-person-plural form of verbs. Thanks JKellyMap. Very helpful