When (if ever) i it correct to pronounce the 1. “s” in “dans” and 2. the “t” is “est”?
eg. dans une chambre.
eg. Elle est une actrice.
I look forward to your feedback.
davidmich
First, I’m moving this to from ATMB to the “General Questions” forum, since it’s a question with a specific, factual answer.
Second, the answer is that the final -s and -t are pronounced if the next word starts with a vowel, and not pronounced if the next word starts with a consanant.
Thus:
dans une chambre the s is pronounced and liases with the u in une:
dan soon chambre.
dans la chambre the s is NOT pronounced so: dan la chambre.
Ditto the t. In your example, the t is pronounced (but not the s) and liased with the u, so “eh tune”. If the sentence were Elle est formidable then the t would not be pronounced.
That help?
Also, there has to be some semantic connection between the words. That is, sometimes you don’t pronounce the intervening consonant, because the two words don’t flow together logically within the sentence. (I may be expressing this poorly – sorry).
Thank you both. Very helpful.
davidmich
There are a few words where the ending ‘s’ is always pronounced, e.g. tous (when used as a pronoun).
And the ‘s’ is sometimes suppressed when it comes before a silent ‘h’, as in Paris’ famous market, Les Halles (pronounced like English “lay all.”) IIRC, these 'h’s are called “aspirated” (though still fully silent) and are marked in some dictionaries with an asterisk.
More than once I eavesdropped on foreigners speaking of Les Halles (“lays all”) with a French person baffled.
Elle est une actrice.
Perhaps not in Quebec but I think the t would be silent in this sentence.
And also some random other words, like onze. The s is silent in things like mes onze cousins.
My wife’s a native speaker, and she does say the t.
The s would be silent in Mes Cousins Vincents.
How about Camille Saint-Saens, is the last syllable “Sohns” ?
No. It’s pronounced something like “song,” but with the final consonant fully nasalized, as if you were speaking with a bad cold.
Saint-Saens is pronounced with the final “s”. Names are often exceptions to the rules.
My French teacher in elementary school approximated the nasality like this: “sohlnz”. I think it works–it does feel sorta like an L.
The s in *dans une chambre *liases, but is pronounced as a z
dan zune chambre.
Thank you all. Very helpful.
davidmich