French accents play an important role in the language as they change the pronunciation and meaning of words. Here are the four main French accents and how they are used:
Acute accent (é): The acute accent is used over the letter "e" and changes the pronunciation to a sharp "ay" sound. For example, "été" (summer) is pronounced "ay-tay" with the acute accent.
Grave accent (è): The grave accent is used over the letter "e" and changes the pronunciation to a softer "eh" sound. For example, "père" (father) is pronounced "pehr" with the grave accent.
Circumflex accent (ê): The circumflex accent is used over the letter "e" and changes the pronunciation to a more nasal sound. For example, "fête" (party) is pronounced "fet" with the circumflex accent.
Diaeresis (ë): The diaeresis is used over the letter "e" and indicates that the vowel should be pronounced separately from the preceding vowel. For example, "Noël" (Christmas) is pronounced "noh-ell" with the diaeresis.
It's important to note that the French accent marks are also used on other vowels, such as "a," "i," "o," and "u," to indicate a change in pronunciation or meaning. Learning French accents is important for understanding and pronouncing words correctly in the French language.
