Question about pronunciation for French speakers
This is a question about the name Genevieve. I believe in French it is spelled G\enevieve, with an accent grave over the first e. I have seen many people on name boards say it should be pronounced ZHAN-vee-ev. But my French teacher, and the principles of French, say it should be pronounced ZHEN-vee-ev. The accent grave produces a short e sound, certainly not an a. What is correct? Thank you!
Replies
Hi!
The French spelling: Geneviève with the accent grave (and the stress) on E No 3.
The pronunciation: I think your French teacher is right. ZH is a voiced SH-sound and the vowel folling should be pronounced something like in "fur". After the N there is a short A-sound like in the last syllable of "never". Explaining French sounds in English is not easy, I hope I got the pronunciation accross.
Andy ;—)
The French spelling: Geneviève with the accent grave (and the stress) on E No 3.
The pronunciation: I think your French teacher is right. ZH is a voiced SH-sound and the vowel folling should be pronounced something like in "fur". After the N there is a short A-sound like in the last syllable of "never". Explaining French sounds in English is not easy, I hope I got the pronunciation accross.
Andy ;—)
Thanks Andy, that makes a lot of sense!