This key facts covers Key sounds to memorise within Silent letters and final consonants (including -ent) for GCSE French. Revise Silent letters and final consonants (including -ent) in Phonics: French Sounds and Spellings for GCSE French with 10 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key sounds to memorise
- grand — final d silent: [ɡʁɑ̃] — example: un grand garçon
- petit — final t silent: [pəti] — example: un petit chien
- chaud — final d silent: [ʃo] — example: il fait chaud
- froid — final d silent: [fʁwa] — example: il fait froid
- haut — both h and t silent: [o] — example: en haut
- trop — final p silent: [tʁo] — example: c'est trop cher
- ils parlent — -ent silent: [il paʁl] — example: ils parlent français
- elles mangent — -ent silent: [ɛl mɑ̃ʒ] — example: elles mangent ensemble
- les enfants — liaison: [le zɑ̃fɑ̃] — the -s links as [z]
- vous avez — liaison: [vu zavɛ] — the -s links as [z]
Practice questions for Silent letters and final consonants (including -ent)
Which group of letters is almost NEVER pronounced at the end of a French word?
The memory aid 'CaReFuL' helps you remember which final consonants ARE pronounced. Which answer correctly lists these letters?